Management and Coordination Agency

*Functions

The Management and Coordination Agency (MCA) was established on July 1, 1984, as an external organ of the Prime Minister's Office by consolidating and restructuring the organizations and functions of the Prime Minister's Office and the Administrative Management Agency.
The creation of the MCA, which was based on the recommendations of the Provisional Commission for Administrative Reform (1981-1983), aims at providing the national government with a new structure for vigorous and effective central management and coordination to ensure that government operations are efficient, well-coordinated and responsive to the social and economic changes.

**Web site contents

The government-wide responsibilities of the MCA include the following areas:
(1) Personnel management
(2) Management of organization structure, the number of staff and operations of the government
(3) Administrative inspection and administrative counseling
(4) Coordination of policies and programs on specific matters falling within the jurisdictions of several ministries and agencies, such as traffic safety and youth affairs
(5) Administration of pension programs concerning national public officials (These programs are generally applied to the ex-military personnel national officials who retired before 1959, local civil officials who retired before 1962, and their surviving dependents.)
(6) Administration of government statistics including coordination of government statistical operations and production of basic statistics of the nation such as the Population Census

Hokkaido Development Agency

*Functions

Hokkaido is the northernmost of Japan's four main islands, representing about 22% of its total territorial area. This Agency has been engaged in total development work for Hokkaido. (In areas other than Hokkaido and Okinawa, Government ministries share regional development efforts.)
The Hokkaido Development Agency makes and executes comprehensive Government plans for public works relating to roads, rivers, agriculture, airports, and others.

**Web site contents

(Not available in English)

Defense Agency

*Functions

The Defense Agency controls and operates the three branches of the Self-Defense Forces, Ground, Maritime and Air.
The Japanese Government formulated the "New National Defense Program Outline" in November 1995. The new outline lists the following three points as roles to be played by the defense capability: "Defense of Japan", "Response to Large-Scale Disasters and Other Situations" and "Contribution to the Creation of a More Stable Security Environment."

**Web site contents

Japan's Defense Policy based on the Constitution of Japan, the Basis of Japan's Defense Policy, and the Japan-US Security Arrangements are described here.
An explanation of the Agency's organization, information on its annual "white paper" and other publications and announcements on the latest scenes of Japanese defense forces are also provided. The site includes links to the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces' web sites.

Defense Facilities Administration Agency

*Functions

As part of the Government organization, the Defense Facilities Administration Agency procures, builds and maintains facilities and land spaces for Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. Forces in Japan. It also looks after the living environment adjoining such facilities, the labor management of Japanese employees at U.S. facilities, and any damage caused in the event of unlawful conduct by U.S. military personnel.

**Web site contents

(Not available)

Economic Planning Agency

*Functions

To stabilize the nation's economy and the livelihoods of citizens, the Economic Planning Agency (EPA) researches businesses and industries, and plans economic policies for the Government.
The EPA mainly drafts and promotes long-term policies, dictates and announces their "annual policy" each year, and studies and analyzes domestic and overseas economic trends and national income.

**Web site contents

Full texts or summaries of press releases, minutes of councils (Economic Council, Social Policy Council, etc), economic data such as research on business conditions or National Accounts.

Science and Technology Agency

*Functions

The Science and Technology Agency promotes government on science and technologies from a total viewpoint, planning and executing initiatives on large projects, such as nuclear energy, space and ocean development, geophysics, disaster prevention, life science, aeronautical technologies and other areas of advanced scientific research.
These include contributions in science and technology to the international community through strengthening creative and basic research, improving the basis to promote science and technology, and developing programs to promote interdisciplinary science and technology.

**Web site contents

Many items related to the above, as well as links to Government-run research laboratories working in nuclear energy (JAERI), space (NASDA), seas (JAMSTEC), and others, and also to a complete coverage of science academies and research and development organizations in Japan.

Environment Agency

*Functions

The Japan Environment Agency protects the environment by creating policies that improve air quality, water quality, and encouraging the prevention of pollution and the conservation of our natural resources.
This Agency also works with other countries to tackle global environmental problems such as global warming and depletion of the ozone layer.

**Web site contents

- An organization map of the Agency
- The Agency's quarterly journal
- White Paper on the Environment and other reports
- Environmental laws and plans in Japan
- Links to relevant web sites
The sites also offers more information in Japanese, such as press releases and information on current environmental issues.