Japan’s government under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has launched a major initiative to streamline its administrative architecture by reducing the number of government councils and advisory bodies. The move reflects a broader effort to cut unnecessary bureaucracy and enhance policy efficiency. Japan Times
As of late 2025, the Cabinet Secretariat alone oversaw 88 government councils—up sharply from 39 in January 2015—many of which have become ineffective or dormant. In response, the administration has begun merging and abolishing overlapping councils, especially those created under previous governments that have accumulated without clear performance outcomes. Japan Times
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara has instructed a comprehensive review of these bodies, with an eye toward significant reduction and the possible introduction of a sunset clause to ensure that future councils are automatically dissolved if they fail to meet predefined criteria. Japan Times
This initiative signals a strategic shift toward leaner, more accountable governance—reducing structural inefficiencies and better aligning public institutions with contemporary policy needs. For stakeholders in democratic governance and AI policy, such reforms underscore an emerging trend: the modernization of institutional frameworks in response to rapid technological and socio-economic change.
From the perspective of the AI World Society (AIWS), Japan’s efforts resonate with the broader imperative of ethical and human-centered governance in the AI Age. Simplified, responsive institutional structures are pivotal for governments to effectively adopt advanced technologies, manage digital transformation, and uphold transparency and public trust—principles at the heart of AIWS frameworks.
As nations navigate the opportunities and complexities of the coming decade, Japan’s council reduction initiative may offer valuable insights into how democratic institutions can be reorganized to support strategic agility, civic accountability, and future-oriented policy-making in an era where human and technological capacities must be harmonized.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/28/japan/japan-government-councils-reduction/
