31 The Children and Families Agency and the Japanese Version of DBS
While the birthrate continues to decline, the number of child abuse cases is increasing yearly. Moreover, other critical issues related to children include child poverty, the isolation of young carers, and the rising number of wait-listed children. To tackle these problems, in June 2022, the government passed the Basic Act on Children’s Policy and the Bill on the Establishment of the Children and Families Agency. Subsequently, in April 2023, the Children and Families Agency was officially inaugurated.
In June 2024, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was passed to protect children from sexual abuse. This act includes establishing a Japanese version of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), requiring employers in the childcare sector to check the sexual offense records of prospective employees before hiring. It mandates government-approved schools and licensed nursery schools to ensure their employees have no history of sex crimes.
Previously, policies related to children were addressed by separate ministries with little interagency coordination: the Cabinet Office handled the declining birthrate, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare managed nursery schools and child guidance centers, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology oversaw kindergartens. To resolve this inefficiency, the Children and Families Agency now consolidates responsibilities related to childcare policies, except for kindergartens, which remain under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
こども家庭庁が創設された理由は? 少子高齢化の加速、子供の貧困、いじめや虐待、子育ての負担など幅広い子供の問題に、各省庁バラバラでなく一元化して対応することを目的として創設されました。


32 Tokyo Gubernatorial Election, 2024
The votes for the Tokyo gubernatorial election were counted on July 7, 2024. Incumbent Governor Yuriko Koike won a third term with a decisive majority, securing over 2.9 million votes. As a result, she is expected to continue pursuing her existing policies as governor, focusing on critical issues such as Tokyo’s population challenges and disaster preparedness.
A notable outcome of this election was that Shinji Ishimaru secured second place, surpassing Renho, who had been widely regarded as Yuriko Koike’s main rival. Despite lacking a political base in Tokyo or support from any major political parties, Ishimaru’s strong showing over Renho, who had the backing of a major party, may reflect significant public dissatisfaction with current party politics. Ishimaru’s effective use of social media highlighted the need for political strategists to rethink their campaign approaches fundamentally.
The election saw a record 56 candidates, leading to logistical challenges, including the overcrowding of electoral poster boards with posters from lesser-known or non-serious candidates. This has sparked debate about whether traditional poster boards are still necessary in the digital age. Additionally, some candidates used their allotted political broadcast time to discuss topics unrelated to metropolitan governance, prompting calls for stricter regulations on campaign activities.


33. Gender Gap and the Act on the Promotion of Women’s Active Engagement in Professional Life
The term “Gender Gap” refers to the disparity between men and women, which is a global issue that must be addressed to achieve gender equality. The World Economic Forum annually announces the Gender Gap Index to present this disparity in numerical terms. This year, Japan ranked 118th out of 146 countries, the lowest position among G7 nations. Japan ranked 72nd in the category of “education,” 58th in “health,” 113th in “political participation” (evaluating the participation rate of women as members of Parliament), and 120th in “economic participation” (assessing the male-to-female ratio in labor force participation).
The Japanese government has set a goal of achieving 35% female representation in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors. Currently, female representation stands at 17% in the House of Representatives and 33% in the House of Councilors. The “Basic Policy on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women 2023” includes a goal to achieve over 30% female executives in TSE Prime-listed companies by 2030.The Act on the Promotion of Women’s Active Engagement in Professional Life mandates the disclosure of key metrics, such as the ratio of female employees and the gender pay gap. However, it does not impose legal penalties on companies that fail to meet the established benchmarks for female employment.


34 Border-Related Issues Concerning Japan
One of the border-related issues recognized by the Japanese government is the Northern Territories dispute. Toward the end of the Second World War, the Soviet Union (now Russia) invaded four northern islands, expelled the Japanese residents, and has effectively governed the islands ever since. Japan has repeatedly requested that the Soviet Union return the territory, citing its military invasion as a violation of Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration.
To address the Northern Territories dispute, Japan implemented the “Exchange Without Visas” program in April 1992 to facilitate interaction between former Japanese residents and current Russian residents. However, in March 2022, Russia unilaterally canceled the agreement and terminated peace treaty negotiations concerning the islands.
Since 1954, South Korea has maintained de facto control over Takeshima Island. In 2005, the Shimane Prefectural Assembly designated February 22nd as “Takeshima Day,” prompting strong objections from South Korea.
Both China and Taiwan claim sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands. In 2012, the Japanese government nationalized a privately-owned island in the territory, which sparked intense anti-Japan demonstrations in mainland China. Following the enactment of the Sea Guard Law in February 2021, China’s Coast Guard was designated as a quasi-military organization with authorization to use military weapons.

