East Japan Railway Company

Tokyo, Japan

East Japan Railway Company, also known as JR East, is a major railway company in Japan. It operates various rail services including commuter trains and high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) services. As a key player in Japan's transportation network, JR East provides extensive rail connections across the eastern region of the country.

CCI Score

-5.14

April 18

Latest Event

JR East Falsification and Concealment Scandal

JR East has been exposed for repeatedly falsifying data regarding the pressure applied during the mounting of railway wheels since 2017. The company concealed these discrepancies to avoid triggering regulatory scrutiny, raising serious safety concerns and undermining corporate accountability.

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COLLABORATOR

East Japan Railway Company is currently rated as a Collaborator.

-5 to -9 CCI Score

In this category, companies align with authoritarian practices mainly to avoid trouble or regulatory conflict. Their compliance is driven by self-preservation, resulting in minimal resistance even as they participate in oppressive systems.

Latest Events

SEP

23

2024

JR East Falsification and Concealment Scandal
-66.13

JR East has been exposed for repeatedly falsifying data regarding the pressure applied during the mounting of railway wheels since 2017. The company concealed these discrepancies to avoid triggering regulatory scrutiny, raising serious safety concerns and undermining corporate accountability.
-70

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 4

The uncovered data falsification reflects a deliberate effort by JR East to conceal critical safety information regarding its wheel installation processes. By forgoing transparency and accountability, the company not only risked passenger and freight safety but also violated ethical business practices. This behavior undermines trust in corporate governance and regulatory compliance, warranting a strongly negative rating in the Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility category.

JR East Scandal: Data Falsification Exposed - Railway Supply
MAR

01

2023

JR East Human Rights Policy Implementation
64.61

JR East published its group policy on human rights in March 2023, reaffirming its commitment to uphold basic human rights across its operations. The policy emphasizes respect for diversity, prohibition of discrimination, and measures including training and a confidential hotline for addressing grievances, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for employees, customers, and business partners.
+80

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

April 4

JR East’s updated human rights policy demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical business practices by safeguarding human rights, preventing discrimination, and ensuring a supportive work environment. These measures reflect progressive, anti-authoritarian values consistent with upholding worker rights and promoting social justice.

JR East Group Policy on Human Rights | JR-EAST
APR

01

2022

Sustainable Procurement and Supplier Ethics Policy
51.59

JR East published a sustainable procurement policy outlining fair, non-discriminatory vendor selection procedures and a strong commitment to human rights by avoiding forced labor, child labor, and other human rights violations within its supply chain.
+70

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

April 4

The policy explicitly emphasizes respect for human rights and the work environment, including efforts to prevent forced labor and discrimination. This is a positive step in promoting strong labor relations and human rights practices.

Sustainable Procurement JR East Group Procurement Policy | JR-EAST
+70

Supply Chain Ethics

April 4

By establishing objective, equitable and transparent procurement procedures, JR East demonstrates a commitment to ethical supply chain management which minimizes risks of forced labor, bribery, and discrimination. This strengthens its role in sustainable business practices.

Sustainable Procurement JR East Group Procurement Policy | JR-EAST
SEP

22

2021

JR East Suspends Surveillance of Ex-Prisoners
24.16

JR East announced it will not use its facial recognition system to track former prisoners and parolees, citing insufficient social consensus on monitoring individuals who have served their sentences. The move, taken after initial plans to include such individuals in its surveillance program, represents a backtrack on potentially repressive technology deployment.
+30

Public and Political Behavior

April 4

By suspending plans to monitor ex-prisoners, JR East demonstrated responsiveness to public concerns and social consensus, thereby avoiding potential authoritarian overreach in its public and political behavior. This decision reflects a commitment to civil liberties, which is a positive signal from an anti-fascist perspective.

JR East back-pedals on surveillance of ex-prisoners at stations
+40

Provision of Repressive Technologies

April 4

JR East’s decision to suspend incorporating ex-prisoners in its facial recognition watch list directly reduces the risk of implementing overly invasive surveillance technology. This action limits the potential for the technology to be used in repressive ways, aligning with anti-fascist principles that oppose unauthorized monitoring of marginalized groups.

JR East back-pedals on surveillance of ex-prisoners at stations
JUL

19

2021

JR East Implements Controversial Facial Recognition Surveillance
-41.23

JR East began operating its AI-equipped facial recognition system in July 2021 at stations to monitor individuals— including those who have served sentences for serious crimes—by automatically cross-checking faces against a watch list. The system, deployed as part of terrorism countermeasures for the Tokyo Olympics, has sparked controversy over privacy infringements and the potential stigmatization of ex-offenders.
-60

Provision of Repressive Technologies

April 4

JR East’s use of facial recognition technology to monitor individuals—even those who have paid their debt to society—represents an overreach that undermines privacy rights and can be used as a tool for authoritarian state control. This surveillance system, which automatically checks individuals against a watch list, exemplifies the provision of repressive technologies that can stifle civil liberties.

JR East’s facial recognition system watch list in spotlight
APR

09

2021

JR East Faces Labor Lawsuit Over Dismissal of Elderly Drivers
-46.79

Former drivers at the Tsuchiura branch of JR Bus Kanto, a subsidiary of East Japan Railway Company, have filed a labor tribunal lawsuit contesting their dismissal amid COVID-19 operational cutbacks. The dismissed drivers, all over the age of 65 and on fixed-term contracts, claim unfair treatment, with discrepancies noted as only union members were dismissed in a previous related instance.
-70

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

April 4

The dismissal of elderly drivers under fixed-term contracts reflects a troubling disregard for worker rights and fair labor practices. Allegations hint at discriminatory treatment, especially given that only labor union members were dismissed earlier, suggesting inequitable practices that undermine worker protections.

Japan: Former drivers for JR Bus Kanto file lawsuit to overturn dismissal due to Covid-19
MAR

01

2017

JR East Fails to Disclose Data Tampering Misconduct
-22.16

JR East admitted that for seven years it manipulated data in its wheel-to-axle fitting process at a rail yard in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward. The misconduct, detected in March 2017, was not disclosed on the grounds that it did not violate any transport ministry ordinance, raising serious concerns about corporate transparency and ethical responsibility.
-50

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 4

JR East's decision to withhold disclosure of a significant data tampering incident for seven years undermines public trust and illustrates a neglect of ethical business practices. This lack of transparency can erode accountability and reflects poorly on the company’s commitment to ethical responsibility.

JR East failed to disclose data tampering for seven years