Japan's government presented a proposal on October 26 for a foreign-agent registration system covering lobbying done under foreign government instructions or contracts, with penalties for malicious interference still undecided.
Japan's government began examining a foreign-agent registration system on October 26, setting out a proposal to require individuals and organisations lobbying for foreign governments to disclose their activities. The proposal also raises penalties for malicious interference, bringing criminal punishment into a debate about transparency and constitutional rights.
The plan was presented at the second meeting of an expert panel on strengthening Japan's intelligence capabilities, held at the prime minister's office. Under the proposal, lobbying carried out under the instructions of, or a contract with, a foreign government would have to be formally disclosed. The government aims to submit related legislation to the regular parliamentary session in 2027, with panel recommendations expected ahead of a national intelligence strategy that could be drawn up within the current fiscal year, ending in March 2027.
A National Police Agency representative told the panel that influence operations targeting political and administrative processes had become more active in recent years and argued that legislation was urgently needed. The concern goes beyond theft of confidential information: influence operations can involve hiding a foreign connection while spreading false information or approaching people who shape elections, public opinion or policy. The government presented comparable systems in the United States, Britain and France as reference points, without settling which features Japan would adopt.
This is a direction for legislation, not a law: who must register, which activities trigger the duty, and what conduct should be punished all remain undecided, and the precise offences and penalties have not been specified. The Cabinet Secretariat's expert panel page lists the October 26 meeting and an earlier session on September 28, and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations adopted an opinion on February 20, 2026 urging careful deliberation over whether a new system is necessary and whether it could infringe constitutional rights.
The debate now turns on where disclosure ends and criminal law begins. Registration would make the foreign government behind an approach visible to officials and the public, but its reach will depend on how lawmakers define acting on behalf of a foreign government. The federation has also called for strict limits on surveillance powers and independent supervision, so the parliamentary debate in 2027 is likely to cover both the register and the wider intelligence institutions proposed under the 2025 coalition agreement.