- Construction & Infrastructure
Overview of the 2024 Amendments to the Japanese Construction Business Act and Their Impact on Contract Price Adjustment
On June 7, 2024, the “Bill to partially amend the Construction Business Act and the Act for Promoting Proper Tendering and Contracting for Public Works (Cabinet Bill No. 51)" (the “Bill”) was passed by the National Diet (the national legislature of Japan).
This revision aims to secure a stable workforce in the construction industry by introducing measures to:
(i) Secure wage resources for the improvement of worker treatment in the construction industry and their dissemination to subcontractors,
(ii) Prevent the burden on contractors regarding labor costs by facilitating the smooth passing on of material price increases to contract prices, and
(iii) Promote work style reforms and productivity improvements.
The amendments include several provisions that directly affect the contractual relationships between...To read the full article, please see the PDF file
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Construction and Infrastructure Newsletter
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Shintaro Uno is one of Japan’s leading experts on FIDIC and other construction-industry contracts. He specializes in international engineering and construction of infrastructure projects around the world, with a particular focus on Japan and Asia. He has extensive experience advising on a wide range of projects, including semiconductor plants, data centers, high-speed railways, highways, submarine cables, coal-mining process facilities, Mass Rapid Transit, high-rise buildings, lithium hydroxide plants, various types of power plants, tunnels, ports, dredging, offshore wind, and water treatment and supply facilities, with primary contracts based on the standard FIDIC contract forms (including Redbook, Yellowbook, Silverbook 1999 and 2017 editions), Minkanrengo Building contract, Nikkenren Design Build, and ENAA.
On the contentious side, Shintaro successfully represents both employers and contractors in proceedings before Dispute Adjudication Boards, international arbitral tribunals, and national courts. He has particular expertise in arbitration under the SIAC, ICC, BANI, and DIAC rules.
Shintaro has been recognized as a Leading Individual in the Construction: International category by Chambers Asia-Pacific for three consecutive years (2023–2025), reflecting his reputation and track record in the region.
Over the past 14 years, Shintaro has been based in Southeast Asia, where he has advised on numerous complex disputes and crisis scenarios. His regional experience is especially extensive in Indonesia, where he has handled more than 70 contentious matters—including litigation, internal investigations, local arbitrations, and criminal cases—demonstrating his capability to navigate sensitive legal issues in cross-border settings.