Japan

House of Representatives House of Councillors

House of Representatives

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Openness and transparency

Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.

Parliamentary documents

The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance: Some
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance: Some
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site: All
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website: All
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site: No

Annual reporting by parliament

Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities: Yes
The annual report is available on the parliamentary web site: Yes
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget: Yes
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public: The complete budget
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site: Yes
Link to the parliamentary budget: https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_annai.nsf/html/statics/osirase.htm

Access to parliament

Plenary meetings are open to the public: Yes

Notes: A visitor’s ticket is required to gain access to plenary meetings. Visitors carrying firearms or hazardous objects, or under the influence of alcohol are not admitted. The Speaker may also find it necessary to prohibit a visitor’s access for regulatory reasons.
Committee meetings are open to the public: Yes

Notes: Only MPs can access committee meetings as visitors and access to the public is limited to members of the media and those granted permission by the Chairperson.
There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings: Yes
Media used for the dedicated channel: Webcast
Meetings broadcast on the dedicated channel: Plenary sittings

Committee meetings

Freedom of information

There is a freedom of information law in the country: Yes
Parliament is subject to the freedom of information law: Yes
Parliament has an office/division dedicated to FOI requests: Yes
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure: Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs Act (No. 42 of 1999);

https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/hourei/data/AAIHAO.;

With respect to the parliament, the Secretary General of each chamber establishes the rules that will be applied for access to parliamentary information;

House of Representatives:

http://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_annai.nsf/html/statics/osirase/jyouhoukoukai.htm;

Among the documents, pictures, and electromagnetic records held by the Secretariat of the House of Representatives (HR) for organizational use by its staff members, which have been prepared or obtained by its staff members in the course of their duties, the following are excluded from the items subject to disclosure of information: (1) items published for the purpose of selling to many and unspecified persons; (2) items managed according to the standards for handling materials of the Parliamentary Museum, HR; and (3) items related to legislation and research. There are also cases where items are not disclosed, and such cases include: (1) when specifically provided for by law; (2) when the information is related to activities of in-house groups or House Members, and there is a risk of causing hindrance to their activities if disclosed; and (3) when the information corresponds to “Non-Disclosure Information” provided for by Article 5, Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs, including information involving a risk of constituting a hindrance to the proper execution of duties if disclosed due to the nature of the duties associated with legislation and research at the House of Representative

House of Councillors:

http://www.sangiin.go.jp/japanese/annai/johokoukai/seido.htm

Among the documents, pictures, and electromagnetic records held by the Secretariat of the House of Councillors for organizational use by its staff members, which have been prepared or obtained by its staff members in the course of their duties, the following are excluded from the items subject to disclosure of information: (1) items published for the purpose of selling to many and unspecified persons; (2) items made before the enforcement of Constitution of Japan of 1947, which are specially preserved; and (3) items related to legislation and research, which are designated by Secretary General of the House of Councillors. Adding to these, items are also excluded from disclosure when they include any of the following information: (1) information related to activities of in-house groups or House Members, in which there is a risk of causing hindrance to their activities if disclosed; (2) information involving a risk of constituting a hindrance to the proper execution of duties if disclosed due to the nature of the duties associated with legislation and research at the House of Councillors; and (3) information corresponding to “Non-Disclosure Information” provided for by Article 5, Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs.

Lobbying

There are rules about the activities of lobbyists in parliament: No
There is a register of accredited lobbyists: No

Japan

House of Representatives

Openness and transparency

Parliamentary documents

Annual reporting by parliament

Access to parliament

Freedom of information

Lobbying

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Updated at	IPU membership
1952-01	Yes
1939-01	No
1908-01	Yes