Prime Minister Naoto Kan established the Headquarters of the Government and Ruling Parties for Social Security Reform and held its first meeting at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Headquarters of the Government and Ruling Parties for Social Security Reform was established as a forum for exploring the overall image of social security reform, as the government and ruling parties are required to make concerted efforts to present the Japanese people with choices that are easy to understand in this regard, including the level and content of services that are thought to be needed. The Headquarters was also intended to conduct integrated discussions on the question of securing the resources to finance the social security system.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "The basic framework of the social security system of Japan was created essentially half a century ago. With significant changes taking place in Japanese society throughout the past 50 years, I believe the time has come for us to really think fundamentally about reforming the social security system.
I ask that the Headquarters strive to lay out a forward-looking vision, which suggests how the current social security system of Japan of 50 years can be transformed into a system that will give us a sense of reassurance over the next 50 years."