{"id":4681,"date":"2021-02-08T07:07:58","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T07:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/?p=4681"},"modified":"2022-09-29T09:16:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T09:16:58","slug":"public-policy-updates-february-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Policy Updates &#8211; February 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4681\" class=\"elementor elementor-4681\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4f25e7c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4f25e7c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2672c81\" data-id=\"2672c81\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d55bdeb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d55bdeb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Policy-Radar-this2-e1573995722255-768x157.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-1982\" alt=\"Policy Radar Banner\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Policy-Radar-this2-e1573995722255-768x157.png 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Policy-Radar-this2-e1573995722255-300x62.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Policy-Radar-this2-e1573995722255.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92e6af0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92e6af0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><i>February 2021<\/i><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b45086 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9b45086\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Japanese Diet was convened on January 18, and most of its attention is expected to be on budgetary measures (the third supplementary budget for FY2020 and the regular budget for FY2021) and revisions to the so-called COVID-19 laws. The third supplementary budget has been passed after significant struggle in parliament, with the opposition criticizing the government over its poor response to the pandemic and a growing number of political scandals. Most of the budget was used to finance the government\u2019s Go To Travel campaign.<\/p><p>Support for the government of Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has not fared well. According to a Nikkei\/TV Tokyo opinion poll, the Cabinet\u2019s disapproval rate increased by 2 percentage points to reach 50%. Its approval was at 74% in September last year. A lack of leadership is cited as the main reason for the drop in support. Respondents have been critical of the government\u2019s reaction to the pandemic, with more than 75% saying the declaration of a state of emergency came too late. The government has been widely criticized for prioritizing the economy and not taking effective measures to stop people\u2019s movement.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d68066 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5d68066\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e17eb73 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e17eb73\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-827b622\" data-id=\"827b622\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f2ce17\" data-id=\"6f2ce17\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56e8c14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56e8c14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Want to Stay Informed?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d988277 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d988277\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sign up for monthly updates on the latest political developments impacting your industry in Japan:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50ca16a elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"50ca16a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Begin Mailchimp Signup Form -->\n<link href=\"\/\/cdn-images.mailchimp.com\/embedcode\/classic-10_7.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Georgia,Georgia,Georgia; }\n\t\/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.\n\t   We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. *\/\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"mc_embed_signup\">\n<form action=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.us7.list-manage.com\/subscribe\/post?u=954360333b636e024b53d2772&amp;id=88fae57ba5\" method=\"post\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" name=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" class=\"validate\" target=\"_blank\" novalidate>\n    <div id=\"mc_embed_signup_scroll\">\n\t<h2>Subscribe<\/h2>\n<div class=\"indicates-required\"><span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span> indicates required<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-EMAIL\">Email Address  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"email\" value=\"\" name=\"EMAIL\" class=\"required email\" id=\"mce-EMAIL\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-FNAME\">First Name  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"FNAME\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-FNAME\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-LNAME\">Last Name  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"LNAME\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-LNAME\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-MMERGE6\">Industry  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"MMERGE6\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-MMERGE6\">\n<\/div>\n\t<div id=\"mce-responses\" class=\"clear\">\n\t\t<div class=\"response\" id=\"mce-error-response\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"response\" id=\"mce-success-response\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>    <!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups-->\n    <div style=\"position: absolute; left: -5000px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"b_954360333b636e024b53d2772_88fae57ba5\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"clear\"><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe\" class=\"button\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<script type='text\/javascript' src='\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/downloads.mailchimp.com\/js\/mc-validate.js'><\/script><script type='text\/javascript'>(function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[6]='MMERGE6';ftypes[6]='text';fnames[5]='MMERGE5';ftypes[5]='text';fnames[7]='MMERGE7';ftypes[7]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);<\/script>\n<!--End mc_embed_signup-->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a0343c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a0343c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-003244d\" data-id=\"003244d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-30d3732 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"30d3732\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2161a5d5\" data-id=\"2161a5d5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6e67ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f6e67ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d907dac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d907dac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Despite calls for stricter measures from the public, the administration has been grilled in parliament for its plan to pass legislation containing criminal punishments for noncompliant people and businesses. Eventually, the opposition and ruling parties agreed to cut criminal punishment provisions from the revised infectious disease control law, while maintaining a framework for the imposition of fines. Although the parties reached an agreement, the tense debate over the issue early on may be a preview of the upcoming months. Coupled with growing instability within the LDP leadership, this may make it difficult for Suga to stay on as premier.