Digital Agency

The Digital Agency (デジタル庁, Dejitaru-chō) is an agency of the Japanese government established on September 1, 2021, with the aim of strengthening the digitalization of Japan.[1][5] The slogan is “Government as a Startup”.[6]

Digital Agency
デジタル庁
Dejitaru-chō

The Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, where the office of the Digital Agency is located.
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 1, 2021 (2021-09-01)[1]
Jurisdiction Japan
HeadquartersTokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho 19th floor, 1-3 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094, Japan
Annual budget¥ 36.8 billion (2021)
Minister responsible
Deputy Ministers responsible
  • Fumiaki Kobayashi[3], State Minister for Digital Agency
  • Taro Yamada[4], Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Digital Agency
Agency executive
  • Yoko Ishikura, Chief Digital Officer
Parent agencyCabinet of Japan
Websitewww.digital.go.jp

Overview

Even before the Digital Agency establishment bill was passed, the Cabinet Secretariat's Information Technology (IT) Comprehensive Strategy Office and Social Security and Tax Number System promotion office were active in their respective fields.

The Cabinet of Yoshihide Suga has set up a signboard policy of promoting digitalization by establishing a new Digital Agency and eliminating vertically divided administrative functions.

The Digital Agency is responsible for the IT field for the purpose of promoting IT and DX (digital transformation) of national and local governments. In addition, about 130 out of about 600 employees at the time of inauguration are appointed from the private sector such as IT companies.[7]

Takuya Hirai was appointed as the first Digital Minister, and Yoko Ishikura, an emeritus professor at Hitotsubashi University, was appointed as the first Chief Digital Officer.[7] Karen Makishima was appointed as the Minister in the next cabine. In April 2022, it was reported that Yoko Ishikura will step down as chief of the Digital Agency due to health issues. Ishikura’s replacement has not yet been selected but the government plans to consider electing someone from the private sector.[8]

Outline of the Bill

Main mission
  • National government information system[6]
    • Eliminate the harmful effects of vertically divided administration, promote the integration and integration of government information systems, and facilitate cooperation with private sector systems
  • Digital infrastructure common to all regions
    • standardization of information systems of local governments[1]
  • Individual Number (the Social Security and Tax Number System)
    • Realization of a society where the people can carry out administrative procedures online in a one-stop manner by utilizing the Individual Number
    • The Suga Cabinet is committed to having all citizens possess an Individual Number personal identification card by the end of 2022.
  • "Semi-public" field
    • Promotion of digitalization in fields closely related to daily life such as medical care, education, and disaster prevention[1]
  • Data utilization
    • Development of a "base registry" that serves as basic data for society
    • Achievement of administrative procedures "once only" (the principle that information once sent does not need to be resent)

Criticism
On September 24, 2021, Digital Deputy Director General Koichi Akaishi was disciplined for a one-tenth (one month) reduction in salary for receiving excessive entertainment.

See also

References
  1. "Japan launches digital agency to upgrade IT system". NHK WORLD-JAPAN. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2021-09-01. Japan launched a new agency on Wednesday to upgrade and overhaul the country's digital systems.
  2. List of Second Kishida Cabinet Members - "List of Ministers". The Cabinet of Japan Prime Minister. 2021-11-10. Archived from the original on 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  3. "List of State Ministers". The Cabinet of Japan Prime Minister. 2021-11-10. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  4. "List of Parliamentary Vice-Ministers". The Cabinet of Japan Prime Minister. 2021-11-10. Archived from the original on 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  5. "New digital agency's move to set up in high-end Tokyo complex sparks controversy". The Mainichi. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  6. "Digital Agency Office Work Introduction Pamphlet 2021 Edition" (PDF). Digital Agency (in preparation) (in Japanese). 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-08-25. same as below
  7. "Japan launches Digital Agency to push ahead with long-overdue reforms". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
  8. Reuters (2022-04-23). "Japan's new digital chief to resign over health issues". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  9. "Japan's digital minister treated to expensive meals by NTT". The Japan Times. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2012-10-13.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.