Keystone of Administrative Reform in Japan: Archive System for Preserving Government Documents

Abstract

The archive system adopted for preserving government documents is the keystone of administrative reform in Japan. This is because the system enables the government to be administered democratically, openly, and justly. However, the current Japanese government does not consider the system as a measure to reform itself, but rather as a measure to preserve relatively historically worthwhile documents. It is evident from the statement of a minister involved in the system that the government provides insufficient resources to the organization required for establishing the system.