About the Ministry
Organization and Function
August 2009
Minister's Secretariat
(Organization)
- Management and Coordination Division
- Personnel Division
- Information and Communicaitons Division
- Financial Affairs Division
- Overseas Establishments Division
- Press Division
- Domestic Public Relations Division
- Protocol Office
- Assistant Press Secretary/Director of the International Press Division
(Functions)
The Minister's Secretariat takes charge of overall coordination and administration under the Ministry and other ordinary functions of the Minister's Secretariat.
The functions relating to public information consist of the following: dissemination in Japan of information and knowledge concerning the international situation and diplomatic policies; dissemination abroad of information on Japan's domestic situation and diplomatic and foreign policies as well as collection of the information and data necessary to fulfill the above functions.
Public Diplomacy Department
(Organization)
- Public Diplomacy Planning Division
- Cultural Affairs Division.
(Functions)
The Public Diplomacy Department takes charge of the following matters; implementation of international agreements to promote cultural exchange; cooperation with international cultural organizations, and; the introduction of Japanese culture abroad and pormotion of cultural exchange with foreign countries as well as supervision of the Japan Foundation.
Foreign Policy Bureau
(Organization)
- Policy Coordination Division
- National Security Policy Division
- United Nations Planning and Management Division
- United Nations Policy Division
- Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division
(Functions)
The Foreign Policy Bureau takes charge of the planning of basic and middle- or long-term foreign policy from wider points of view and the coordination of policies formulated by other bureaus. Special emphasis are put on national security issues and issues related to the United Nations. It also plays a leading part in a serious emergency.
Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department
(Organization)
- Arms Cntrol and Disarmament Division
- Non-proliferation, Science and Nuclear Energy Division.
(Functions)
The Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department takes charge of the following matters: arms control and disarmament; non-proliferation; nuclear energy, and; science cooperation and other scientific affairs.
Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
(Organization)
- Regional Policy Division
- Northeast Asia Division
- China and Mongolia Division
- Oceania Division.
(Functions)
The Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau takes charge of the following matters: planning work connected with the formulation of policies concerning Asian and Oceanian countries and overall coordination of the implementing of such policies; political affairs concerning Asian and Oceanian counties (including the protection of Japanese nationals and their property in these countries) and collection of necessary information as well as conducting of necessary research and surveys on them.
Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department
(Organization)
- First Southeast Asia Division
- Second Southeast Asia Division
- Southwest Asia Division
(Functions)
The Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department takes charge of the following matters: planning work connected with the formulation of policies concerning the Southeast and Southwest Asian countries and overall coordination of implementing such policies, and; political affairs concerning the Southeast and Southwest Asian countries, and collection of information relating to these countries as well as research and surveys on them.
North American Affairs Bureau
(Organization)
- First North America Division
- Second North America Division
- Japan-US Security Treaty Division.
(Functions)
The North American Affairs Bureau takes charge of the following matters: planning work connected with the formulation of policies concerning the North American countries and overall coordination of implementing such policies, and; political affairs concerning the North American countries and collection of information relating to these countries as well as research and surveys on them.
Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau
(Organization)
- Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Division
- Caribbean Division
- South America Division.
(Functions)
The Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau takes charge of the following matters: planning work connected with the formulation of policies concerning the Latin American and Caribbean countries and overall coordination of implementing such policies, and; political affairs concerning the Latin American and Caribbean countries and collection of information relating to these countries as well as research and surveys on them.
European Affairs Bureau
(Organization)
- European Policy Division
- Western Europe Division
- Central and South Eastern Europe Division
- Russian Division.
(Functions)
The European Affairs Bureau takes charge of the following matters: planning work connected with the formulation of policies concerning the European countries and overall coordination of the implementing of such policies, and; political affairs concerning the European countries and collection of information relating to these countries as well as research and surveys on them.
Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau
(Organization)
- First Middle East Division
- Second Middle East Division
- First Africa Division
- Second Africa Division.
