Around 80 percent of "independent administrative institutions" launched Wednesday are headed by people who served in their respective predecessor bodies, with the vast majority having served as bureaucrats at government affiliates.
Only six people were not appointed from government ministries or their affiliates, despite Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's pledge to consider candidates from outside the government.
Koizumi has also promised to curb on the practice of "amakudari," literally meaning "descent from heaven," where bureaucrats are given cushy jobs at bodies affiliated with their former ministries and agencies.
Of the 32 former government-affiliated corporations that became independent administrative institutions as part of an administrative reform plan, 26 are headed by individuals who formerly worked for their respective predecessors.
Most of the newly appointed heads formerly served as vice ministers or bureau chiefs at their respective affiliated government ministries. The new appointments were made by the heads of ministries and agencies with jurisdiction over the independent administrative institutions.