Section 2
Section
2
1
Reform of the Ministry of Defense
Reform of the Ministry of Defense
Background of the Reform
Reference 90
The Relationship between the Japanese People and the Ministry of Defense and the SDF
See
Chapter 4
mulgated the “Direction by the Minister of Defense on MOD
Reform (Pillars of Deliberation),” which presented the new direction of the MOD reform under the DPJ administration.
In the “Pillars of Deliberation” the DPJ administration decided to reconsider the MOD reform from its own perspective,
while the MOD reform had achieved success to some extent so
far, and should be made continuously after this. In the reform of
the central organization, in particular, it was considered adequate to employ a structure in which internal bureaus collect
opinions of the Ministry, while the Minister listens to the opinions from the civilian and SDF personnel which reflect their
expertise. From this perspective, it was decided to conduct new
deliberations concerning the unification of the internal bureaus
and the staff offices, as well as the integration of civilian and
SDF personnel, in the areas of operational and defense planning divisions. At the same time, as for both the operational
division and the defense planning division, it was decided to
conduct deliberations at rectifying defects stemming from the
two-dimensional organizational structure, in the form of the
internal bureaus and staff offices.
In August 2010, the “Council for the Promotion of the MOD
Reform” was established, and it organized the specific measures based on the “Pillars of Deliberation.” These measures
were implemented in close coordination with the “Committee
for Promotion of Structural Reform of Defense Capability” to
reflect 2010 NDPGs and 2011 MTDP.
▲
The purpose of the reform of the Ministry of Defense (MOD
reform) is to secure the public trust and shape the MOD as an
organization that is capable of adequately performing the missions assigned to it. The MOD has made every effort to implement the MOD reform including the reorganization of the central organization, from the standpoints of preventing scandals,
and ensuring that the SDF operates more actively and efficiently through the effective use of human resources.
As a reaction to the numerous scandals which damaged public trust in the MOD/SDF in recent years, the Council for MOD
Reform took place in the Prime Minister’s Office several times
in 2007, and a report was submitted in 2008. The report offered
the opinion concerning measures to prevent scandals, and suggested that an organization reform is necessary to make MOD/
SDF operate as an effective organization in the current security
environment.
In accordance with the basic directions stipulated in this report, the MOD made various efforts aimed at MOD reform,
including thorough adherence to rules and regulations, and the
establishment of operational management that prioritizes the
execution of duties, with the aim of total optimization, as well
as the establishment in law of the Defense Council, the Special
Advisor to the Minister of Defense and the abolition of the post
of the Director of Defense, in order to strengthen civilian control. The DPJ (the Democratic Party of Japan) administration
established in September 2009 examined the MOD reform under the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) and New Komeito administration, referring to the dialogues with experts, and pro-
Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense Eto hosting the 1st meeting by the “Committee for the Deliberations on the MOD Reform”
Defense of Japan
297
Part III Measures for Defense of Japan
2
Acceleration of the MOD Reform by the New Administration
To accelerate the deliberations on MOD reform based on past
outcomes, the new LDP and New Komeito administration
changed in December 2012 promulgated the “Direction by the
Minister of Defense on the MOD Reform” and set up the “Committee for the Deliberations on the MOD Reform,” whose
chairperson was the Senior Vice-Minister of Defense in February 2013. The Committee is examining the measures in cooperation with the review of approaches to the defense capability,
from the perspectives not only of preventing scandals but of
making SDF operate more actively and efficiently through the
use of human resources, and accomplishing the civilian control
The Relationship between the Japanese People and the Ministry of Defense and the SDF
Chapter 4
Fig. III-4-2-1
298
over the SDF under the severe security environment. With regard to the business operation and structure of the central organization, the Committee is giving necessary consideration, taking into account the lessons learned from handling recent
incidents such as the Great East Japan Earthquake and the
launch of missiles by North Korea, and in tandem with the discussion to strengthen the commanding function of the Prime
Minister’s Office concerning national security such as the establishment of Japanese National Security Council.
See Reference 91
Deliberation Framework on Reform of the Ministry of Defense
Deliberation Framework
Defense Council
Deliberate on general policies related to the Ministry of Defense
(Article 19-2 of the Act for Establishment of the Ministry of Defense)
Chair: Minister of Defense
Members:Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense, Special Advisors to the Minister of
Defense, Administrative Vice-Minister of Defense, Director Generals of Minister's Secretariat and each Bureau, Chief of Staff,
Joint Staff, Chief of Staff, GSDF, Chief of Staff, MSDF, Chief of Staff, ASDF, Director, Defense Intelligence Headquarters
Instruction
Report
Newly established (February 21, 2013)
Council for Deliberation on the MOD Reform
Conduct deliberation on necessary issues concerning the MOD
reform under the instruction of the Ministry of Defense
Chair: Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense
Representative of the Chair: Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense
Members:Administrative Vice-Minister of Defense, Director Generals of Minister's Secretariat and each Bureau, Chief of Staff, Joint
Staff, Chief of Staff, GSDF, Chief of Staff, MSDF, Chief of Staff, ASDF, Assistant Vice-Minister, Minister's Secretariat (in
charge of the MOD reform)
Board of Governors
Assistant Vice-Minister and Director-level Project Team (PT)
Defense Planning PT
Operational PT
Policy Planning PT
Information
Transmission PT
Operational WT
Policy Planning WT
Information
Transmission WT
Chief-level Working Team (WT)
Defense Planning WT
DEFENSE OF JAPAN 2013
Other issues