Since the government adopted the Y2K Action Plan in September 1998, measures to deal with the Y2K problem have been steadily introduced, including the contingency planning and the distribution of information to the public. Now that there are just five months remaining until the new millennium, public awareness must be raised to a higher level, and information-sharing networks must be further developed. Moreover, the government's emergency management system must be improved by developing closer ties with the private sector and local governments.
The government departments concerned are developing systems for gathering and distributing information, as well as taking measures to meet any potential difficulties. The Cabinet Secretariat will develop a system in order to coordinate these efforts.
By strengthening the emergency management system and the Y2K Action Plan, the government will ensure that all necessary measures to deal with the Y2K problem are completely covered. The Advanced Information and Telecommunications Society Promotion Headquarters (headed by the Prime Minister) will be periodically convened for this purpose.
The Y2K Task Force of the Cabinet Secretariat (Chairman: Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary) will be established by the Advanced Information and Telecommunications Society Promotion Headquarters in order to carry out comprehensive measures based on the recommendations of the Headquarters.
Furthermore, a Y2K Office is to be set up in the Cabinet Councilor's Office on Internal Affairs. This will be established in order to strengthen the functions of Y2K measures taken by the Cabinet Secretariat, as well as providing an office for the Y2K Task Force.
Government departments concerned will establish Y2K offices with functions for gathering and distributing information internally and externally. The offices are to be set up in such departments as the Financial Supervisory Agency, the Ministries of International Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which are responsible for five crucial sectors; namely, finance, energy, telecommunications, transportation, and medical services.
The government departments concerned also include the Management and Coordination Agency, which oversees the computer systems for the central government, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is responsible for regional governments, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Police Agency, the Fire-Defense Agency and the National Land Agency.
In addition to the government departments listed above, Y2K systems will be set up at all other government departments concerned to provide measures for the collection and distribution of information, including the implementation of Y2K trials as necessary.
After examining relationships with existing disaster response systems, necessary measures will be taken for Y2K systems to enable the government to handle any major situation arising that exceeds the resources of individual companies and institutions.
(2) Setting up information-sharing networks between the government and private sector
An information-sharing network will be constructed between the Cabinet Secretariat and the government departments concerned, as well as an information-sharing network system (information collection and distribution) for obtaining information on the occurrence of situations by areas of jurisdiction and responsibility. The cooperation of important private- sector areas, such as the financial sector, and local governments will be obtained. In addition, the cooperation of the mass media, including NHK, private television broadcasters, and newspapers, will be sought with a view to providing vital information to the public.
Trial runs will be carried out as soon as possible before the year 2000 for the joint government / private-sector information bulletin networks.
(3) Emergency management system jointly established by the central and local governments
Local government play a very large role in local emergency management through information gathering and by providing news to the public. For this reason, the Ministry of Home Affairs will actively support cooperation with government departments concerned and with local governments for the construction of information relay systems and contingency systems following contingency plan guidance for local government.
The necessary Y2K system will be established at the Emergency Management Center (at the Prime Minister's Official Residence) to handle any situations arising on January 1, 2000, and will be focussed on the Y2K task force of Cabinet Secretariat. Preparations will be made to handle any problems that might occur, and information will be gathered and distributed inside and outside Japan. Information will also be provided to international organizations abroad. The Emergency Management Center will be at the core of the government's Y2K emergency management system.
(2) Y2K system for government departments concerned
A system will be established to deal with any emergencies and to collect and distribute relevant information inside and outside the government, in coordination with the Cabinet Secretariat. The system will be centered on individual Y2K offices at the government departments concerned.
(2) Guidance and recommendations to public corporations
Each government department will determine system operation conditions for corporations in their jurisdiction that carry out governmental affairs, as well as public corporations in their jurisdiction that maintain systems that are closely connected to public and corporate activities. After carrying out start-up confirmation tests, the appropriate guidance and recommendations will be taken in correspondence with government department measures.
(3) Recommendations to local governments
The Ministry of Home Affairs will determine operational conditions for systems at each local government and will issue requests based on the start-up confirmation tests.
(4) Recommendations to the five crucial private sectors
Government departments concerned will determine corporations, related institutions, and related industrial organizations belonging to the five crucial private sectors of finance, energy, telecommunications, transportation, and medical services. Start-up confirmation tests will be carried out, and recommendations issued.
(2) Government publicity
a. Useful information on the Y2K problems will be provided to the public by seeking the cooperation of mass media outlets, such as television, magazines, and newspapers. Furthermore, government publicity that is conveniently accessible for ordinary citizens will be actively undertaken.
b. The government departments concerned will offer guidance and recommendations for the active provision of information to the public, by taking seriously the problems faced by public corporations, local governments, corporations, related institutions, and related industrial organizations. Furthermore they will endeavor to provide information to the public by actively utilizing the Internet. In particular, guidance and recommendations will be carried out so that information relating to the emergency management plan for January 1, 2000, will be widely publicized.
c. An information desk will be set up to provide advice to citizens regarding Y2K problems on January 1, 2000.
1. A Y2K Task Force will be established under the Advanced Information and Telecommunication Society Promotion Headquarters. The purpose of the Task Force is to completely manage the strengthening of the Y2K emergency management system (recommendation of the Advanced Information and Telecommunication Society Promotion Headquarters, July 30, 1999).
2. The membership is shown below. However, the President is able to add members of related administrative agencies to the Y2K Task Force as necessary.
| Chairman : | Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary |
| Vice-chairman : | Cabinet Emergency Management Supervisor |
| Members : | Director of the Cabinet Councilor's Office on Internal Affairs
Director of the Emergency Management Office, Cabinet Security Affairs Director of the Cabinet Information Research Office Cabinet Public-relations Counselor Director of the Y2K Problem Office, Cabinet Councilor's Office on Internal Affairs Director General of the Emergency Management Office, Cabinet Security Affairs |
3. The general affairs of the Task Force will be carried out by the Y2K Office, Councilor's Office on Internal Affairs, the Cabinet Secretariat.
4. The Chairman will determine any necessary items relating to the management of the Task Force.
1. A Conference to Promote Y2K Measures (hereinafter called the "Conference") will be established under the Advanced Information and Telecommunications Society Promotion Headquarters. The purpose of the Conference is to offer effective measures for the Y2K computer problem based on close cooperation with related government institutions.
2. The membership of the Conference is shown below. However, the President is able to add members to the Conference as necessary.
| Chairman : | Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary |
| Vice-chairman : | Cabinet Emergency Management Supervisor |
| Members : | Deputy Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau
All Vice Ministers Director General of the National Police Agency Director of the Cabinet Councilor's Office on Internal Affairs Director of the Emergency Management Office, Cabinet Security Affairs Deputy Vice-Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Chief Secretary of the Financial Supervisory Agency Secretary General of the Fair Trade Commission |
| Observer: |
3. The general affairs of the Conference will be administered by the Cabinet Secretariat with the cooperation of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Management and Coordination Agency.
4. The Chairman will determine any other necessary items relating to the management of the Conference.