Strengthening of Y2K-related Crisis Management (Summary)

30th July 1999

1. Action taken to date

   [1] An action plan was prepared in September 1998.
   [2] Based on the Action Plan, the following steps have been implemented in government and in five major private-sector fields, such as finance and energy.

   • Comprehensive system testing, including dry-run tests.
   • Preparation of contingency plan.
   • Dissemination of information to the public.

2. New measures for strengthening contingency system

   [1] Strengthening of system within the government

   • Establishment of the Cabinet Y2K Task Force
     The Cabinet Y2K Task Force was set up within the Cabinet Secretariat with the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary as the chairman in order to coordinate measures through the government as a whole. The Y2K Office was established in the Cabinet Councillor’s Office as an executive office for the Task Force.

   • Strengthening of system in related agencies
     The General Affairs Agency, the National Police Agency, the National Land Agency, the Financial Supervisory Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Fire Defense Agency and other related ministries and agencies have all established Y2K offices.

   [2] Strengthening of contingency system for the New Year period

   • Set-up of a liaison network to link nation, local authorities and the private sector over the New Year period.
   • Set-up of an organization within the Prime Minister's Official Residence to gather and disseminate information from around Japan and abroad over the New Year period. This organization will use the liaison network mentioned above in readiness of any problems which may arise.
   • Over the New Year period, important systems in central government agencies and ministries will be checked to ensure their operation. Local authorities and private-sector bodies in important fields are asked to do the same.

   [3] Provision of the information from the standpoint of the public

   • Y2K question boxes and Q&A collections
     In the absence of solid information, the public would suffer needless anxiety and could either underestimate or overestimate the magnitude of the problem. To avoid these problems, a Y2K question box and Q&A collection are included in the Prime Minister's Official Residence website.
   • Implementation of government informational advertising etc.