(As of Feb. 2003)
for Japanese Think Tanks"
1. Objective
Given the ongoing drastic changes in Japan's economic and social environments, a new policy-making process capable of providing an alternative to the existing government and bureaucracy-centered process and of broadening the range of citizen involvement is being sought with the aim of enabling further maturation of democratic process. The role to be played by think tanks, as alternative policy-making organizations, is expected to become increasingly important.
The National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA), a special corporate entity authorized and supervised by the Cabinet Office, is in the midst of an intensive period of review and reform (until the end of fiscal 2005), in accordance with the Reorganization and Rationalization Plan for Special Public Institutions (approved by the Cabinet on December 19, 2001). The plan stipulates that all such public institutions must be comprehensively reviewed, and if necessary must reform their institutional structures to increase their efficiency and productivity. NIRA, one such institution, is presently examining its financial base and evaluating its research results.
To further this process, the "Panel to Discuss the Optimal Direction for Japanese Think Tanks" was established in December 2002 as a body to advise NIRA's Chairman, Yotaro Kobayashi, and has been closely examining the most desirable role to be played by Japanese think tanks and clarifying the nature of reforms required at NIRA.
2. Issues for discussion
1) The role of think tanks in the policy-making process and the present status of think tanks in other countries
2) Present status and problems of Japanese think tanks
3) The functions to be fulfilled by Japanese think tanks
4) Measures to be taken to enable these functions and the necessary direction for NIRA reforms (Optimal range of activities and system of organization)
3. Members of the Panel
[ Chairperson ]
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Junichi NISHIZAWA: President, Iwate Prefectural University
[ Members ]
| Yoshihisa AKIYAMA: | Chairman, Kansai Economic Federation Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. |
| Makoto IIDA: | Founder of the Board of Directors, SECOM Co., Ltd. |
| Heita KAWAKATSU: | Professor, International Research Center for Japanese Studies |
| Tadayoshi KUSANO: | General Secretary, The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) |
| Naohiko JINNO: | Professor, Graduate School of Economics, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo |
| Akihiko TANAKA: | Director, Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo |
| Keiko NAKAMURA: | Director General, JT Biohistory Research Hall |
| Toru HAYANO: | Senior Staff Writer, Asahi Shimbun |
| Hiroya MASUDA: | Governor, Iwate Prefecture |
| Yuzaburo MOGI: | Vice Chairperson, Japan Association of Corporate Executives (KEIZAI DOYUKAI) President & CEO, Kikkoman Corporation |
| Taizo YAKUSHIJI: | Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University |
4. Observers, etc.
1) Members of the Cabinet Office will participate in the meetings of the panel as observers.
2) Representatives of major overseas think tanks will be appointed as observers and will be asked to offer opinions via e-mail, etc.
3) Interviews will be conducted with external specialists as necessary.
5. Schedule
January 21, 2003: First meeting of the panel
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Several further meetings will be held following the first meeting.
June - July 2003: The results of the discussions will be summarized and published.
6. Dissemination of information
1) After each meeting of the panel, summaries of the discussions held and the materials utilized in that meeting will be promptly published in Japanese on NIRA's website (http://www.nira.go.jp/introj/03/arikata/index.html).
2) NIRA welcomes opinions from concerned individuals in Japan and abroad at:
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pprd@nira.go.jp.
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