Japan's central bureaucracy will be reorganized, effective Jan. 6, to mark the start of a new administrative system. The reform will have significant influence on local governments and the public, too. It is part of efforts to restructure Japanese society, which has been bound by webs of restrictions and customs for much of the second half of the 20th century. Collusive ties among politicians, bureaucrats and business executives have aggravated the problem.
The basic question is: Will this reform make Japan a fairer and freer society? At stake is the prestige of three successive Japanese administrations: those of Prime Ministers Ryutaro Hashimoto, Keizo Obuchi and Yoshiro Mori.
The reform will cut the number of ministries and agencies from the present 22 to 12 and establish a Cabinet office. It will also create some mammoth government offices. The National Land and Transportation Ministry will combine the Transport Ministry, the Construction Ministry, the National Land Agency and the Hokkaido Development Agency; the General Affairs Ministry will integrate the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry, the Home Affairs Ministry and the Management and Coordination Agency.