<\/p>\n<p>This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar covers developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ec02df elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ec02df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>Healthcare:<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf1e01b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cf1e01b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"404\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/iStock-1291344108-768x404.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-4683\" alt=\"PR February Healthcare\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/iStock-1291344108-768x404.jpg 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/iStock-1291344108-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/iStock-1291344108-scaled.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/iStock-1291344108-1536x808.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/iStock-1291344108-2048x1078.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c26a38 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0c26a38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7535200 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7535200\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Suga says Japan will secure 310 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67e1dd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67e1dd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>During a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, Suga said that he expects the country to secure over 310 million COVID-19 shots. The vaccination rollout will start with medical professionals, people aged 65 or older and people with pre-existing medical conditions. Suga said that the government would do its utmost to share scientific information regarding effectiveness and adverse effects with the public. The government has secured doses from Pfizer\u2019 for about 72 million people, more than half the country\u2019s total population. It has also signed an agreement with AstraZeneca for 60 million people, and another with Moderna for 25 million people. The Pfizer vaccine is still under review by the Health Ministry, but is expected to be approved on February 15 for people aged 16 and older. Moderna is not expected to receive approval before May, while Astrazeneca just filed for approval at the beginning of February. Health Minister Tamura Norihisa has expressed confidence that the government can start its vaccination campaign now that it has secured a contract. It is rumored that the ministry will start vaccinating the general public around April-May, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu has noted that there is still no detailed schedule. There were worries that the EU\u2019s latest export curbs on vaccines would severely impact Japan\u2019s supply, but the EU\u2019s approval of exports to Japan has given the government a clearer picture of its vaccination schedule.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc2ed36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bc2ed36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Growing calls for separation of the Health Ministry from Labor and Welfare units <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e8af7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e8af7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is facing growing calls for a reorganization. The three ministries were merged in 2000 in an attempt to centralize government and break bureaucratic sectionalism. Some members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have called for the ministry to be broken up as it has been involved in numerous scandals. On top of this the pandemic has increased the Health Ministry\u2019s responsibilities, creating greater incentives to split off the labor section. Administrative Reform Minister Kono Taro said that the government is currently focused on fighting COVID-19, but added that the LDP would seriously consider the matter after the pandemic ends.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> The Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs, which provides the prime minister with significant control over the appointment of senior ministry officials, is also the subject of proposed administrative reforms. Critics say the current situation leads top officials to follow the wishes of political leaders, rather than the needs of the whole population. However, since the 2014 administrative reforms, the government has been able to effectively control one of the world\u2019s most powerful bureaucracies. These reforms are not priorities for Administrative Reform Minister Kono, who is focused on creating a centralized vaccination program and digitizing government procedures.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f8b9ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7f8b9ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">MHLW begins periodic discussions on the revision of Clinical Research Law<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-feb993e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"feb993e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Health Ministry has begun considering the revision of the Clinical Research Law. So far, discussions have taken place through the Health Science Council clinical research subcommittee, which aims to compile a set of proposals by the end of fiscal 2022. The MHLW is required to review the law five years after its enactment and recommend necessary revisions. The subcommittee has focused on four areas: generic drugs, the introduction of the \u201csponsor\u201d concept, the reduction of administrative burdens and the positioning of observational research. On generic drugs, the study group is considering whether low-risk clinical research should be excluded from the specified clinical research category through a review of the off-label scope. On the sponsor concept, the ministry wants the panel to further discuss whether the idea can be introduced into the Clinical Research Law to centralize the management of study planning, monitoring and reporting. The subcommittee will meet five or six more times to discuss these issues, and report to MHLW. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f52db28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f52db28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Government considering use of My Number IDs for a unified vaccine rollout<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b534871 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b534871\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Japanese government is mulling the use of its national ID system for the coronavirus vaccine rollout program. The government wants a unified approach to distributing the vaccines, in contrast to how economic aid was delivered at the beginning of the pandemic. The government is considering using the \u201cMy Number\u201d ID system, rather than having vaccines distributed differently in each municipality through a coupon system. The government wants to link vaccination coupons to My Number identification numbers under a centralized information system from spring onwards. Suga has said that he is thinking of different ways to manage the vaccination system\u2019s data.