Hemp (“taima” or “asa” in Japanese) has a long tradition in Japan’s history and before 1948 its cultivation and processing was legal. Following the adoption of the 1948 Cannabis Control Act, hemp cultivation became subject to a licence issued by the local prefectural governor. Today, growing of hemp in Japan is in a legal grey area due to the lack of technical regulations with respect to the allowed amount of THC and an overall resistance of the local authorities to grant new or prolong existing cultivation licences. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current regulatory regime, covering all aspects from cultivation and processing, to finished products, extracts, medical cannabis and import/export.