Public Policy

Langley Esquire Suga Budget

Follow the Money: Understanding Suga’s Priorities in Japan’s Next Record Budget

Japan’s Ministry of Finance will soon release the budget for the fiscal year that begins next April. The spending package has taken on added significance with the new coronavirus pandemic weighing on the economy. The budget will also offer a look at how seriously the Suga administration is pursuing its stated priorities, such as advancing digitization and advanced communications.

George H. W. Bush

My Memory of George H. W. Bush

I was fortunate to spend an entire week in close-quarters with America’s 41st president during his first visit to Japan after leaving office.

The Digital Agency— Why Japan’s most Recent Modernization Push Is Serious

Suga to have a digital agency up and running by the end of 2021. Each ministry previously tackled digitization independently, leading to varying levels of success and end products, and no standardized administrative framework. The new agency will coordinate and unify efforts to modernize government services.

Suga Cabinet

Suga Cabinet Profiles 2021

The new cabinet was formed by Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide on September 16, 2020. With a lot of familiar faces at familiar posts, the Suga cabinet contains few surprises. It is a clear indication of Suga’s commitment to maintain Abe-era policies and priorities.

Policymaking in Japan

Behind The Curtain Of Policymaking In Japan

Langley Esquire Vice President Yutaka Matsuzaki reflects on more than 20 years’ experience as a policy secretary in the Diet, with lawmakers that include former Minister of Justice Yasuoka Okiharu and former Representative Koike Yuriko, currently the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor.

Discovering the Key Link in Japanese Policymaking Finding the right top official is crucial to effective government relations

Discovering the Key Link in Japanese Policymaking

Understanding and accessing the civil service is crucial to successful government relations in Japan. Career bureaucrats at the government agencies and ministries are among the most influential policymakers in the country.