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> A project team within the LDP has been working to compile a proposal to ensure a smooth vaccination system before inoculations begin in late February. The team is under both The Research Commission on the Social Security System and the Coronavirus Control Headquarters. The project team is discussing ways to secure a stable supply of vaccines for Japan, ensure quick delivery to healthcare institutions, allocate the number of vaccines per healthcare institution, ensure fastest rollouts to target populations, ensure safety of medical staff and people at vaccination sites and, lastly, respond to adverse vaccine reactions. Issues like getting vaccines to remote islands and small villages, or people unable to go to vaccination sites because of their medical conditions have also been discussed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e663685 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e663685\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b><u>Digital:<\/u><\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab2b607 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ab2b607\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72d285b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"72d285b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">METI to promote digital reform by pairing foreign startups with Japanese companies<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80afbb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80afbb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This month, the government will establish a new framework to promote cooperation between foreign startups and medium-sized enterprises located in rural areas. The aim of the program is to advance the digitization of domestic companies\u2019 operations. METI will specifically pair domestic midsize firms with foreign startups by introducing them, setting up meetings and carrying out market research. The government will provide support in five specific areas: decarbonization, healthcare, mobility, retail and agritech. The latter will get significant funding from the FY2021 budget. Foreign startups targeted will be from Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Israel and Australia. Through the same framework, the Industry Ministry will also advise and assist the companies in investing in and acquiring foreign companies.<\/p><p><i><span style=\"color: #b31b1b;\">Langley Insight<\/span>:<\/i> The initiative indicates the government is taking big steps to promote digital transformation, especially relating to domestic companies making parts and materials. A senior official of METI believes that the program through the pairing of foreign startups and domestic companies will advance the momentum for digital reform within the country.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb92f99 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fb92f99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><u>Energy<\/u><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6664e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a6664e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/windmills-984137_1920-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-4685\" alt=\"PR February Energy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/windmills-984137_1920-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/windmills-984137_1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/windmills-984137_1920-scaled.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/windmills-984137_1920-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-433faa7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"433faa7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80caa04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"80caa04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>FSA to favor companies carrying out decarbonization efforts through financing<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b56aab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b56aab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Financial Services Agency (FSA) will ask banks and companies to increase their decarbonization efforts through the addition of measures in their bank guidance policy, ultimately favoring those companies that invest or want to invest in renewables. The FSA will also request companies show internal information about climate change. This will be done by encouraging the disclosure of climate change information through the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. Companies wishing to reduce carbon emissions will also get support from the FSA, which will ask banks to support change through advice and funding. This said, the FSA will not push for disinvestment from polluting companies. The FSA also convened its first expert panel meeting on sustainable finance so as to discuss climate change and sustainable growth, aiming to compile a set of proposals for this summer. The efforts will lead to easier fundraising and investment for eco-friendly companies. Guidelines will be discussed in cooperation with METI and the Ministry of the Environment. This change is in line with Japan\u2019s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2050. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8eb31ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8eb31ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Development Bank of Japan launches \u00a553 billion fund for wind power energy<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ff1360 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ff1360\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Development Bank of Japan, a government-institution, has begun a \u00a553 billion fund to promote the expansion of Japan\u2019s wind power sector. Funding comes from insurers, regional banks, Green Power Investment (GPI) and the Development Bank of Japan itself. The fund has already bought three wind farms and two solar panel projects, with an estimated energy capacity of around 220 megawatts. The development bank has partnered with GPI for a number of its projects, but it is considering partnering with other energy providers to help them build more energy infrastructure in Japan. The government deems wind energy as a critical asset to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Purchasing facilities so providers can reinvest capital in new projects is a way of attracting them to Japan. