Local authority policy research

Policy research as a necessity

Local authority policy research was originally initiated by local authority officers facing a pressing need to address specific problems. For a long time, policy research was not recognised as an activity within Japanese local authorities’ jurisdiction. Even as late as the 1980s, the ability to address policy issues was thought to be required only by the high-ranking officers of large local authorities (Nishio and Matsushita, 1987: 270–2). The post-war constitution describes local authorities as chiho kokyo dantai (‘local public entities’); however, this Japanese expression does not convey a sense of true authority or self-government. The guarantee of local autonomy, the new principle of the post-war constitution, was not reflected in the chosen expression. As in the pre-war constitution, local authorities were regarded as lower bodies in a hierarchical or master–servant relationship (Chihobunken Suishin Honbu, 2000: 3), and restrictions were imposed by national government. Although the term ‘jichitai ’ (literally, ‘a self-governing body’, as prefectures and municipalities) increased in popularity over time, even today, such entities are still officially referred to as chiho kokyo dantai, or ‘local public entities’.

Nevertheless, due to the social changes resulting from Japan's post-war high-growth period, local authorities conducted policy research and studies to deal with regional issues, became agents in the creation of policies and systems, and pushed forward the ‘governmentalisation of local authorities’ (Tsuchiyama, 2007). The entities had become jichi-tai, and would later be able to be called governments, especially after decentralisation reforms of 2000. This may all be seen as the result of the pressing need for the officers working at the then 3,3001 local authorities to address the emergence of a wide range of novel challenges.

Policy research and studies in local authorities

The scope of policy research and studies is wide. Working from the assumption that the overall concept or design of a given policy is itself ‘always a policy respecting a specific individual area’, Adachi (2009: 12–16) roughly divides policy studies into ‘studies of individual policies and policy areas’ and ‘interdisciplinary policy studies’.