Radio Act Enforcement Order Amendment Removes Temporary Broadcasting Exemption Nov 6

In the Official Gazette dated November 5, 2026, the government promulgated a Cabinet Order (Cabinet Order No. 345) partially amending the Order for Enforcement of the Radio Act (Cabinet Order No. 245 of 2001). The amendment removes the phrase “excluding broadcasting for temporary and one-time purposes as prescribed in Article 8 of the Act” from the proviso of Article 3, Paragraph 2, Item 6 of the said Order, and shall come into effect on November 6, the day following the date of promulgation. The promulgation text bears the names of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Hihiyuki Fujii.

Framework for the Amendment of the Enforcement Order Based on Delegation by the Radio Act

This Cabinet Order was enacted by the Cabinet based on the provisions of Article 40, Paragraph 2 and Article 104-5 of the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950). The scope of the amendment is limited to a single location within the Order for Enforcement of the Radio Act, and no additional articles or new items have been created.

The changes before and after the amendment are as follows:

• Target Article: Order for Enforcement of the Radio Act, Article 3, Paragraph 2, Item 6
• Deleted Phrase: “. However, excluding broadcasting for temporary and one-time purposes as prescribed in Article 8 of the Act”
• After Amendment: The proviso is removed, and broadcasting for temporary and one-time purposes will no longer be exempt from the application of the said item
• Signatories: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Hihiyuki Fujii

The Official Gazette of the same November 5 also included a Cabinet Order partially amending the Order for Enforcement of the Regulatory Reform Promotion Council (Cabinet Order No. 343) and a Cabinet Order partially amending the Order for Enforcement of the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Facilities Maintenance Agency Act (Cabinet Order No. 344); the amendment to the Order for Enforcement of the Radio Act is positioned within this series of Cabinet Orders.

Effective Date is November 6, the Day After Promulgation; Penalties Follow Previous Examples

The supplementary provisions clearly define the effective date. The practical focus is that the order takes effect the following day, without a one-day interval from promulgation.

• Effective Date: This Cabinet Order shall come into effect on the day following the date of promulgation (November 6, 2026)
• Transitional Measures: Regarding the application of penalties for acts committed prior to the enforcement of this Cabinet Order, the previous examples shall still apply
• Date of Promulgation: November 5, 2026 (Reiwa 8)

Due to the transitional measures, the application of penalties for acts committed before the enforcement date will be maintained based on the provisions prior to the amendment. For cases spanning the enforcement date, the timing of the act will be the dividing line for the applicable regulations.

Impact on Operators Handling Temporary Stations and Event Broadcasting

What is being deleted is the exception provision itself, which placed broadcasts for temporary and transient purposes outside the scope of Article 3, Paragraph 2, Item 6. In scenarios where this item applies, such time-limited broadcasts will no longer be treated as exclusions; therefore, licensees and radio wave users must organize their operations and records on the premise of whether their broadcasts fall under the scope of said item.

The scope of impact extends to the following entities:

• Broadcasting operators who conduct broadcasts for a limited period at event venues, etc.
• Radio wave users involved in the establishment and operation of temporary stations.
• Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) contact points handling notifications and confirmations related to Article 3, Paragraph 2, Item 6.

One Day from Promulgation to Enforcement: Prompt Confirmation Required

Unlike amendments that provided a prior public notice period, this amendment—where promulgation and enforcement are virtually continuous—means that the starting point for practical response occurred upon its publication in the Official Gazette on November 5. Operators who relied on the premise of broadcasts for temporary and transient purposes must urgently confirm the applicable articles and the scope of transitional measures for broadcasts starting on or after November 6.

[Source] Official Gazette, November 5, 2026 (Reiwa 8), Cabinet Order No. 345, “Cabinet Order to Partially Amend the Order for Enforcement of the Radio Act” (based on Article 40, Paragraph 2 and Article 104-5 of the Radio Act, Act No. 131 of 1950). Signed: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Hayayuki Fujii.