(Functions)
The Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau takes charge of the following matters: planning work connected with the formulation of policies concerning Middle Eastern and African countries and overall coordination of implementing such policies, and; political affairs concerning Middle Eastern and African countries and collection of information relating to these countries as well as research and surveys on them.
Economic Affairs Bureau
(Organization)
- Economic Policy Division
- International Economy Division
- International Trade Division
- Economic Partnership Division
- Economic Security Division
(Functions)
The Economic Affairs Bureau takes charge of the following matters: protection and promotion of Japan's interests relating to foreign commerce and navigation; cooperation with international economic organizations and matters concerning treaties of commerce and navigation and other commercial and economic agreements, and; survey of the international economic situation and compilation of statistics and collection of data concerning the international economy.
International Cooperation Bureau
(Organization)
- Aid Policy and Management Division
- ODA Evaluation and Public Relations Division
- Non-Governmental Organizations Cooperation Division
- Development Assistance Policy Coordination Division
- Development Assistance Policy Planning Division
- Development Administration Division
- Global Issues Cooperation Division
- Specialized Agencies Division
- Global Environment Division
- Climate Change Division
- Humanitarian Assistance and Emergency Relief Division
- First Country Assistance Planning Division
- Second Country Assistance Planning Division
- Third Country Assistance Planning Division
(Functions)
- The International Cooperation Bureau takes charge of the following matters:
- policy formulation and implementation of Official Development Assistance
- foreign policy on economic cooperation and cooperation with international organizations concerning economic cooperation;
- issues related to human security
- foreign policy on UN and other specialized agencies concerning social and economic affairs
- issues related to global environment and climate change
- protection and promotion of interests relating to Japanese investments overseas;
- survey of the international economic cooperation situation and compilation of statistics and collection of data concerning international economic cooperation;
- supervision of the Japan International Cooperation Agency,
- matters concerning humanitarian assistance and enforcement of the law concerning dispatch of Japan disaster relief teams,
- assistance to NGO's as well as other matters relating to economic cooperation.
International Legal Affairs Bureau
(Organization)
- International Legal Affairs Division
- Treaties Division
- Economic Treaties Division
- Social Treaties Division.
(Functions)
The International Legal Affairs Bureau takes charge of the conclusion of treaties and other international agreements, and matters of international law and legal matters concerning foreign relations.
Consular Affairs Bureau
(Organization)
- Consular Policy Division
- Japanese Nationals Overseas Safety Division
- Passport Division
- Foreign Nationals' Affairs Division.
(Functions)
The Consular Affairs Bureau takes charge of the following matters: protection of Japanese nationals and their property abroad (except matters dealt with by other bureaus); matters relating to the civil status of Japanese nationals abroad; certification of documents issued by Japanese or foreign authorities with regard to matters relating to civil status or other matters related to both Japan and a foreign country; issuance of passports and other documents necessary for travel abroad; visas; general policies of a diplomatic character regarding foreign nationals residing in Japan; planning and handling of emigration affairs; assistance and protection of emigrants and promotion of emigration programmes, etc., liaison and coordination with other governmental organizations connected with emigration and supervision of the relevant function of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Intelligence and Analysis Service
(Organization)
- First Division
- Second Division
- Third Division
- Fourth Division.
(Functions)
The Intelligence and Analysis Service takes charge of the following matters: general management of information on the international situation; general administration of research affairs; research and surveys on foreign countries (except matters under the charge of other bureaus), and; general analysis of the international situation and collection of necessary information.
Foreign Service Training Institute
(Organization)
- Lectures Section
- Language Section
- Accounting / General Affairs Section
(Functions)
The Foreign Service Training Institute takes charge of providing training programs that can be classified into three main categories: Training for Newly-recruited Foreign Ministry Officials, Training for Overseas Pre-Postings, and Training for Mid-career Personnel.
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