Recommendations for Japan’s revised National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP 2.0)

As multinational corporations expand their global reach, the need for robust, mandatory human rights due diligence legislation becomes increasingly urgent. Japan, home to some of the world’s largest and most influential companies, holds a significant role in this landscape. Building on Japan’s first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP) and the 2022 Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains, the revised NAP (2.0) comes at a pivotal moment, as global expectations for responsible business conduct continue to rise.

This policy note, jointly developed by the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) and the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), offers targeted recommendations to strengthen NAP 2.0 and support stronger corporate alignment with international human rights standards.

Drawing on insights from WBA’s Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) and case studies from BHRRC, it evaluates Japan’s progress since NAP 1.0, identifies persistent gaps in human rights due diligence (HRDD), and highlights the need for clearer policy direction. While there have been measurable improvements – increased awareness and partial uptake of HRDD practices among Japanese companies – comprehensive and consistent implementation remains limited, particularly when it comes to managing risks across complex supply chains. To meet rising international expectations and maintain competitiveness in global markets, NAP 2.0 must prioritise transparency, accountability, and preparedness for emerging legal frameworks.

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