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6c5787 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a6c5787\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19ed7fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"19ed7fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Langley Esquire provides a full range of government &amp; public affairs consulting services, including policy &amp; media monitoring, stakeholder mapping, strategic communications, procurement and government relations. We craft unique solutions tailored to meet our clients&#8217; needs across industry sectors including technology, energy, healthcare, finance, transportation &amp; infrastructure, defense, and beyond.<\/p><p>As the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring unprecedented impact around the world, public and private sectors rush to adapt to a rapidly-changing global environment. While there is uncertainty for what lies ahead, new opportunities emerge for public-private partnerships. Every day brings new insights, opportunities, and technology that affect Japanese politics, business, and society.<\/p><p>If you are struggling to make sense of\u00a0 policymaking and engage your key stakeholders across government, media, and academia, contact us to learn more about what we can accomplish for you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b9b6d5 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"9b9b6d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md elementor-animation-grow\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/contact\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-envelope\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">CONTACT US<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54a6040 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"54a6040\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96c20b7 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"96c20b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-align-justify\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M432 416H16a16 16 0 0 0-16 16v32a16 16 0 0 0 16 16h416a16 16 0 0 0 16-16v-32a16 16 0 0 0-16-16zm0-128H16a16 16 0 0 0-16 16v32a16 16 0 0 0 16 16h416a16 16 0 0 0 16-16v-32a16 16 0 0 0-16-16zm0-128H16a16 16 0 0 0-16 16v32a16 16 0 0 0 16 16h416a16 16 0 0 0 16-16v-32a16 16 0 0 0-16-16zm0-128H16A16 16 0 0 0 0 48v32a16 16 0 0 0 16 16h416a16 16 0 0 0 16-16V48a16 16 0 0 0-16-16z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c71edec elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c71edec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Be the First to Receive Future Updates!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7c6744c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7c6744c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a343cf8\" data-id=\"a343cf8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e667d7\" data-id=\"0e667d7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb90a51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"fb90a51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Begin Mailchimp Signup Form -->\n<link href=\"\/\/cdn-images.mailchimp.com\/embedcode\/classic-10_7.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Georgia,Georgia,Georgia; }\n\t\/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.\n\t   We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. *\/\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"mc_embed_signup\">\n<form action=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.us7.list-manage.com\/subscribe\/post?u=954360333b636e024b53d2772&amp;id=88fae57ba5\" method=\"post\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" name=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" class=\"validate\" target=\"_blank\" novalidate>\n    <div id=\"mc_embed_signup_scroll\">\n\t<h2>Subscribe<\/h2>\n<div class=\"indicates-required\"><span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span> indicates required<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-EMAIL\">Email Address  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"email\" value=\"\" name=\"EMAIL\" class=\"required email\" id=\"mce-EMAIL\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-FNAME\">First Name  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"FNAME\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-FNAME\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-LNAME\">Last Name  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"LNAME\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-LNAME\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-MMERGE6\">Industry  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"MMERGE6\" class=\"required\" id=\"mce-MMERGE6\">\n<\/div>\n\t<div id=\"mce-responses\" class=\"clear\">\n\t\t<div class=\"response\" id=\"mce-error-response\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"response\" id=\"mce-success-response\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>    <!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups-->\n    <div style=\"position: absolute; left: -5000px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"b_954360333b636e024b53d2772_88fae57ba5\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"clear\"><input type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe\" class=\"button\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<script type='text\/javascript' src='\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/downloads.mailchimp.com\/js\/mc-validate.js'><\/script><script type='text\/javascript'>(function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[6]='MMERGE6';ftypes[6]='text';fnames[5]='MMERGE5';ftypes[5]='text';fnames[7]='MMERGE7';ftypes[7]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);<\/script>\n<!--End mc_embed_signup-->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce570f2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce570f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a8d1457\" data-id=\"a8d1457\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5a4a601 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5a4a601\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e14164\" data-id=\"7e14164\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c47609a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c47609a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1969452 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1969452\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e71cd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0e71cd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">See Related Content:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f2b70b elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"2f2b70b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-4709 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-media category-public-affairs tag-astrazeneca tag-china tag-cold-chain tag-eu tag-global-health tag-government-affairs tag-healthcare tag-japan tag-moderna tag-pfizer tag-public-affairs tag-public-affairs-japan tag-public-policy tag-us tag-vaccines tag-1041\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/event-alert-the-us-japan-alliance-in-global-health-covid-19-and-beyond\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/US-Japan-Alliance-in-Global-Health-300x169.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-4712\" alt=\"Vaccine Event\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/US-Japan-Alliance-in-Global-Health-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/US-Japan-Alliance-in-Global-Health.