Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) officially launched the JC-STAR (Labeling Scheme based on Japan Cyber-Security Technical Assessment Requirements) on March 25, 2025, establishing a national-level certification standard for the cybersecurity of IoT products in the Japanese market.

JC-STAR ★1 (Level 1) serves as the common baseline certification applicable to all IoT products. It adopts a Self-Declaration approach, allowing product vendors to complete their own assessment and submit applications directly to the IPA — without the need for third-party involvement. This offers significant advantages including a low entry barrier, short turnaround time, and controllable costs.

Government policies are accelerating market adoption. In September 2025, the Japanese government revised the Guidelines for Formulating Countermeasure Standards for Government Agencies, explicitly incorporating JC-STAR into the selection criteria for government IoT procurement. Local municipalities, critical infrastructure operators, and subsidy programs (such as the Ministry of the Environment's subsidy launched in April 2026) have progressively followed suit. Starting in 2027, the power sector will further require JC-STAR ★1 labels as a mandatory condition for grid connection of applicable equipment.

Cerpass has completed its comprehensive research and advisory framework for the JC-STAR scheme, offering end-to-end services covering GAP analysis, documentation preparation, evidence compilation, and application submission for a wide range of products — including network cameras, communication devices, smart home appliances, and industrial IoT equipment. Our services enable clients to swiftly capture business opportunities in the Japanese market.