About Information Technology

Technological advances have brought about a change known as the fourth industrial revolution that today is driving the digitalization. In 2016, the Japanese Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI) released the 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan. The Basic Plan includes the goal to realize, by 2020, a super-smart society. This broad shift is being referred to as "Society 5.0" and will be led by innovations in science and technology. 

EU-Japan Centre, Society 5.0 Strategy in Japan, 2018

From economy to social structures, every aspect of the human society will be deeply affected by the ramping digitalization. For example, Augmented Reality will change the perception of what we see in the real world, or payment will be made outside of bank authority thanks to blockchain technology. Even though these are just predictions, Japan, with other countries in the world, is assessing every future possibility for these new technologies.

According to the 2019 G20 Ministerial Statement on Trade and Digital Economy, held in Japan, the future society will be human-centered ("Society 5.0") and data flow will be safeguarded by efficient privacy measures. Many new technologies and applications will emerge, in Japan as well as the rest of the world.

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, G20 Ministerial Statement on Trade and Digital Economy, 2019

Table of Contents

• Overview
• IT-Related Policies & Society 5.0 strategy
• Regulations
  
• IT Market
• Researchers and Expenditure
• Technology Trade
• Internet & Moble Phone Use