Administrative Reforms and Transformations in Contemporary Japanese Bureaucracy

In response to the increasing complexity and demands faced by public institutions, Japan, alongside other Asian countries and nations worldwide, is continuously implementing administrative reforms. This panel will specifically explore these reforms within the context of Japan’s administrative organization, examining the resulting changes in its bureaucratic system. We will emphasize four key areas: the working environment and staff motivation, the promotion of female employees, the evolving role of municipal lawyers, and inter-organizational cooperation in environmental justice policy. These topics highlight the intersection of technical, legal, social, and managerial challenges in contemporary governance and public administration.
The panel will consist of four papers that delve into the dynamics of reform and change within public administration at both central and local government levels in Japan, offering valuable insights into the complexities of administrative organization studies. Watanabe and Morikawa’s paper examines the motivations of administrative staff at Japan's national universities, who are expected to increase their contribution to universities in order to improve their international competitiveness. Kawai and Okura’s paper analyzes why the proportion of women in managerial positions within Japan’s central government ministries is low. By comparing the career paths of men and women in these ministries, the paper highlights the differences between them. Hirata’s paper investigates the roles and responsibilities of government lawyers, a new group of legal professionals whose presence is growing within government bureaucracy. Compared with the American counterparts, this paper illustrates the commonalities and differences in how these lawyers balance exhibiting the “publicness” while serving their powerful clients, the governments. Hayakawa, Tsuji, and Miyagaki’s paper focuses on how governments collaborate with the local community in urban planning to ensure social justice. Based on a case study of county government planning processes in environmental justice policy in California, this paper attempts to make some comparisons with Japanese efforts.
Overall, by examining multiple cases of reform in contemporary Japan from various perspectives, this panel will significantly contribute to discussions in the field of administrative organization studies. It will enrich both empirical and theoretical research on public administration, highlighting the complexities and innovations within Japan's bureaucratic system.