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Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office
6-1, Nagata-cho 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8914 Japan

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Administrative Reform of the Central Government

The Basic Law on Administrative Reform of the Central Government, passed in June 1998, stipulates the establishment of a Conference for Gender Equality within the Prime Minister's Office. The responsibilities of this body will be (i) to deliberate on basic guidelines, comprehensive plans and other subjects in relation to gender equality; (ii) to provide necessary views to related ministers so that gender equality perspectives will be reflected on government measures; and (iii) to survey and monitor the implementation of measures developed in regard to gender equality. Members will comprise (i) the Chief Cabinet Secretary; (ii) the related Ministers of State; and (iii) persons with academic experience.
In addition, in November 1998, the head of the Headquarters for the Promotion of the Administrative Reform of the Central Government which was established within the Cabinet under the same law headed by the Prime Minister, with all ministers serving as members, decided on reduction of the number of secretariats and bureaus, which has also been approved by the Headquarters. As a part of this decision, a Bureau for Gender Equality (provisional name) will be established within the Prime Minister's Office.
Under the Basic Law, the shift to the new system through the reform of central ministries and agencies will begin, at the latest, within five years after the law went into effect (it took effect in June 1998), with 1 January 2001, as the provisional target.