Since its establishment in 1997, the 21st Century Public Policy Institute (21PPI) has produced many articles and reports and made many policy recommendations as a public policy think tank. Thanks to the combined efforts of the many people concerned, our activities have come to attract widespread attention both in Japan and overseas.

Nowadays, the internal and external situation surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe. On the way to recovering as quickly as possible from the Great East Japan Earthquake and creating a safe and responsible society, Japan faces a mountain of challenges to overcome, including integrated tax, fiscal and social security reform and realization of a growth strategy that capitalizes on the private sector’s power. I believe the institute is expected to make an even greater contribution to the resolution of these challenges.

The 21PPI was reborn as an “open think tank” in 2007, setting up a framework whereby a diverse range of people, including scholars, researchers and politicians, could be brought together from Japan and elsewhere. In this forum, these individuals can participate in free and unreserved discussion on new policy visions, which can be widely disseminated. I feel this system has proven to be highly effective in proposing policies derived from new ideas and helping implement them. Making full use of this original framework, we are committed to stimulating policy debate and having our research outcomes reflected in reforms in Japan.

The 21PPI is engaged in research projects in a broad spectrum of fields, ranging from politics to taxation, fiscal systems and social security, administrative reform, environment and foreign relations. We are also examining a comprehensive strategy for Japan with the globalized economy and society in 2050 in view. While promoting studies useful for policy proposals by Keidanren, we will increase our efforts to accomplish the 21PPI’s mission of actively presenting policies developed from various reform perspectives and ideas gained through research.

The 21st Century Public Policy Institute is eager to undertake activities to meet the needs of the times with the understanding and support of Keidanren members and many other partners. I sincerely ask for your cooperation in our endeavors.

Tomijiro Morita
President