Ministry of Justice

Immigration Bureau: Duties

Basic Plan for Immigration Control, March 2000

The Symposium on the International Movement of People and Immigration Policy toward the 21st century, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Immigration Bureau of Japan, November 2000

Civil Affairs Bureau: Nationality businesses includes those concerning naturalization for a non-Japanese resident wishing to acquire the Japanese nationality, those concerning acquisition of Japanese nationality by way of notification, those concerning renunciation of Japanese nationality, those concerning choice of nationalities by a Japanese national having a foreign nationality, those concerning recognition of nationality and consultation on nationality questions.

Civil Liberties Bureau

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Foreign Workers' Affairs Division, Employment Security Bureau

Promotion of Measures for Foreign Workers

Osaka Employment Service Center For Foreigners

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

International Education Division, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau:
In order to advance elementary and secondary education, the Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau is responsible for establishing curriculum standards in elementary schools, lower and upper secondary schools, secondary schools, schools for the blind, schools for the deaf, and schools for the other disabled children and kindergartens. It is also responsible for the enhancement of student guidance and career guidance, the promotion of education of Japanese children living overseas, and the free provision and authorization of textbooks. Lastly, the Bureau is responsible for the system for local education, systems related to government employees working in education, standards of class size and staffing numbers for schools, the payment of teaching staff, and the improvement of public school facilities.

Higher Education Bureau:
In order to advance higher education, the Higher Education Bureau is responsible for the formulation of basic policies for higher education, the establishment and authorization of universities, junior colleges and colleges of technology, selection of new students and the conferring of degrees, duties related to student welfare guidance, scholarships, and the promotion of student exchanges. In addition, to promote private education, the Bureau is also responsible for approving the establishment of educational corporations, guidance and assistance on the management of educational corporations, and the provision of assistance toward private school education.

Director-General for International Affairs:
Acting as the Secretariat for the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, in accordance with the Law Concerning UNESCO Activities, the Director-General for International Affairs is responsible for promoting UNESCO activities and work relating to international exchanges on the basis of cooperative science and technology agreements and cultural agreements with other countries.

Statistics on Education for Japanese Children Abroad, July 2001

Outline of the Student Exchange System in Japan, May 2001

Japanese Government Policies in Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2001: Educational Reform for the 21st Century

Japan's Modern Education System: A History of the First Hundred Years

Japanese government's basic economic plan

"Ideal Socioeconomy and Policies for Economic Rebirth," July 1999

This plan was prepared by the Economic Council and adopted as "the policy for economic management for around 10-year period from 1999 to early in the 21st century" by the Cabinet of the Japanese government. It confirmed the Japanese government's position on foreign workers, that is "to accept foreign workers in professional and technical fields as much as possible, but to deal cautiously with the matter of accepting so-called unskilled workers with though deliberation, because such acceptance might have a far-reaching impact on our country's economy and society conditions."

Report of the Globalization Committee of the Economic Council, July 1999

The National Diet of Japan: House of Representatives & House of Councillors

Domestic laws regarding foreigners in Japan

Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act
Ministerial Ordinance to Provide for Criteria pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 1 (2) of Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act
Alien Registration Law
Nationality Law

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Adoption on 16 December 1966, entry into force on 3 January 1976, signature by Japan on 30 May 1978, ratification by Japan on 21 June 1979.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Adoption on 16 December, entry into force on 23 March 1976, signature by Japan on 30 May 1978, ratification by Japan on 21 June 1979.

Convention relating to the Status of Refugees: Adoption on 14 December 1959, entry into force on 22 April 1954, accession by Japan on 3 October 1978, entry into force in Japan on 1 January 1982.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Adoption on 18 December 1979, entry into force on 3 September 1981, signature by Japan on 17 July 1980, ratification by Japan on 25 June 1985.

Convention on the Rights of the Child: Adoption on 20 November 1989, entry into force on 2 September 1990, signature by Japan on 21 September 1990, ratification by Japan on 22 April 1994.

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: Adoption on 21 December 1965, entry into force on 4 January 1969, accession by Japan on 15 December 1995

*International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families: Adoption on 18 December 1990, entry into force soon, no signature by Japan yet.

*Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities : Adoption by General Assembly resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992.

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