Introduction

This chapter illustrates the background history of the development of policy-related studies in Japan. As, in the strict sense, policy analysis has still not taken root in Japan, if we concentrate solely on the discipline of policy analysis, we would only pick up sporadic and specific examples of the policy process. Therefore, we need to trace the various related research activities that have been conducted for many years. Such research developments in various policy areas, for example, the education system, government structure and so on, have formulated the current state of policy analysis in Japan.

Japanese modernisation and policy-related analysis

It is widely acknowledged that the present political regime in Japan began at the end of the Second World War with the new constitution. This book, including this chapter, will focus on this period, especially the past 20 years. Even before this period, there were many government and non-government activities related to policy and policy research throughout the course of modernisation. Japanese modernisation began around the middle of the 19th century, at the time of the ‘Meiji Restoration’. During this period, Japan opened itself to Western countries, importing innovative technologies and academic studies in order to strengthen the nation against colonisation. Even though many aspects of intellectual heritage and cultural tradition were affected before that time, there is a clear discontinuity between the pre-modern and modern eras.

In the Meiji period, top leaders began to study sciences and theories from Western countries. The government's principle for policy selection is reflected in the slogan Fukoku-Kyohei, meaning ‘Wealthy nation and strong military power’. Under this principle, the Meiji government aimed to secure national independence from colonial powers by strengthening its military power through imported technology, Westernised industry and expanding the export sector to increase the circulation of foreign currency and cover the expenses of importing goods. For this purpose, the introduction of Western science, technology and academic investigation became a very important government pursuit. Among the sciences, government leaders had a preference for the engineering and military sciences. For example, the Ministry of Engineering established their own college of engineering, which later became a part of the University of Tokyo, to introduce state-of-the-art civil engineering, mechanical engineering and metallurgy, among others.