Accenture's fifth annual global e-government study

Japan
2004 Rank: 11 (joint)
2003 Rank: 15
2002 Rank: 17
Vision introduced:
Vision title:
2003 (update of original
2001 strategy)
eJapan Strategy II
Vision summary:
To become the world’s most advanced IT nation
by 2005.
Regular Internet users (percent of population):
55.18 percent
Japan
Japan moved up four places in the rankings in 2004,
driven by strong improvement in its service maturity
and customer relationship management maturity
scores. This jump follows a two-place advancement
in the rankings last year and is evidence of Japan’s
determined push to become a world-leading
eGovernment player. Some of the most noticeable
improvements came in the areas of pensions and
environmental regulations. Japan’s concerted efforts
over the past year in developing its service breadth
and depth led it to a fourth-place ranking in service
maturity alone.
It has been two and a half years since the eJapan
Strategy was first unveiled. During this time, the
government, with the Strategic Headquarters for
the Promotion of an Advanced Information and
Telecommunications Network Society and the private
sector, has made significant efforts to work
together to bring about Japan’s information technology
revolution. Consequently, the government
has one of the highest service breadth scores in our
survey. Japan is now ready for the next phase of its
eGovernment program. In July 2003, the government
adopted its “E-government Construction Plan”
(www.e-gov.go.jp/doc/scheme/html), which documented
strategic priorities and action plans until the
end of 2005.
This plan is built on fundamental principles of highperforming
eGovernment programs: citizen-oriented
service, simple and cost-effective government, administration
reform to reflect digitization and building
an environment that makes eGovernment a reality.
A number of specific projects are outlined, including
merging common services into a single gateway,
upgrading high-cost legacy systems and developing
an eGovernment user support center by 2005.
To prepare for its new eGovernment initiatives, Japan
established managerial-level advisory positions and
filled them with private-sector technology experts
to build the IT Strategy Council. Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi continues to be responsible for
implementing the country’s eGovernment vision and
is now supported by this council. The experts check
whether ministries and agencies are making full use
of information technology capabilities and provide
advice on electronic security.
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