Social Movement Coalition of Inter/Intra Areas of Activity: Through the Legislation Process of NPO Law in Japan

Abstract

In 1998, the “Law to Promote Specified Nonprofit Activities” (NPO Law) was legislated in Japan. The constant lobbying by civil society organizations from many areas of activity drove the development of this legislation. This paper examines why social movement coalitions across these areas of activity were built. Before the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the social ties of civil society organizations had existed since the 1980s. They had also shared ideas about the NPO Law through inspection tours in the United States. After the earthquake, the bill was discussed in Congress; during this period, different ideas about the NPO Law in each area of activity prevented a coalition, but a compromise was reached eventually. In the end, the fact that the bill was almost passed by the House of Representatives, and the possibility that it might be dropped at the House of Councillors, strengthened the coalition across all areas of activity. This paper demonstrates the diverse and dynamic sides of the NPO Law legislation movement in Japan.