Japanese Courts Order Asbestos Compensation for Construction Workers
Published on 07/29/2026 at 18:27 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Japanese courts have ordered major building material manufacturers to pay compensation to former construction workers and their families for health damage caused by asbestos exposure, in two separate rulings that carry significant implications for employer liability and product safety standards.
The decisions, handed down by the Osaka District Court and the Tokyo High Court on Wednesday, centred on the manufacturers' failure to provide adequate warnings on products containing the hazardous material. The rulings follow a landmark 2021 Supreme Court decision that established manufacturer liability for asbestos-related health issues, and signal continuing legal pressure on companies to account for historical safety failures.
Osaka Court Awards 456 Million Yen
The Osaka District Court ordered eight manufacturers to pay approximately 456 million yen in damages to 61 plaintiffs, comprising 27 former construction workers and their bereaved relatives. The claimants, who filed lawsuits between 2020 and 2023, had originally sought around 780 million yen from 12 companies.
Presiding Judge Shinji Narita found the eight companies liable for failing to display warnings on their products about the risks of asbestos inhalation. The manufacturers named in the ruling are:
- A&A Material
- Nichias
- Taiheiyo Cement
- Panasonic Holdings
- Daiken
- Nitto Boseki
- Nozawa
- MMK
The court applied a market-share presumption to determine liability, ruling that companies with a market share exceeding 10% could be presumed to have had their materials present at the construction sites where the workers were employed. The judge established that the duty to provide warning labels began in January 1974. Notably, the court newly recognised the liability of three manufacturers specifically related to ceiling board production.
While the ruling provided some relief to claimants, legal representatives indicated they are considering an appeal regarding the four manufacturers not held liable in this decision. In a similar case in June 2023, 12 companies were ordered to pay more than 940 million yen in damages.
Tokyo High Court Rules on Remanded Case
In a separate ruling on the same day, the Tokyo High Court ordered three companies — Taiheiyo Cement, Nichias, and A&A Material — to pay a total of approximately 21 million yen to eight plaintiffs. This decision followed a remand of the case from a higher court.
The court's findings focused on workers involved in new construction projects, determining that the manufacturers' duty to warn existed from April 1975 onward. However, the ruling excluded outdoor workers and demolition contractors from compensation, a distinction that led some plaintiffs to signal their intent to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Calls for Industry-Wide Compensation Fund
Since the 2021 Supreme Court decision, the Japanese government has created a benefit system for affected workers, but legal battles continue as victims seek direct accountability and compensation from the private sector.
Following the Osaka verdict, the plaintiffs' legal team reiterated their call for the establishment of a compensation fund involving the manufacturers. Such a fund would aim to provide standardised relief to victims without the need for prolonged individual litigation. One plaintiff expressed relief at the court's acknowledgement of responsibility, noting that the legal process had continued long after the passing of family members affected by asbestos exposure.
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