35 National Security and Defense Budget
In December 2022, the Cabinet approved the “Three Defense-Related Documents,” comprising the “National Security Strategy,” “National Defense Strategy,” and “Defense Power Development Plan.” These documents outline the five-year defense power development plan, with a total budget of 43 trillion yen. The fiscal years 2023 to 2027 have been designated as the period for increasing the defense budget.
The government traditionally maintained a low self-defense budget, equivalent to less than one percent of GDP, but has decided to raise it to two percent, aligning with the NATO nations’ average. The government aims to strengthen its defense capabilities to address challenges in an unstable international order.
The defense budget for fiscal 2023 was 6.78 trillion yen, exceeding one percent of GDP. The fiscal 2024 defense budget increased to 7.9172 trillion yen, equivalent to 1.6 percent of GDP. The estimated request for the 2025 budget is 8.2389 trillion yen, a record high.
North Korea has been launching missile rockets more frequently over a wider range. China is building military bases in the South China Sea. Russia invaded Ukraine and has deployed anti-ship missiles on Etorofu Island. To address these challenges, the “Three Defense-Related Documents” now specify the possession of “counterstrike capabilities against enemy bases” after extensive discussions. These documents legally authorize attacks on enemy launch bases under certain conditions.
The scope of defense territories is expanding, now including outer space, cyberspace, and the microwave spectrum. New strategies are being developed in response to advancements in science and technology. Numerous issues remain unresolved in national security, such as securing adequate financial and human resources. In light of the growing importance of space security, the Air Self-Defense Force is set to be renamed the Aerospace Self-Defense Force by the fiscal year 2027.


36 Expansion of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery Exports and Food Self-Sufficiency Rate
Exports of Japanese agriculture, forestry, fishery products, and foods surpassed one trillion yen for the first time in 2021 and reached 1.4547 trillion yen in 2023, marking an 11th consecutive year of growth. Among export items, the top category was alcoholic beverages (135 billion yen, a 3% year-on-year decrease), followed by scallops (68.9 billion yen, a 24.4% decrease), and meat products (5.7 billion yen, an 11% increase).
Alcoholic beverages saw a decline in exports due to rising global living costs and China’s economic recession, with Japanese sake experiencing a 13.5% decrease and whisky a 10.6% decrease. Scallops, the leading marine product export, were significantly affected by import regulations imposed by China and Hong Kong. As part of its opposition to the release of treated water into the ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in August 2023, China announced a complete ban on Japanese marine product imports, which remains in effect.
Beef saw an increase in exports due to the recovery of the food-service industry in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The government has set an export goal of 2 trillion yen for 2025 and plans to support global marketing efforts, focusing on key export items.
China and Hong Kong account for 40% of marine product exports. Diversification of export markets is necessary to increase export volumes.


37 The Revised Road Traffic Act
The Revised Road Traffic Act was passed in April 2022, introducing a system in April 2023 that permits Level 4 self-driving vehicles to operate on public roads. ‘Level 4’ refers to full self-driving technology, capable of performing all driving tasks under specific conditions. Those who wish to become designated operators for vehicles on public roads under remote control need only submit a specific operation plan to the prefectural Public Safety Commission. This system is considered effective in sparsely populated areas where finding drivers is challenging. In May 2023, the first Level 4 operation on public roads began in Eiheiji Town, Fukui Prefecture.
Operating automatic delivery robots (remote-controlled small cars) is now permitted with the goal of enabling autonomous delivery services, provided the vehicle size meets the standards outlined in the advance notification.On July 1, 2023, electric scooters were classified as specified small motorized bicycles, which do not require a license for individuals aged 16 or older. The maximum speed limit is 20 kph, and wearing a helmet is strongly recommended. Several serious accidents involving electric scooters have occurred, raising public concerns about the need for stricter regulations.


37 My Number Card and My Number Health Insurance Certificate
The My Number Card system began operation in January 2016. This system links the My Number Card, issued at an individual’s request, to various public services, including pensions and health insurance. This integration simplifies administrative procedures and improves efficiency.
However, the system did not become as widely used as the government anticipated. To encourage greater adoption, the government unified health insurance certificates with the My Number Card. Starting in December 2024, the current health insurance certificate will be abolished, effectively requiring individuals to obtain a My Number Health Insurance Certificate. For those without one, a “Qualification Certificate” will be issued, offering benefits such as simpler hospital payment procedures and easier tax filing for medical expense deductions.
According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, the usage rate of My Number Health Insurance Certificates was only 9.9% as of June 2024. Critics argue that the plan to implement these changes by December may not be effective.
In May 2024, the government passed a revised regulation allowing all My Number Card functions to be integrated into smartphones. This smartphone integration is expected to boost the usage rate. Additionally, discussions about the next My Number Card system are planned for fiscal year 2026.
マイナンバーカード(英: Individual Number Card[1])は、数字12桁の個人番号(以降「マイナンバー」と表記)が記載された日本のICカード身分証である。正式名称は、個人番号カード(こじんばんごうカード)という。2024年11月末時点で人口の76.3 %に当たる9534万人が保有している。
39 Lowering the Age of Adulthood
The traditional definition of 20 years old as the beginning of adulthood, established during the Meiji Period, was reconsidered. In April 2022, a revised civil law was enacted to lower the age of adulthood to 18.
This change brings certain benefits, such as allowing individuals to obtain a 10-year passport at age 18. However, concerns have been raised about potential issues, including the ability to enter into credit card and loan contracts without parental consent.
Additionally, the revised Juvenile Law, enacted in April 2022, stipulated that individuals aged 18 and 19 are classified as “specific juveniles” and may face harsher punishments.

40 Potentially Vanishing Local Governments
The term ‘potentially vanishing local government’ refers to local governments that are predicted to disappear due to a rapid population decline, driven by the more than 50% reduction in women of childbearing age (20s and 30s) over 30 years by 2050.
The ‘Population Strategy Conference,’ consisting of experts and academics, defined this term and stated that approximately 40% of local governments, or 744 municipalities, might fall under this definition.
To prevent this disappearance, local governments must address the issue through consistent efforts, such as raising the birthrate by improving female employment opportunities and child-rearing conditions.
