Editorial

17:05 JST, January 31, 2026

There is no end to the number of cases in which unsafe and poor-quality items, such as electrical appliances, are mixed in with other products sold on online shopping sites, leading to accidents. It is essential to eliminate malicious businesses and protect consumers.

The domestic e-commerce market, including online shopping, has reached about ¥26 trillion. With expectations for further growth, it can be said that it has become an important part of consumers’ daily lives.

With the expansion of the market, the increase in the number of accidents has become a problem. In 2024, about 1,300 cases were reported as “serious product incidents” that resulted in consumer deaths or fires. Of the cases in which it was known how the products involved had been acquired, about 30% had........

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