5 Measures against bribery and corruption

(1) Measures taken by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

The Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions was adopted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1997. In Japan, as its implementing legislation, the act of providing illicit profit, etc. to a foreign public official, etc. was criminalized by amendment of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (Act No. 47 of 1993) in 1999. The said crime was then amended to include crimes committed by Japanese outside of Japan, raising sanctions against natural persons, and extend the period of the statute of limitations against juridical persons.

(2) Measures taken by the U.N.

The U.N. adopted the U.N. Convention against Corruption in 2003, which criminalizes bribery of domestic and foreign public officials, etc., and provides a framework for recovery of assets gained through corruption to the country from which they originated (Japan is yet to conclude this convention).