Aims To examine the efficacy and safety of once-weekly dulaglutide 0.75mg monotherapy compared with once-daily liraglutide 0.9mg in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) for 52weeks. Methods We conducted a phase III, randomized, 52-week (26-week primary endpoint), active- and placebo-controlled trial comparing 492 Japanese patients (dulaglutide, n=281; liraglutide, n=141; and placebo, n=70). Participants and investigators were blinded to treatment assignment for dulaglutide and placebo but not for liraglutide (open-label comparator); after 26weeks, patients randomized to placebo were switched to once-weekly dulaglutide 0.75mg (open-label). The present paper reports results for patients treated with dulaglutide and patients treated with liraglutide for 52 weeks. Results At week 52, dulaglutide decreased HbA1c significantly from baseline compared with liraglutide least squares mean difference: -0.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.39, -0.01; p=0.04. At week 52 (last observation carried forward), dulaglutide significantly decreased pre- and post-dinner blood glucose (BG) levels, the mean of seven-point self-monitored BG profiles, the mean of all postprandial BG levels and circadian variation compared with liraglutide. Body weight was generally stable in both groups through 52weeks. The most frequently reported adverse events were nasopharyngitis, constipation, nausea and diarrhoea. Eight dulaglutide-treated (2.9%) and four liraglutide-treated (2.9%) patients reported hypoglycaemia, with no event being severe. Conclusions Monotherapy with once-weekly dulaglutide 0.75mg was effective and safe in Japanese patients with T2D, with better glycaemic control compared with once-daily liraglutide 0.9mg.