Check your likely Japan PR eligibility
Use the calculator to estimate your points before you plan your next step.
Tokyo prosecutors indicted five oil distributors on April 17, 2026, after Japan's Fair Trade Commission filed a criminal complaint the same day over an alleged gas oil price cartel targeting corporate customers in Tokyo. According to Nippon.com's later report on the indictment and an earlier update on the FTC complaint, the case is the watchdog's first criminal complaint since February 2023.
Key developments
- The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office indicted five companies over alleged price coordination involving gas oil sold to transport and other businesses in Tokyo.
- The FTC moved first on Friday, filing a criminal complaint that prosecutors were then expected to act on. Both reports name East Japan Usami, Eneos Wing and Enex Fleet among the companies involved, but the supplied coverage does not list all five by name.
- Authorities allege company officials met in Tokyo between October and December 2024 and agreed to raise selling prices while restraining price cuts. The suspected cartel, as described in both reports, centered on business-to-business sales rather than retail fuel sold directly to consumers.
- The FTC did not file criminal complaints against individuals. Both reports say that decision was apparently linked to the alleged cartel's long duration. The watchdog's last criminal complaint was in February 2023, in a bid-rigging case tied to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
What to watch
The next concrete update is likely to come from court proceedings or company responses. The supplied reports do not include a trial schedule, any plea or defense positions from the companies, or details on potential penalties, leaving those questions unresolved for now.
Another point to watch is whether prosecutors or the FTC disclose more about how the alleged meetings were arranged and whether the conduct stretched beyond the October to December 2024 period cited in the reports. At this stage, the confirmed public record is limited to the complaint, the indictment and the outline of the alleged pricing agreement.
Sources
About this content
Japan PR Checker
Japan Permanent Residency Checker - Check your eligibility for Japan PR in minutes!
Want the practical next step?
If you are comparing routes, timelines, or likely eligibility, use the calculator now so your planning starts from a clearer baseline.