Do Not Call refers to a framework in which consumers express their intent not to receive sales or solicitation calls and businesses are required to respect it. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) operates a nationwide list, the National Do Not Call Registry, where consumers add their own phone numbers. The effect of registering and the range of calls that fall outside the rules differ from scheme to scheme, so an overseas registry cannot simply be mapped onto the situation in Japan.
As of 2026, Japan has no nationwide Do Not Call scheme built on registering phone numbers. The corresponding framework is the ban on repeated solicitation in the Specified Commercial Transactions Act (Article 17): soliciting someone who has indicated that they will not enter into a contract is prohibited, except where the Act does not apply, such as transactions between businesses (Article 26). Putting that provision to work starts with refusing in words that clearly convey rejection. Plain statements such as "I do not need it" are the safest, while the Japanese phrase "kekko desu" can also be read as agreement and is best avoided. Vague answers like "I am busy right now" or "I will think about it" may not be taken as an indication that you will not enter into a contract.
Practical ways to reduce solicitation calls include carrier nuisance call blocking services, the call blocking features built into phones, and spam call filter apps. On landlines, using Number Display so that you can leave unknown numbers unanswered is also effective.
If persistent solicitation calls are a problem, record the trader's name, the phone number, the date and time, and what was being sold, then consult the consumer hotline (188). Keeping notes that show when the call came, which number it came from, and what was offered makes it easier to explain the situation. Where a trader breaches the disclosure duty or the ban on repeated solicitation, the competent minister can direct corrective measures (Article 22) and, where fairness in the transaction or purchasers' interests are found to be at serious risk, can order telephone solicitation operations to stop for a period of up to two years, with such orders being made public (Article 23). See How to Refuse Sales and Solicitation Calls for concrete steps.