Abstract

To reform the role of state, it is necessary to examine it’s features in that country. For example, the situation that the state and the society have been mutually penetrating in Japan requires the redefinition of their relationship in the case of deregulation. Bureaucracy which represents Japanese state has two special features; one is a sectionalism and the other is an expansionism. Based on this combination, each ministry/agency secures its turf by dividing the whole society and can intervene social activity in it. Corresponding with to entrust societal groups with the implementation, bureaucracy in Japan has been absorbing social demand for policy through these collaborative groups. That means Japanese government has vast amount of semi-public organizations and expands its functions. Through these groups and its own unclear competence, bureaucrats control societal actors to some extent. Therefore to promote deregulation, separation of sate and society will be a key-element, and it is necessary to make state functions clear. As Japanese state - society relation affects the nature of markets, the change of that relation will be required for improving market competition.