About NCAC

Introduction

The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (NCAC), established as a special public corporation in October 1970, was turned into an incorporated administrative agency in October 2003 under the Act on National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan.

Recently, consumer affairs issues have become diverse and complex affected by the advancement of IT, globalization, aging society with fewer children, etc. Reliable information plays an increasingly vital role for consumers to lead a safe and secure life.

NCAC serves as a core institution on consumer affairs in cooperation with the Japanese government, local consumer affairs centers and other relevant organizations across Japan under the Basic Consumer Act by utilizing consumer related information from local consumer affairs centers, etc. to prevent and minimize consumer detriment. Furthermore, NCAC supports consumer consultation services at local consumer affairs centers, etc. and conducts alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures to resolve important consumer disputes. NCAC also engages in testing products and product groups to solve consumer complaints and widely share relevant issues, providing training sessions for consumer affairs consultants and municipal staff handling consumer affairs, conducting survey research on consumer affairs and releasing information for consumers through various media. In this way, NCAC makes efforts to contribute to the safety and wellbeing of consumers.

Outline of NCAC

Organization Chart

• Organizational Chart of The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan[PDF](111KB)(April 1. 2022)

Mission

Provides information and conduct research and study concerning consumer affairs from a comprehensive perspective to create stable and improved people's lives. NCAC also undertakes Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures to resolve important consumer disputes.

Board

President

MURAI Masachika

Executive Vice President

HOKIGUCHI Tomoko

Executive Vice President

OMORI Takatoshi

Executive Vice President

KIRIHARA Motoki

Auditor

NISHI Kikuo

Auditor

NAGAOKA Mina

Established

October 1, 2003

Related Law

Act on National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan

(Act No. 123, December 4, 2002)

Structure

7 departments, 17 divisions, 3 sections, 1 Senior Research Fellow (2026)

Staff

4 executives, 2 auditors, 139 staff members (April 2026)

Main Funding Sources

National government, publishing, and training sessions

Address

NCAC Sagamihara Office

3-1-1 Yaei, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa-ken, 252-0229

NCAC Tokyo Office

3-13-22 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8602

Structure of consumer administration in Japan

• Structure of consumer administration in Japan[PDF](154KB)

Core Functions of NCAC

Consultations

• Providing consultation for consumers who have complaints about businesses (direct consultation)
• Providing consultation for consultants who handle consumer complaints at local consumer affairs centers across Japan (referred consultation)
• Providing consultation regarding cross-border transactions upon request from consumers and seeking solutions in cooperation with overseas partner organizations which concluded Memoranda of Understanding or Cooperation (MoU or MoC) with NCAC (CCJ: Cross-border Consumer Center Japan)
• Providing telephone consultation for inbound tourists to Japan who have experienced consumer detriment while visiting Japan with use of interpretation service through a three-way call system (Consumer Hotline for Tourists)

Complaints Analysis and Raising Public Awareness

• Collecting and analyzing consumer complaint data using a database system called "PIO-NET" since 1984
• PIO-NET data is utilized for alerting consumers and for the policymaking process, and is used as a reference at local consumer affairs centers across Japan

Product Tests

Conducting product tests for the following:

• On behalf of local consumer affairs centers on request; and
• In order to clarify the substantial problems of specific product groups, as well as to raise public awareness

Education and Training / Consultant Qualification

• Holding training sessions to enhance the competency of Consumer Affairs Consultants (CACs) and administrative staff at local consumer affairs centers and the like
• Conducting qualification examinations for the CACs (national qualification) as a registered testing organization since FY2016

Public Relations / Publications

• Helping consumers understand consumer issues such as fraudulent business practices or potentially harmful consumer products by holding press conferences, publishing articles on the website, and releasing educational materials

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

• Conducting both mediation and arbitration, with either being available free of charge
• The ADR procedure is enshrined in the NCAC Act
• Anyone can apply for ADR, while many of the applicants are consumers who are not satisfied with the result of their consultation

Supporting Qualified Consumer Organizations

• Supporting Specified Qualified Consumer Organizations in conducting court proceedings for redressing property damage incurred by consumers

Questions about this website

If you have any question about this website, please feel free to email us at the following address.

webmaster_at_kokusen.go.jp
(Replace _at_ with @)

Please be advised that consumer-related inquiries cannot be accepted via this email address. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

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