(Sankei: March 25, 2015 – p. 5)
The government adopted at a cabinet meeting on March 24 bills related to streamlining the operations of the Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office, the expansion of which have been criticized. The main points of the government legislation are transferring and merging five operations of the Cabinet Secretariat, including the Secretariat of the Headquarters for Intellectual Property Strategy Promotion, into the Cabinet Office, and transferring nine operations of the Cabinet Office, including the Consumer Policy Council, to other ministries and the National Public Safety Commission. The government aims to pass the legislation during the current Diet session. The authorities of the Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office were expanded for the purpose of enhancing the cabinet capacity in 2001 when the ministries and agencies were reorganized. The reorganization this time around is aimed at streamlining the organizations’ operations and placing priority on their functions as control towers for important policies. (Abridged)
Government’s plan to streamline operations of Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office
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President |
After the review |
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Cabinet Secretariat |
Headquarters for Promotion of Privatization of Postal Services |
To be abolished |
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Headquarters for Promotion of Social Security System Reform |
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Headquarters for Promotion of Nuclear Safety Regulatory Organization Reform |
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Headquarters for Promotion of System to Nurture Legal Profession |
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Secretariat of Headquarters for Intellectual Property Strategy |
To be transferred to the Cabinet Office; Headquarters to remain in the Cabinet Secretariat |
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Secretariat of Headquarters for Comprehensive Ocean Policy of Japan |
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Headquarters for Promotion of Special Zones for Regional Government (doshu-sei) |
To be transferred or merged into the Cabinet Office |
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Headquarters for Regional Revitalization |
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Secretariat of Headquarters for Space Development Strategy |
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Cabinet Office |
Council for Promotion of Policies for Crime Victims |
National Public Safety Commission |
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Consumer Policy Council |
Consumer Agency |
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Food Safety Commission |
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Statistics Commission |
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications |
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Information Disclosure and Personal Information Protection Review Board |
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Supervisory Commission for Public-Private and Private-Private Competitive Tenderings |
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Council for Policy of Suicide Prevention |
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare |
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Council for Food Education Promotion |
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
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Central Traffic Safety Policy Council |
National Public Safety Commission; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
