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"Statistics for Japan's Future"- A Quick Reference (2018)
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Table of Contents
Statistical System in Japan
Statistical Organizations in Japan
The statistical system of the Japanese government is decentralized, in that, while the Statistics Bureau conducts fundamental censuses and statistical surveys, other relevant ministries produce statistics for their own policy purposes.
The Director-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards) is responsible for coordinating the statistical activities of different ministries.
(1) Statistics Commission
- Advisory body of statistical administration
(2) Director-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards)
- Coordination of the statistical activities of different ministries
Planning and promotion of basic statistical matters / Examination and coordination of censuses and statistical surveys / Coordination and compilation of national input-output tables / Establishment of statistical standards / Improvement of statistics survey environment / Coordination of international statistical activities
(3) Statistics Bureau (SBJ)
- Production of fundamental official statistics
- Dissemination of statistical information
- International cooperation in statistical techniques
(4) Statistical Research and Training Institute
- Implementation of comprehensive statistical research
- Provision of statistical training
(5) National Statistics Center (NSTAC)
- Data processing of fundamental official statistics
- Provision of infrastructures for official statistics for both public and private stakeholders
- Assistance in the preparation of statistical information by the national government as well as local governments and public entities
Points of Official Statistical System
Statistical survey conducted by national government
The term "statistical surveys" as used in the Statistics Act means surveys conducted by administrative organs, etc. by requesting individuals or juridical persons, or other organizations to report facts for the purpose of producing statistics. There are two types of Statistical Surveys which Japanese government organizations conduct. They are Fundamental Statistical Surveys and General Statistical Surveys.
Statistics compiled by national administrative organs undergo clearance individually by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, as before, aiming to reduce the reporting burden by eliminating duplication among statistical surveys.
Fundamental statistics
Important statistics, compiled by national administrative organs, are identified as Fundamental Statistics and developed systematically as the core of the statistical system. Fundamental Statistics such as "Population Census" and "National Accounts (so-called SNA)" and so on are specified in the Statistics Act. There are 56 Fundamental Statistics as of April 2018.
It is necessary for fundamental statistical surveys that produce fundamental statistics to create high accuracy statistics and there are special provisions as follows.
- Obligation to report
- Prohibition of impersonating fundamental statistical survey
- Implementation of statistical surveys through local governments
Protection of the secrets of participants in the statistical survey
National government employees who are engaged in the handling of questionnaire information and the entrustees of statistical survey services have the confidentiality obligation not to disclose the secrets of survey participants which they have learned in performing their services, and those who violate this obligation are punished by imprisonment with work for not more than two years or a fine of not more than one million yen.
Organization Charts
Censuses and Statistical Surveys
The Statistics Bureau of Japan plans and conducts the important statistical surveys of Japan, and prepares and provides accurate statistics that are beneficial for society, by responding adequately to social and economic changes in our country.
The representative examples are the Population Census and the Economic Census. These two surveys are complete censuses where the entire population is surveyed.
Statistics Produced by the Statistics Bureau
POPULATION
- Population Census (quinquennial)
- Population Estimates (monthly)
- Report on Internal Migration in Japan (monthly)
HOUSING & LAND
- Housing and Land Survey (quinquennial)
EMPLOYMENT & UNEMPLOYMENT
- Labour Force Survey (monthly)
- Employment Status Survey (quinquennial)
LIFESTYLE
- Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities (quinquennial)
ESTABLISHMENTS & ENTERPRISES
- Economic Census for Business Frame (quinquennial)
- Economic Census for Business Activity (quinquennial)
- Unincorporated Enterprise Survey (quarterly, annual)
- Monthly Survey on Service Industries (monthly, annual)
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
- Survey of Research and Development (annual)
HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY
- Family Income and Expenditure Survey (monthly)
- Survey of Household Economy (monthly)
- National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure (quinquennial)
- Expenditure Monitor Survey for One-person Households (monthly)
- Consumption Trend Index (monthly)
PRICES
- Retail Price Survey (monthly)
- Consumer Price Index (monthly)
REGION
- Grid Square Statistics
The results of these three are reported monthly at the Cabinet Meetings by the Minister
Process of Producing Statistics
New Efforts regarding Statistical Survey
The Statistics Bureau of Japan reviewed the Family Income and Expenditure Survey, the Consumer Price Index, and the Labour Force Survey, which are published every month, and introduced their latest version in January 2018 so as to make them even more useful.
