The Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) will establish a nonprofit think tank on April 1 to propose policies on such issues as international relations and taxation system reform.
The 21st Century Public Policy Institute, which will be headed by economist Naoki Tanaka, will invite independent and corporate researchers at home and abroad to tackle issues that have not been taken up by Japanese research institutes, which have to make profits, Keidanren officials said Mar. 19. Although the institute will be established within Keidanren and will be funded by Keidanren members, the officials said its research activities will be completely independent from the federation.
Possible themes to be dealt with at the institute include Diet reform, reform of official development assistance, regional conflicts and networking. Keidanren Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda will serve as the institute's chairman and Keidanren Director General Masaya Miyoshi will become its executive adviser, according to the officials.