Operating Designated Handlers & Shifting Burden of Proof in Japan
A professional compliance training course for managers and compliance teams in Japan, covering the obligations of designated internal handlers under the Whistleblower Protection Act, updated guidelines on burden-of-proof shifting, and best-practice governance for internal reporting systems.
This course forms the second part of a two-course set designed for organisations operating in Japan under the Whistleblower Protection Act (Kōkokusha Hogo Hō, Act No. 122 of 2004, as amended). It is directed specifically at managers and compliance teams who bear operational responsibility for running internal whistleblowing systems, managing designated handlers, and ensuring that the burden-of-proof protections afforded to whistleblowers are properly understood and applied within the organisation.
Building on the foundation-level awareness content covered in the companion course, this programme examines the detailed legal obligations introduced and reinforced through the amended Act and the Consumer Affairs Agency's updated guidelines. Participants will explore the practical requirements for appointing and training designated handlers, the strict confidentiality duties owed to reporting persons, the prohibition on disadvantageous treatment, and the statutory mechanism by which the burden of proof shifts to the employer when retaliatory conduct is alleged. Case-management workflows, documentation standards, and regulatory interaction with the Consumer Affairs Agency are addressed throughout.
By the end of this course, managers and compliance teams will be equipped to operate a legally compliant, operationally effective internal whistleblowing framework that protects reporting persons, satisfies the organisation's statutory obligations, and supports a culture of integrity across the workplace.
Course content
1. Legislative Framework and Regulatory Landscape
- The Whistleblower Protection Act: Structure, Amendments and Key Obligations
- Updated Guidelines: What Changed and Why It Matters
2. Designated Handlers: Roles, Appointment and Legal Duties
- Who Are Designated Handlers and How Must They Be Appointed?
- Confidentiality Obligations and Criminal Liability of Designated Handlers
3. The Prohibition on Disadvantageous Treatment and Burden-of-Proof Shifting
- Understanding the Prohibition on Disadvantageous Treatment
- Burden-of-Proof Shifting: Mechanism, Application and Compliance Strategies
4. Operating the Internal Reporting System
- Intake, Triage and Case Management of Whistleblowing Reports
- Record-Keeping, System Review and Reporting to Management
5. External Reporting Channels and Regulatory Interaction
- External Reporting to Designated Administrative Bodies and Regulatory Interaction
6. Building a Compliant and Effective Whistleblowing Culture
- Training, Governance and Continuous Improvement
7. Final Assessment
- Final Assessment
- 11 lessons
- Pass mark: 80%
- Completion certificate
You'll need a learner account to enrol.
Pay for 2–500 seats in one purchase. You'll receive an access code to share with your team.
Total: $995.00 + GST
Completion requirements
- Lessons and modules must be completed in order — each unlocks when the previous one is finished.
- Quizzes must be passed (pass mark 80%).
- Your certificate is issued automatically when every lesson is complete.
Unlock this course for free with a code from your organisation.