Political system and interest groups in Japan

Conventional systems of interest group politics

In Japan, a close relationship between business associations and regulatory agencies is maintained through a framework known as ‘the whole responsibility system’, under which regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over industry are held responsible for everything that occurs in that industry (Iio, 1998). Hence, to better fulfil this responsibility, these regulatory agencies are strongly committed to all phases of the regulatory process: policy planning, policymaking, policy implementation and compliance inspection.

Although there are different views on the degree of control of regulatory agencies over industry in Japan, it is commonly said that the relationship between them is generally not hostile, but close and cooperative, built through daily contact with each other. Regulatory policy has been developed by a limited number of actors within divided and closed political arenas (Akiyoshi, 2007). In that context, policy alternatives are formed by the regulatory agencies and then adopted through a process of debate by related actors, such as members of the Policy Research Subcommittee of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) and particular committees of Congress with jurisdiction over regulated industry. Therefore, the strategy of being in contact with such related actors has been more for the politically expediency of business associations than to appeal to the general public.

In contrast, the relationship between labour unions and regulatory agencies has been weaker than the latter has with business associations. Labour unions had a close relationship with the Japan Socialist Party (JSP) during the time that the LDP held the reins of government. After the dissolution of the JSP, labour unions formed the same relationship with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDP), which collectively represent the successor of the JSP.

Changes in the political environment of interest groups

‘The 1940s’ regime’ (Noguchi, 1995), the political-economic system that included these interest groups, was formed to cope with preparations for the Second World War in the 1940s. This system continued after the end of the Second World War, becoming the foundation of the political-economic system that supported the well-known ‘Corporate Japan’.