The Ministries of Japan (中央省庁, Chūō shōchō, Central ministries and agencies) or Government Agencies of Japan (行政機関, Gyōsei kikan, Public administration organizations) are the most influential part of the executive branch of the Government of Japan. Each ministry is headed by a Minister of State appointed by the Prime Minister. In postwar politics, the posts of ministers have been given to senior legislators, mostly of the LDP. However, few ministers serve for more than one or two years to develop the necessary grasp of the organisation to become really influential. Thus, most of the power lies within the ministries, with the senior bureaucrats.
The current 15 Cabinet-level ministries of the Government of Japan include:
The Board of Audit of Japan is responsible for ensuring the adequacy of the Government's financial management by continuously auditing and supervising government activities, and verifying expenditures and revenues of the state.[1]
As a result of the reforms in 2001, many ministries were reformed.
The Financial Reconstruction Commission was abolished.
Prime Minister's Office + Economic Planning Agency + Okinawa Development Agency = Cabinet Office
Management and Coordination Agency + Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications + Ministry of Home Affairs = Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Science and Technology Agency + Ministry of Education, Science and Culture = Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Ministry of Health and Welfare + Ministry of Labour = Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry changed its name into "Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry".
Hokkaido Development Agency + National Land Agency + Ministry of Transport + Ministry of Construction = Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
The Environment Agency was reorganized into "Ministry of the Environment".
Several other smaller reforms were also made after the larger central government reforms were implemented in 2001.
In 2004, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, changed its English name into "Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications" (Japanese name was not changed).
In 2007, the Defense Agency was reorganized into "Ministry of Defense".
In 2008, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, changed its English name into "Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism" (Japanese name was not changed).
