You brought the phone you bought in your home country to Japan. Put in a SIM, and it works.
…That’s what you think, right? I think so too. But in Japan, using a wireless device without the “Giteki mark” can become a legal problem.
A disclosure first. I could not retrieve the official Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) page for this check. So this article is based on the scope of the Keitai Watch report (October 13, 2026) and general ways of thinking. I do not write the detailed legal conditions (penalties, the duration of special exceptions, and so on). Be sure to check the MIC’s official page.
I am an employee of Rakuten Group, and this article includes referral links for employees. This is my personal view.
Bottom line
- In Japan, communicating wirelessly with a device that has no Giteki mark may violate the Radio Act (as explained in the report)
- Giteki relates to each wireless function of a device. There are cases where Wi-Fi is certified but only LTE is not
- Devices bought overseas, parallel imports, and used devices may not have Giteki. Check before you use them
- If in doubt, ask the seller or manufacturer. Do not start communicating on your own judgment
What is the Giteki mark?
Giteki is short for “技術基準適合証明” (technical standards conformity certification).
Simply put, it is a mark showing that the wireless device has been confirmed to comply with Japan’s radio rules. It applies to many devices that emit radio waves, such as smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi routers and Bluetooth earphones.
Why is it needed? Radio waves share the same sky for everyone. It is generally explained that if radio waves that do not comply with the rules are emitted, they may interfere with other communications.
A real case: a tablet whose LTE was not Giteki-certified
This is what Keitai Watch reported on October 13, 2026.
- Subject: Philips tablets “T7250” and “T7335”
- What was not certified is the LTE communication function. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are certified and can continue to be used
- The seller had been selling them with LTE support listed, without sufficient checks under Japan’s Radio Act
- Guidance: do not use LTE communication (turn off mobile data, or remove the SIM)
- Response: the LTE support description was removed. LTE Giteki is planned to be obtained by the end of December. Returns are accepted until December 31
There are 2 important points to take from this.
- “It works on Wi-Fi, so everything is fine” is not true. You need to check by function, such as LTE
- Even when sold in a store, checks may be insufficient
What the article does not write: the number of units sold, the amount or method of refunds, the specific details of penalties, any action by the MIC, and a phone contact point.
How to think about checking before you use a device
The following is a general way of thinking, not an official procedure.
1. Is it a device sold for Japan? Devices sold for Japan in Japanese stores or online generally comply with Giteki. Even so, as in the case above, there are exceptions.
2. Is there a Giteki mark on the device, box or manual? On many devices, the Giteki mark is shown on the box, in the manual, or on the device’s settings screen (such as “Certification” or “Regulatory information”; the name differs by model). Where it is shown differs by model.
3. Devices bought overseas and parallel imports They may not have Japan’s Giteki. Even if it says “usable in Japan,” check for which functions that applies.
4. Used devices Overseas models may be mixed in. Before you buy, ask the seller about the model number and whether it has Giteki.
5. If you have just arrived in Japan It is said that there is a special exception system, under certain conditions, that lets visitors to Japan use devices without Giteki. However, I have not been able to confirm it on an official page this time. So I do not state whether the system exists, or its conditions or duration, in this article. Be sure to look at the MIC’s official page.
This is a separate matter from checking frequency bands
When choosing a device, one more thing needs checking.
- Giteki: whether the device complies with Japan’s radio rules (a legal matter)
- Band support: whether the device supports the frequencies of Japanese carriers (a matter of whether it connects)
Unless both are satisfied, you will not be in the state of “legally OK, and it connects.” Checking bands is covered in the article on checking band compatibility. Checking SIM locks is in the article on SIM locks.
What I have not been able to confirm
- The specific details of penalties for using a device without Giteki
- The conditions and duration of the special exception system for visitors to Japan
- The handling when a foreign resident who has lived in Japan for a long time uses a device from their home country
- Whether your device complies with Giteki (it differs by model, so I cannot judge it in this article)
Please check these on the MIC’s official page.
Summary
- Communicating with a wireless device without the Giteki mark may violate the Radio Act (as explained in the report)
- Checking is needed by function. There is a case where Wi-Fi is certified but LTE is not
- Check devices bought overseas, parallel imports and used devices before you use them
- Giteki (whether you can legally use it) and band support (whether it connects) are separate checks
- Check the detailed conditions on the MIC’s official page
Source: Keitai Watch “Philips tablets ‘T7250’ and ‘T7335’ lack LTE Giteki certification; users urged to stop communication use” (October 13, 2026) https://k-tai.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2147539.html
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