Information technology (IT) is bringing changes to industrial and social structures on a global scale, which is called the "IT revolution." In July 2000, the "IT Strategy Headquarters" was established within the Cabinet in order to promote comprehensive measures for the creation of an internationally competitive "IT nation" in which benefits of the IT revolution are shared by all Japanese. At the same time, the "IT Strategy Council," made up of 20 opinion leaders, was established in order to study the issue strategically and intensively by combining private- and public-sector strengths.
Since then, the "Joint Meetings of the IT Strategy Headquarters and the IT Strategy Council" have been held for six times, and at the sixth meeting on November 27, 2000, as a result of energetic discussion, the IT Strategy Council compiled the "Basic IT Strategy."
Meanwhile, at the 150th Diet Session in 2000, the Basic Law on the Formation of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society" ("IT Basic Law") was enacted, and enforced on January 6, 2001. In light of said Law, it is recognized that the government is required to urgently adopt adequate policy measures conducive to the IT revolution, now progressing on a global scale, and form a society enabling creative and vigorous developments by transmitting/receiving diversified information and knowledge via the Internet, etc. freely yet securely.
In addition, the "Strategic Headquarters for the Promotion of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society (IT Strategic Headquarters)" has just been established within the Cabinet based on Article 29 of said Law, for the purpose of promoting policy measures rapidly and intensively to create an advanced information and telecommunications network society. At the first session of the Headquarters held on January 22, 2001, the "e-Japan" Strategy was adopted, based on the Basic IT Strategy, as a national strategy for IT.
This "Priority Policy Program" materializes the "e-Japan Strategy" adopted through the above procedures, and clarifies all measures the government should rapidly implement with priority to form an advanced information and telecommunications network society. From now on, the government will implement this Priority Policy Program steadily, monitor its achievement continuously, and add new measures to the program, when necessary, under the leadership of the Cabinet with the IT Strategic Headquarters as its center, to promote rapid transformation to the world's most advanced IT society.