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/US-Japan-Alliance-in-Global-Health-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/US-Japan-Alliance-in-Global-Health-1536x864.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/event-alert-the-us-japan-alliance-in-global-health-covid-19-and-beyond\/\" >\n\t\t\t\t[Event Alert] The US-Japan Alliance in Global Health: COVID-19 and Beyond\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The global race to deploy vaccines is underway, and Western countries are rushing to inoculate their populations as their medical system strain under the burden posed by the pandemic. <\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/event-alert-the-us-japan-alliance-in-global-health-covid-19-and-beyond\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about [Event Alert] The US-Japan Alliance in Global Health: COVID-19 and Beyond\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tFebruary 9, 2021\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-4651 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-uncategorized tag-coronavirus tag-covid tag-covid-19 tag-economic-policy tag-japan tag-japanese-government tag-japanese-politics tag-pm-suga tag-public-health tag-state-of-emergency tag-tokyo tag-tokyo-metropolitan-government\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/the-japanese-governments-2020-response-to-covid-19\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/COVID-Report-Logo-300x157.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-3077\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/COVID-Report-Logo-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/COVID-Report-Logo.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/COVID-Report-Logo-768x402.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/the-japanese-governments-2020-response-to-covid-19\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe Japanese Government&#8217;s 2020 Response to COVID-19\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Langley Esquire is pleased to release the COVID Report 2020. Over the course of the last year, we have been tracking the Japanese government&#8217;s economic and public health response to the new coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/the-japanese-governments-2020-response-to-covid-19\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Japanese Government&#8217;s 2020 Response to COVID-19\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJanuary 21, 2021\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-4111 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-digital category-media category-politics category-public-affairs category-public-policy tag-coronavirus tag-digital tag-digital-transfomation tag-digitization tag-e-japan tag-government-affairs tag-government-services tag-healthcare tag-japan tag-langley-esquire tag-market tag-telemedicine tag-u-s\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/digitization-in-japan\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-300x200.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-4202\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3.png 1024w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-1536x1024.png 1536w, https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/1-3-2048x1365.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/digitization-in-japan\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe Digital Agency\u2014 Why Japan\u2019s most Recent Modernization Push Is Serious\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>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.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/digitization-in-japan\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Digital Agency\u2014 Why Japan\u2019s most Recent Modernization Push Is Serious\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tOctober 22, 2020\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":4690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[255,17,393],"tags":[1851,1854,1779,1100,1853,1405,149,145,1029,1300,1464,1850,986,147,1820,258,1818,1852],"class_list":["post-4681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-public-affairs","category-public-policy","tag-clinical","tag-development-bank","tag-digital","tag-energy","tag-fsa","tag-healthcare","tag-japanese-government","tag-japanese-politics","tag-ldp","tag-meti","tag-mhlw","tag-mynumber","tag-politics-in-japan","tag-public-policy","tag-renewables","tag-technology","tag-vaccines","tag-wind-energy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Public Policy Updates - February 2021 - Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy and government developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"\/en\/https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Japan Public Policy Updates - February 2021\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"\/en\/https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/langleyesquire\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-08T07:07:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-09-29T09:16:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Timothy Langley\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Japan Public Policy Updates - February 2021\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@langleyesquire\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@langleyesquire\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Timothy Langley\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Timothy Langley\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7731caca44d05578e362d3b614466911\"},\"headline\":\"Public Policy Updates &#8211; February 2021\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-08T07:07:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-09-29T09:16:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1870,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/3-1.png\",\"keywords\":[\"clinical\",\"development bank\",\"Digital\",\"energy\",\"FSA\",\"healthcare\",\"Japanese government\",\"Japanese politics\",\"ldp\",\"meti\",\"mhlw\",\"MyNumber\",\"politics in japan\",\"public policy\",\"renewables\",\"technology\",\"vaccines\",\"wind energy\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Politics\",\"Public Affairs\",\"Public Policy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2020\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/\",\"name\":\"Public Policy Updates - February 2021 - Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/3-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-08T07:07:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-09-29T09:16:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy and government developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/3-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/3-1.png\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":536,\"caption\":\"PR February Theme\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Public Policy Updates &#8211; February 2021\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Langley Esquire\",\"description\":\"The Longest-Standing and Most Experienced Government Relations &amp; Public Policy Agency In Japan\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"The Government Relations And Policy Agency of Japan\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Organization\",\"Place\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Langley