Freeuntly Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you have general questions, please send them to us. Our answers will be added in this page.

  1. Terminology:
  2. Radio Station:
    1. Q: We are planning to establish a radio station in Japan. How can we establish this?
    2. Q: We are planning to establish an experimental radio station in Japan. How can we establish this? It is easier to establish than regular radio station?
  3. Radio Equipment:
    1. Q: We are selling radio equipment in the US. Can we sell this radio equipment in Japan?
    2. Q: We are developing new radio equipment in the US. Can we demonstrate this radio equipment in Japan?
  4. Equipment utilizing high frequency current:
    1. Q: What is equipment utilizing high frequency current?
    2. Q: How is equipment utilizing high frequency current regulated in the Radio Law?
    3. Q: Can I see a list of equipment utilizing high frequency current whose type has been specified by the Minister, or whose type has been self-confirmed by manufacturer?


Terminology:


The MIC: the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan

The Minister: the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan

The FCC: the Federal Communications Commission in the US

Radio station: a unit of radio equipment with the person(s) to operate the radio equipment


Radio Station:


Q: We are planning to establish a radio station in Japan. How can we establish this?

<Answer>

In order to establish a radio station, you must apply a license to the MIC. For this application, the main checkpoints of the MIC are if your station is aligned with technical regulations of the Radio Law and the MIC can assign relevant frequencies to your station. If you cleared the both checkpoints, you are close to acquiring a license.

If your radio station is small and can be called radio equipment, please see relevant Q&A under the section of Radio Equipment.



Q: We are planning to establish an experimental radio station in Japan. How can we establish this? It is easier to establish than regular radio station?

<Answer>

In order to establish an experimental radio station, you must apply a license to the MIC. For this application, the main checkpoints of the MIC are basically same as the ones for regular radio station. The difference is that technical regulations and frequency requirements are administered less strictly than the ones for regular radio station.


Radio Equipment:


Q: We are selling radio equipment in the US. Can we sell this radio equipment in Japan?

<Answer>

First of all, you need to understand that, in general, people who want to use radio equipment in Japan must acquire a license from the Minister. There are several exceptional cases where people can use radio equipment without license.

Second, the enforcement under the Radio Law had been on the use of radio equipment. Recently, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications can come to issue a recommendation (actually a warning) to sellers of radio equipment non-compliant with the Radio Law.

1) If your radio equipment is emitting very weak radio, people can use your radio equipment legally. The definition of “very weak” is specified under the Radio Law.

2) If your radio equipment has got a certification of technical regulations conformity from a organization registered by the Minister, people can use your radio equipment legally. See this MIC page for this certification.

3) If your radio equipment is aligned with current technical regulations in the Radio Law, the most likely action is that you apply to acquire a certification of technical regulations conformity.

4) If your radio equipment is not aligned with current technical regulations in the Radio Law, your radio equipment mostly cannot be used in Japan. (There are some exceptions.)


Q: We are developing new radio equipment in the US. Can we demonstrate this radio equipment in Japan?

<Answer>

Assuming that your radio equipment is not radio station with very weak emission and has not got a certification of technical regulations conformity.

The 2019 revision to the Radio Law came to allow your demonstration for 180 days, if your radio equipment is following the international technical standards, which the Minister notified. (See our May 2020 article for more detail.) In order to apply your radio equipment to this new rule, you need to do some paper works.



Equipment utilizing high frequency current:


Q: What is equipment utilizing high frequency current?

<Answer>

Equipment utilizing high frequency current is defined in Article 100 of the Radio Law. Basically, this equipment is a wired system that radio current of 10 kHz or above is applied to, or is an electrical system emitting radio current of 10 kHz or above.


Q: How is equipment utilizing high frequency current regulated in the Radio Law?

<Answer>

In general, if you want to install equipment utilizing high frequency current, you need to receive a permission from the Minister. For some equipment utilizing high frequency current that have fewer negative effects to radiocommunications, etc., this permission is not applied and the following regulatory measures can be applied:
- No permission
- Type specified by the Minister
- Type self-confirmed by manufacturer

Please see this MIC page for this detail.


Q: Can I see a list of equipment utilizing high frequency current whose type has been specified by the Minister, or whose type has been self-confirmed by manufacturer?

<Answer>

In this MIC page, you can see lists of equipment utilizing high frequency current whose type has been specified by the Minister and whose type has been self-confirmed by manufacturer.