Deregulation Policy

Japan is committed to deregulation in order to revamp the Japanese economy, expand domestic demand and encourage imports. A deregulated Japanese economy will not only exert a positive influence on the world economy, but will also improve the quality of life of Japanese citizens. For these reasons, Japan intends to make voluntary and active efforts toward deregulation.

Japan set forth the deregulation according to its Deregulation Action Program which was adopted at the March 31, 1995 Cabinet meeting. Originally a five-year program, it was accelarated in April of that year to a three-year program which extends through FY1997 in order to prompt the deregulation. The Program is revised by the end of each fiscal year, taking opinions and requests inside and outside Japan, as well as those of the Administrative Reform Committee into account. The first revised Deregulation Action Program was adopted at the March 29, 1996 Cabinet meeting. The revised Program covers 1,797 items as a whole including 569 additional items. Japan promoted deregulation especially in such fields as construction, telecommunications, transportation, standards, certifications, imports and financial services.