Statistics on family expenditure(Family Income and Expenditure Survey,etc.) | Changed completely the family account book used for the Family Income and Expenditure Survey, and fully revised the survey so that it copes with increasingly varied methods of settlement, including electronic money. In addition, an online family account book with a sales slip-reading function started to be implemented in stages. The Consumption Trend Index (CTI) that comprehensively grasps the consumption trend of the entire household and changes in the consumption trend of the entire economy was launched, also including the consumption of one-person households. |
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Consumer Price Index | In order to further improve the accuracy of the index, changes in the prices of "low-cost smartphone communication charges," "SIM-unlocked terminals," and "heated tobacco products" are covered. The national result is published one week earlier than before, as a review to speed up policy decisions. |
Labour Force Survey | In order to understand employment situations from more diversified perspectives, multiple indices related to labor underutilization were newly established, which are published every quarter. |
Dissemination of Statistical Information
As the core institution for government statistics, the Statistics Bureau of Japan is promoting various initiatives for strategic dissemination of statistical information, advanced use of statistical data, and raising public awareness of statistical literacy, under the belief that statistics is the information platform for society.
Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan (e-Stat)
https://www.e-stat.go.jp/en/
Website of the Statistics Bureau
https://www.stat.go.jp/english/index.html
Statistics Dashboard
https://dashboard.e-stat.go.jp/en/
Efforts by the Statistical Data Utilization Center (established in Wakayama Prefecture)
The "Statistical Data Utilization Center" was established in Wakayama Prefecture in 2018. The center promotes the advanced statistical data utilization, including the provision of statistical micro-data, cooperating with Wakayama Prefecture.
Provision of statistical micro-data
Environment allowing for advanced data analysis is established while ensuring information security (on-site facilities) to provide statistical micro-data as well as promoting the diffusion of on-site utilization.
Promotion of the utilization of statistical data contributing to data science/ Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM)
Utilization of statistical data is promoted, including support for resolving problems faced by local public authorities utilizing statistical data, consultation on the utilization of statistical data, and studies on the case examples of solutions using data.
Development of human resources related to the utilization of statistical data
In order to support the improvement of data science skill, lecture sessions on statistical data utilization and other opportunities are provided.
International Cooperation in Statistics
The Statistics Bureau of Japan conducts various international cooperation activities, such as hosting international statistical conferences, sending statistical experts to other countries, and inviting trainees in response to requests from foreign countries and international organizations. The Bureau contributes to promoting international cooperation through these activities.
Technical cooperation programs
The Bureau sends statistical experts to other countries for extended periods on a request basis for technical cooperation, for example, for a country's Population Census. Experts have been sent to Mexico, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Argentina, Indonesia, Myanmar, Tanzania, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, etc., in approximate chronological order.
The Bureau also invites trainees in response to requests from foreign countries and international organizations, and gives lectures for them.
Project on Capacity Development for the Implementation of Economic Census 2018 in Nepal
Hosting international statistical conferences
The Bureau occasionally hosts international statistical conferences. Since 1980, the Bureau has hosted the East Asian Statistical Conference (EASC), mostly in Japan, over approximately the last three decades.
Also, the Bureau promotes exchanging information and views from an international perspective by hosting international symposiums and expert meetings such as the 25th Meeting of the Wiesbaden Group on Business Registers in 2016 and the Seminar on Statistical Capacity Building for New Data Sources in 2017.
The Seminar on Statistical Capacity Building for New Data Sources (2017)
Bilateral cooperation
The Bureau has been promoting exchanges of statistical missions with China and Korea almost every year. It has been regularly exchanging missions with China since 1980 and with Korea since 1982.
Also, the Bureau signed the Memorandum of Cooperation with Vietnam in 2015, and with Mongolia in 2017 to establish the basis for in-depth cooperation.
