The Significances of Administrative Reforms in 1990s:

Why were bureaucratic procedures formalized by General Laws?

Abstract

This article aims to make clear why the LDP, in 1990s, enacted several bills which disciplined administrative operations. The LDP and bureaucrats had not thought it necessary to legalize administrative affairs until 1980s, but they enacted the bills regarding administrative procedures, freedom of information, ethics of public officials and etc. in 1990s.
  In this article I examined the political process of establishing the bill of freedom of information. I found that both the LDP and bureaucrats prepared to submit the bill to thrive in the 1990s' political situation. First, the LDP took it seriously to keep its power with cooperation of the New Party Sakigake and the Social Democratic Party of Japan which advocated the disclosure of government activities. Second, the disclosure of government documents was reframed as public interest not as bureaucratic procedures. This result means that the 1990s' real politics brought about non - NPM administrative reforms in Japan.