Message from the President
Welcome to the website of the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (NCAC).
Message from the President YAMADA Akinori
NCAC has addressed consumer issues for over 50 years since its establishment in 1970 (Refer to the 50th anniversary commemorative publication – NCAC history since 1970 (Japanese version)). The consumer affairs administration took a major step forward after the establishment of the Consumer Protection Fundamental Act in 1968. The act was revised to the Basic Act on Consumer Policies in 2004. The Consumer Affairs Agency was founded in 2009. Consumer affairs centers were established across Japan and consumer affairs consultants were increased, which enhanced administrative services for consumers at regional level. As a core institution working on consumer issues in everyday life, NCAC has addressed changing consumer issues in order to contribute to the stabilization and improvement of the lives of the people.
NCAC works on a wide range of tasks. The most essential function is to help prevent potential consumer problems and support resolution of existing consumer problems related to transactions of products and services. In recent years, consumer affairs centers and the like across Japan receive around 900,000 inquiries and complaints per year from consumers who have encountered trouble or held concerns. It is said that consumer issues reflect society. As consumption behavior changes, consumer problems change. Recently, there have been numerous consumer problems stemmed from the use of the Internet and online transactions such as those related to subscription and those related to information products for side jobs or investment triggered by social media. NCAC is enhancing the support for resolving consumer problems in response to advancing digital network society. In order to increase capacity for consumer affairs consultation, NCAC is seeking the optimal way of consumer affairs consultation applying DX technologies.
Main concerns in fiscal 2022 included the age of adulthood lowered from 20 to 18 and unscrupulous sales methods including the spiritual-pressure sales method. NCAC offered relevant information to young people, in particular those aged 18 to 19 (e.g. caution against problems related to moneymaking schemes, beauty care, etc.) to prevent them from getting in trouble. Raising awareness of young consumers is still one of the priorities for NCAC in fiscal 2023. In December 2022, a new task for taking measures against the spiritual-pressure sales method was added to NCAC under the Act for the Partial Revision of the Consumer Contract Act and the Act on National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan. With this in mind, NCAC will continue to issue consumer alerts and to provide support for consumer damage recovery.
NCAC has entered the fifth medium-term objectives period. NCAC will make efforts to achieve important objectives based on the fifth medium-term plan.
In line with the plan, NCAC will apply DX technologies as appropriate and address the changing consumer environment. On the other hand, NCAC will continue to work on the following: issuing consumer alerts based on accurate and helpful information; supporting consumer affairs centers across Japan; examining products and services which may lead to harmful effects and sharing the findings; informing the government and businesses and requesting necessary actions from them.
Moreover, NCAC would like to provide a hotline service in a timely way for urgent matters such as consultation related to unscrupulous sales after natural disasters. NCAC will also continue to share input for supporting the elderly and ensuring safety for children.
NCAC will keep making efforts to prevent and minimize consumer detriment in cooperation with consumers, businesses and administrative authorities. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