The 29th Korean Statistical Mission to Japan (2018)
Receiving visitors from abroad
The Bureau welcomes overseas statistical missions visiting Japan for specific purposes, and provides them with information and data as requested.
The Bureau receives more than 100 international visitors every year, and exchanges information and views on the statistical methods, as well as the technologies involved in censuses and statistical surveys.
The Visitors from the 9th International Workshop on Analysis of Micro Data of Official Statistics (2017)
Statistical Research and Training Institute
The Statistical Research and Training Institute (SRTI) was established in the following year of the first Population Census (1921) as the Statistics Staff Training Institute within the Census Office (Kokusei-in).
As the utilization of statistics in each administrative area had been promoted after the World War II, the SRTI opened its statistical training courses to all personnel of national and local governments. After several organizational changes, the SRTI was designated as an independent educational institution of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in April 2003.
Since April 2017, the SRTI has conducted research on statistical techniques.
Statistical Research Activities
The SRTI has mainly conducted the following research:
- Collection, organization and research for information on Big Data
- Collection and research for information on statistical techniques common to national governments
- Technical cooperation in response to requests from national and local governments
- Research activities on advanced usage of statistics and other various research activities such as joint-research projects with universities and private companies, in collaboration with the guest researchers and external experts
Statistical Training
The SRTI provides various statistical training courses for the personnel of national and local governments and government-affiliated organizations with the aim of imparting statistical knowledge and skills.
The SRTI has also provided lectures through the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) since 2016.
Statistical Training
Latest Indicator
Population Census
As of October 1, 2015, the total population in Japan was 127,094,745.
In the population in 1920, the population pyramid of Japan was shaped like Mt. Fuji, with a broad base of younger people. But due to the declining number of live births and the growing proportion of elderly people, the population pyramid became pot-shaped in 2015.
Population Pyramid (1920,
2015)
Economic Census
The total number of establishments in Japan was 5,622 thousand (as of June 1, 2016, preliminary report).
By industrial division, "Medical, health care and welfare" was 430 thousand (as of June 1, 2016), up by 19.9% from 359 thousand (as of February 1, 2012).
Establishments by Industry Divisions
and Rate of Change (2012, 2016)
Transportation and Access Map
Statistics Bureau, Director-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards)
19-1 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8668 Japan
TEL: +81-3-5273-1116
FAX: +81-3-5273-1010
Email: stat_webmaster@soumu.go.jp
Website (Statistics Bureau): https://www.stat.go.jp/english/index.html
Website (Director-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards)): http://www.soumu.go.jp/english/dgpp_ss/index.htm
By Rail
Toei Oedo Line (subway) 5-minute walk from "Wakamatsu-Kawada" Station
Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (subway) 15-minute walk from "Waseda" Station
Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line (subway) 10-minute walk from "Higashi-Shinjuku" Station
By Bus
Bus from "JR Shin-Okubo" Station or "JR Okubo" Station
Board the Toei bus for "Iidabashi" Station (No.62) or "Shinbashi" Station (No. 63), and get off at "Kokuritsu Kokusai Iryo Kenkyu Center (National Center for Global Health and Medicine)" (10 minutes).
Statistical Data Utilization Center
Nankai Wakayama-shi Station Building, Office Building 5th Floor 3-17 Higashi kuramae-cho, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama 640-8203 Japan
TEL: +81-73-425-0205
Email: g-rikatsuyou@soumu.go.jp
By Rail
Nankai Electric Railway "Wakayama-shi" Station (connected to the Station Building)
By Bus
Bus from "JR Wakayama" Station Bus Terminal 3
Board the bus for "Nankai Wakayama-shi Station Mae" and get off at "Nankai Wakayama-shi Station Mae" (Last stop) (15 minutes)
Statistical Research and Training Institute
2-11-16 Izumi-cho, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo 185-0024 Japan
TEL: +81-42-320-5870
FAX: +81-42-320-5825
Email: training@soumu.go.jp
Website: https://www.stat.go.jp/trainin g/english/e-index.html
By Rail
JR Chuo Line or Musashino Line 6-minute walk from "Nishi-Kokubunji" StationSome of the publications on this site are in PDF. To view them you will need to have Adobe Reader. Please click the graphic link to download Adobe Reader.