The Development of Segment Reporting in Japan: Achieving International Harmonization Through a Process of National Consensus

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explore the process by which Japanese accounting has moved towards international harmonization in respect of its segment reporting requirements. The segment reporting issue offers an interesting case because, despite the strong opposition of companies in Japan, the new legislation came into existence relatively quickly and was sequentially developed by the regulators through a consensus building process. The most important influence in this process was the Ministry of Finance (MOF) which directed the sequence of events leading to the introduction of the segment disclosure standards, with the Business Accounting Deliberation Council (BADC) serving as a channel of communication with various non-governmental parties involved. It is also noteworthy that segment reporting appears to have been seen as an essential element in the completion of the group accounting legislation in Japan - which has been the subject of growing international pressure.