Research Activities
Research Projects 2026
Business and Human Rights：Policy Proposal Project on Responsible Business Conduct and Sustainability
Outline
Policies and practices based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are rapidly developing. Although we observe a kind of reversal such as the proposed amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive in Europe and anti-ESG movements in the United States, the major trend of shaping responsible business conduct that does not have a adverse impact on human rights and the environment remains unchanged. Japan revised its national action plan based on the UN Guiding Principles, reaffirming its commitment to respecting human rights in economic activities. Policies and practices related to business and human rights are how to grasp and reduce risks on human rights where corporate activities are carried out. It is necessary to understand the actual situation in the place of operation and to make it possible to identify, prevent, and address it. In this project, we will grasp policy trends related to business and human rights, mainly in Asian countries, where Japanese companies have strong ties to the supply chains, and identify and analyse structural risks, including human rights issues in supply chains and social backgrounds that vary depending on the country and region in question. This project intends to provide insights on the direction of further policy action on business and human rights in Japan.
Period
April 2026 - March 2027
Members
| Role | Member |
|---|---|
| [ Organizer ] | Yamada, Miwa |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Hatsukano, Naomi |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Yamada, Nanae |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Kubotga, Yuka(Asian-Japan Center) |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Hasegawa, Tomoko(Japan Business Federation) |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Tomita, Hidemi(Sustainable Management Institute) |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Kinoshita, Yukako(Japan Business Counsil in Europe) |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Takahashi, Daisuke(Shinwa Law) |
| [ Co-researcher ] | Michida, Etsuyo(Nanzan University) |
*Affiliations are as of April 2026.
Expected Outcome
- Workshop, Policy Brief