Okinawa Development Agency

*Functions

Okinawa is the southernmost Japanese prefecture with unique circumstances due to its geographical location and also the fact that it had been under US rule during 1945-1972.
This Agency aims to promote various policies such as expanding the infrastructure in Okinawa to assure its further development while preserving Okinawa's special character.

**Web site contents

(Not available in English)

National Land Agency

*Functions

The National Land Agency (NLA) establishes overall national and regional development plans and land use plans based on necessary research.
The NLA is also responsible for total coordination among government agencies to develop water resources and protect the nation against major natural disasters, such as earthquakes.

**Web site contents

The chart of the NLA organization and some fruits of the NLA's endeavors, including the "Earthquake Damage Estimation Manual," are found here.

Ministry of Justice

*Functions

The Ministry of Justice secures and maintains the nation's legal order and thereby safeguards the civil rights of citizens.
Its functions include: Public prosecution, correction of the detained, special pardon (and related work), litigation of importance to the nation, nationality and census registers, property and other registers (including deposits into Justice Offices), human rights protection, emigration/immigration control, review and acceptance of Displaced Persons, registration of foreign residents, and more.

**Web site contents

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

*Functions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is responsible for all matters related to foreign countries, including adjustments with foreign governments, planning of foreign policies, information analysis, cultural exchange, bi- and multi-lateral security frameworks, ODA (official development assistance), protection of Japanese nationals abroad and so on.
The MOFA includes five bureaus, each assigned to a specific region of the globe, and four other bureaus, each given a specific range of functions. The MOFA maintains 181 representative offices abroad including embassies.

**Web site contents

Japanese diplomatic policies, information on their visa issue, stories/ scenes of present-day Japan, etc.
Items include: What's New, Special Features, Foreign Policies, "Friendship" (people-to-people exchange), Visa Information, "Japanese Information," MOFA Links (to its offices overseas and other Japanese Gov't offices, MOFA Guides (on its organization) and MOFA Search, an engine to search MOFA-related web sites.

Ministry of Finance

*Functions

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is responsible for the country's fiscal and monetary matters. The MOF consists of the Minister's secretariat and seven bureaus. In addition to formulating the national budget, which is central to fiscal policy, the MOF monitors and guides banks and securities companies as to current monetary policy, adjusts the current balance of payments, and determines and maintains what MOF considers to be an appropriate level in foreign exchange rates. The MOF now tackles such major issues as fiscal structural reform and financial system reform.
The Minister's special, local, and external organs include the Mint Bureau, the Printing Bureau, Local financial bureaus, Customs and Tariff Bureau, and the National Tax Agency.

**Web site contents

Reports and data on the country's fiscal and monetary matters.
Click-in items include What's New, "Statement by the Minister of Finance," Features, General Administrative Information, Reference (statistics), Council Information, Financial Review, Filip Report '97 ('Filip' meaning Government's financial investment & loan programs), and links to the Bank of Japan (BOJ), the People's Finance Corporation, the Japan Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of Japan, MOF's foreign counterparts, and relevant International Institutions.

National Tax Administration Agency

*Functions

An agency of the Ministry of Finance, The National Tax Administration Agency levies and collects Government taxes through 12 national tax bureaus and 524 tax offices throughout Japan.
There is a special organ subordinate to this Agency where nationals may file complaints about taxes paid or to be paid.
The Agency's role is also to supervise the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in Japan.

**Web site contents

(Not available in English)

Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture

*Functions

The Ministry of Education (MOE) fosters the development of the nation's educational, academic, cultural and sport activities, to eventually build a "lifelong learning society" in which anyone regardless of age can take opportunities to learn and re-learn.
Japanese school education covers kindergarten, elementary (6-yr.) and junior (3-yr.) & senior high (3-yr.) schools, universities, and specialized and vocational schools. Education is compulsory for ages 6 through 15 and lasts nine years. Of this group, 96.8% go on to senior high school and 46.2% to university (1996).
The MOE also financially assists social education seminars, sports facilities, academic institutes and researchers.
Among its external organizations is the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

**Web site contents

"Educational reform" being one of the Hashimoto Administration's "6-point reform programs," the MOE has devised an "Educational Reform Program" with full details (including recommendations from its expert committees and other sources).
This web site tells you about current MOE polices in general.
Its links to other pages include "Educational reform moving forward," "MONBUSHO News" (MOE news), "(MOE) Outline," "White paper," "Statistics," and "Other sites" (links to MOE-related organizations, such as national universities and museums).