The Japan Fair Trade Commission found that Oji Container had required subcontractors to store printing plates and wooden dies free of charge for an extended period, and disclosed the facts while requesting that the industry body ensure fair transactions.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission found that Oji Container had required subcontractors to store a total of 9,610 printing plates, wooden dies and metal dies free of charge even when there had been no orders for an extended period. The conduct was deemed a violation of the Subcontracting Act, specifically an unjust request for the provision of an economic benefit. The commission recommended payment of storage costs and measures to prevent recurrence.
There were 6,744 printing plates. They were described as resin, plate-shaped items, with the largest measuring 1.3 meters in length, 2.3 meters in width and 1 centimeter in thickness. The wooden dies included dies for punching out corrugated board shapes.
Oji Container is a consolidated subsidiary of Oji Holdings Corporation based in Nara. It had required the items to be stored free of charge from at least June 2024 through November 2025. The Japan Fair Trade Commission confirmed the facts and called for measures to prevent recurrence.
On the same day, the commission also requested that the National Federation of Corrugated Board Industry Associations ensure fair transactions, indicating its intention to correct practices across the industry.