There are hardly any days when we don’t use the internet in our daily lives, are there?
As we browse various pages and social media, online ads naturally catch our eye. Attractive phrases and images may spark our interest in a product. But are the claims in those ads true…?
A seminar to learn about the different types of online ads and what to watch out for when shopping online, “Consumer Seminar to Protect You: Feel Confident Knowing How to Deal with Online Ads,” was held at the annex of Geibunkan Hall on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
Here’s a report on the day.
The information presented is current as of the article’s publication in February 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the “Consumer Seminar to Protect You: Learn How to Safely Navigate Online Ads”?
“Consumer Seminar to Protect You: Feel Confident Knowing How to Deal with Online Ads” was held at Geibunkan Hall on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
The seminar was held as part of the Consumer Affairs Agency’s “Research and Verification Project on Publicity Methods to Raise Awareness of the Activities of Certified Consumer Organizations and the Injunction Request System.”
What are qualified consumer organizations and specified qualified consumer organizations?
Corporations certified by the Prime Minister as consumer organizations with the qualifications necessary to exercise the right to seek an injunction in order to protect the interests of an unspecified and large number of consumers.
What is an “injunction request”?
A system that allows qualified consumer organizations to demand that businesses stop unfair practices such as “unfair solicitation,” “unfair contract terms,” and “unfair representations.”Source: Consumer Affairs Agency | We Protect Your Assets: The Consumer Organization Litigation System
The seminar was held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online attendance. A total of 29 people of all ages attended in person, and another 15 joined online.
Certified Consumer Organization Activities Exhibition / Online Ad Check Quiz
After checking in and entering the venue, the first thing that caught my eye was the Certified Consumer Organization Activities Exhibition.
The seminar’s organizer, the qualified consumer organization in Okayama Prefecture, “Consumer Net Okayama,” presented real-life consumer trouble cases involving “dark patterns” on panels in an easy-to-understand exhibition.
Dark patterns
Methods that use website or app design, advertising, or systems to steer consumers toward unintended, disadvantageous choices (such as unnecessary spending, disclosing information they do not need to share, or entering into contracts against their wishes).
Before the seminar began, there was also an Online Ad Check Quiz.
Using an example of an ad for a diet supplement displayed on a smartphone, the quiz tested whether participants could correctly understand the ad’s content.
At the part that asked, “Q2: How much is the second order?”, I thought, “Maybe 5,500 yen?” But when I read the fine print in the online ad very carefully, it said, “From the second order onward, three bags will be delivered as part of a subscription plan.” In fact, 5,500 yen × 3 bags = 16,500 yen.
…I’d been completely fooled.
About Consumer Net Okayama
“Consumer Net Okayama,” a qualified consumer organization in Okayama Prefecture, is an NPO established on June 6, 2007, with the aim of becoming a qualified consumer organization. Since its establishment, it has undertaken activities such as the following.
- Holding consumer consultation sessions
- Requesting businesses to improve unfair contract terms
- Raising awareness to prevent consumer harm, among other activities
Recognized for its ongoing record of activities to protect the interests of an unspecified number of consumers (including protecting and supporting the rights and dignity of people in vulnerable positions, such as older adults and people with disabilities), it was certified by the Cabinet Office on December 8, 2015, as Japan’s 13th qualified consumer organization.
Lecture: Consumer Seminar to Protect You
The lecture was given by Yuri Harada, a director of the EC Network General Incorporated Association. EC Network General Incorporated Association focuses on providing online consultations to consumers about internet transactions and offering advice to help resolve their issues.
The main theme of this lecture was “Let’s improve our online literacy.”
Literacy
The ability to understand and interpret knowledge in a particular field and use it appropriately.
Simply having a vague idea of how the internet works means that your online literacy is low. The speaker explained that low online literacy makes people more vulnerable to harm. In this lecture, Ms. Harada shared an abundance of information she had gathered.
The topics included the following:
- Things to watch out for when installing smartphone apps
- Phishing scams
- What to check when shopping online
- When what you thought was a trial offer turns out to be a subscription, and more
One point that made me think, “Ah, that’s right. I need to be careful,” was the advice about what to check when shopping online.
We use online shopping so routinely in our daily lives. It’s very convenient, isn’t it? It’s important to check the key details in advance to shop safely.
For example, check the following:
- Return policy (for returns for personal reasons)
There is no cooling-off period for online shopping. - Contact information
In particular, don’t do business with sites that don’t provide a phone number. Phone support is inconvenient for businesses. - Payment methods and delivery time
These are important things to check. For bank transfers, check the branch name and account holder’s name, too. And more.
You realize that there are quite a lot of things you have to judge for yourself.
Terms of use and similar information are written at great length, so you may not feel like reading them… But they contain very important information, so it’s important not to skip them. It’s also important to save a copy of the screen (take a screenshot).
Consumer Trouble Consultation Session
After the lecture, a consumer trouble consultation session was held, with two lawyers and two judicial scriveners available to assist.
Certified Consumer Organization Injunction Request System
A representative of Consumer Net Okayama spoke about the certified consumer organization injunction request system as follows:
There are 26 certified consumer organizations nationwide. The injunction request system is “a system that prevents harm to large numbers of consumers through the voices of individual consumers.”
The first step in making an injunction request is for consumers to provide information. “You are the key.” When you experience consumer trouble, why not turn your frustration into a force for changing society’s rules?
From the Writer
Ms. Harada’s lecture was easy to understand throughout, and she presented the information in an entertaining and humorous way. This made it approachable and memorable for seminar attendees.
The lecture covered a wide range of topics, from familiar ones such as phishing scams to newer ones such as online games and fan activities, making it very comprehensive. The lecture provided a thorough understanding of how to deal with online ads.
I’d like to remember what I learned in the lecture when I see online ads or shop online.
“Consumer Seminar to Protect You: Feel Confident Knowing How to Deal with Online Ads” Information
| Name | Consumer Seminar to Protect You: Feel Confident Knowing How to Deal with Online Ads |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, January 24, 2026, 12:00 p.m.–4:10 p.m. |
| Location | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Admission | Free |
| Website | Consumer Net Okayama |
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