The Consumer Affairs Agency has proposed adding the law on measures to prevent sexual violence against children by school operators and private education and childcare businesses (Act No. 69 of 2024) to the laws covered by the Whistleblower Protection Act. The change would be made by amending the cabinet order that lists the covered laws.
What the draft says
The draft order describes the child-safeguarding law as one concerning the protection of life, body, property and other interests of the public, which is the category the listing order covers. The agency says the amendment reflects legislative developments in the Diet. The Whistleblower Protection Act itself gives protection only to reports that meet its statutory conditions, so the listing would not make every report protected.
The overview says the amendment would take effect on the day the child-safeguarding law itself takes effect, December 25, 2026. The order is still a draft and the date depends on it being finalised.
How to respond
Comments are open from October 1 to October 30, 2026, with postal submissions required to arrive by the closing date. Submissions must be in Japanese and should give reasons. Comments longer than 6,000 characters need a summary attached. They can be sent through the e-Gov comment form or by post to the Consumer Affairs Agency's whistleblower and cooperation division in Kasumigaseki.
The agency says it will review the comments in preparing the order but will not reply to individuals. Names and contact details are used only for follow-up questions, and other content may be published. The consultation notice does not describe what kinds of reports the listing is expected to produce.