Esquire\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/langleyesquire\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/langleyesquire\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/langley-esquire\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/langleyesquire\"],\"telephone\":[],\"openingHoursSpecification\":[{\"@type\":\"OpeningHoursSpecification\",\"dayOfWeek\":[\"Monday\",\"Tuesday\",\"Wednesday\",\"Thursday\",\"Friday\",\"Saturday\",\"Sunday\"],\"opens\":\"09:00\",\"closes\":\"17:00\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7731caca44d05578e362d3b614466911\",\"name\":\"Timothy Langley\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cdaec924bf35d2a934bbae719a9218307dc2b3681b5b3e5c82259569222605b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cdaec924bf35d2a934bbae719a9218307dc2b3681b5b3e5c82259569222605b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cdaec924bf35d2a934bbae719a9218307dc2b3681b5b3e5c82259569222605b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Timothy Langley\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/author\\\/timothy\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/en\\\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Langley_Esquire_Logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/langleyesquire.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Langley_Esquire_Logo.jpg\",\"width\":400,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"Langley Esquire\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Public Policy Updates - February 2021 - Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan","description":"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy and government developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"\/en\/https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Japan Public Policy Updates - February 2021","og_description":"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.","og_url":"\/en\/https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/\/","og_site_name":"Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/langleyesquire\/","article_published_time":"2021-02-08T07:07:58+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-09-29T09:16:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":536,"url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Timothy Langley","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Japan Public Policy Updates - February 2021","twitter_description":"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png","twitter_creator":"@langleyesquire","twitter_site":"@langleyesquire","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Timothy Langley","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/"},"author":{"name":"Timothy Langley","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7731caca44d05578e362d3b614466911"},"headline":"Public Policy Updates &#8211; February 2021","datePublished":"2021-02-08T07:07:58+00:00","dateModified":"2022-09-29T09:16:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/"},"wordCount":1870,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png","keywords":["clinical","development bank","Digital","energy","FSA","healthcare","Japanese government","Japanese politics","ldp","meti","mhlw","MyNumber","politics in japan","public policy","renewables","technology","vaccines","wind energy"],"articleSection":["Politics","Public Affairs","Public Policy"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2020","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/","name":"Public Policy Updates - February 2021 - Langley Esquire Government Relations &amp; Public Affairs: Getting the impossible done in Japan","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png","datePublished":"2021-02-08T07:07:58+00:00","dateModified":"2022-09-29T09:16:58+00:00","description":"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy and government developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png","width":1024,"height":536,"caption":"PR February Theme"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Public Policy Updates &#8211; February 2021"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/","name":"Langley Esquire","description":"The Longest-Standing and Most Experienced Government Relations &amp; Public Policy Agency In Japan","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/#organization"},"alternateName":"The Government Relations And Policy Agency of Japan","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Organization","Place"],"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/#organization","name":"Langley Esquire","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/","logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#local-main-organization-logo"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#local-main-organization-logo"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/langleyesquire\/","https:\/\/x.com\/langleyesquire","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/langley-esquire","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/langleyesquire"],"telephone":[],"openingHoursSpecification":[{"@type":"OpeningHoursSpecification","dayOfWeek":["Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday","Sunday"],"opens":"09:00","closes":"17:00"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7731caca44d05578e362d3b614466911","name":"Timothy Langley","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cdaec924bf35d2a934bbae719a9218307dc2b3681b5b3e5c82259569222605b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cdaec924bf35d2a934bbae719a9218307dc2b3681b5b3e5c82259569222605b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cdaec924bf35d2a934bbae719a9218307dc2b3681b5b3e5c82259569222605b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Timothy Langley"},"url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/author\/timothy\/"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/public-policy-updates-february-2021\/#local-main-organization-logo","url":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Langley_Esquire_Logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Langley_Esquire_Logo.jpg","width":400,"height":400,"caption":"Langley Esquire"}]}},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png",1024,536,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1-300x157.png",300,157,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1-768x402.png",768,402,true],"large":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1-1024x536.png",1024,536,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png",1024,536,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png",1024,536,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3-1.png",18,9,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Timothy Langley","author_link":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/author\/timothy\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"This month\u2019s edition of Policy Radar focuses on policy developments in Healthcare, Digital and Energy.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4681"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4751,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4681\/revisions\/4751"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langleyesquire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}