Proposing a Grand Design
for the Future of Society

Proposing a Grand Design for the Future of Society

The Policy Research Institute is a think tank composed of experts with diverse backgrounds and experience across corporate, public, and academic sectors.

Our mission is twofold:
To serve as a bridge between public institutions and the private sector by addressing gaps in Japanese policy and practice from a user-oriented perspective, and
To generate and disseminate research findings and policy recommendations that deserve greater attention in the policy-making process.

Proposing a Grand Design for the Future of Society
The Policy Research Institute is a think tank composed of experts with diverse backgrounds and experience across corporate, public, and academic sectors.

Our mission is twofold:
To serve as a bridge between public institutions and the private sector by addressing gaps in Japanese policy and practice from a user-oriented perspective, and
To generate and disseminate research findings and policy recommendations that deserve greater attention in the policy-making process.

About the Policy Research Institute

The Policy Research Institute is an organization that engages in cross-sectoral dialogue on complex societal challenges, utilizing multidisciplinary perspectives to identify practical policy guidance and direction.

Multiple Perspectives

The Shift from Fragmented Expertise to Integrated Policy Dialogue

In the past, public policy discussions were often led by individual experts, focusing on short-term and narrowly defined topics.

However, in today's increasingly complex society, multiple issues and areas of expertise are deeply interwoven. It has become difficult—if not impossible—to identify appropriate solutions from a single perspective or field of specialization.

Going forward, we must engage in cross-sectoral, long-term discussions on interdisciplinary and multifaceted themes, drawing on diverse perspectives and experiences.

Example: In the event of a fatal accident caused by drunk driving on an electric scooter

Until now

Discussions were typically led by experts from a specific supervisory authority or field, based on a narrow regulatory perspective—
for example: “Review of approval standards under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.”

Going forward

Let us re-examine the issue from multiple, interconnected perspectives—
not only the regulatory perspective of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism,
but also through the lenses of urban mobility challenges, public safety and policing, urban planning and development, and startup support policy, among others.

The Societal Context Demanding Our Work

●We now live in an era where short-term, siloed optimization for individual issues is no longer sufficient. Instead, we must adopt a medium- to long-term perspective and pursue holistic, system-wide solutions.
●To meet this need, we bring together members with expertise across multiple domains, fostering cross-cutting discussions that transcend the interests of any single stakeholder. Through this process, we aim to propose realistic and actionable grand designs for the society of the future.

Rule Making Change

Redefining the Approach to Rulemaking

Conventional Rulemaking Has Focused on Fragmented, Issue-Specific Optimization

In recent years, rulemaking activities—particularly in the technology sector—have become more active. However, they have largely remained focused on fragmented, issue-specific optimizations.

We are increasingly concerned that if this trend continues, the systems underpinning our society will become a patchwork of ad hoc measures, potentially leading to structural failures in the long term.

Architecture

Platforms

Data Integration Infrastructure

Information and Communications

Finance

Healthcare

Infrastructure

Industrial Structure

Urban Development

Human Resources

Technology・Population Decline・Carbon Neutrality・Geopolitical Trends

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Proposing a Grand Design
for the Society of the Future

Proposing a Grand Design for the Society of the Future

The Policy Research Institute is committed to proposing a realistic and actionable grand design for the future of society, grounded in cross-cutting themes essential for navigating the coming era—such as technology, population decline, and carbon neutrality.

Rather than pursuing short-term, issue-specific optimizations, we adopt a medium- to long-term perspective to seek holistic, system-wide solutions. By bringing together members with expertise across multiple domains, we foster integrated discussions that transcend the interests of any single stakeholder, aiming to shape a regulatory and policy framework that reflects the complex and interconnected nature of today's societal challenges.

Organizational Overview

Establishment Date
June 27, 2022
Head
Takafumi Ochiai
(Senior Partner at Atsumi & Sakai; Member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association)
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Profile
Mission
The Policy Research Institute, under the leadership of attorney Takafumi Ochiai, comprises lawyers from Atsumi & Sakai and distinguished experts with experience across various sectors, including private enterprises, public institutions, and civil society organizations.

The Institute is established with the objective of serving as a bridge between policy and practice in Japan—particularly in areas where engagement by both the public and private sectors has been insufficient. Drawing upon user-centered perspectives, the Institute aims to identify and articulate policy challenges, and to develop and disseminate research findings and policy proposals that merit national attention.

On complex and unresolved issues for which no clear path forward has yet been defined, the Institute engages in interdisciplinary, long-term policy discussions. These discussions are not aimed at reaching easy or immediate conclusions, but at laying the intellectual and institutional groundwork for transformative policies and practical reform.
Policy Approach
At the Policy Research Institute, in addition to hosting study groups with external experts, we engage in the following core activities:
1. Research on public policy and practical implementation, as well as the development and dissemination of policy recommendations
2. Ongoing communication and outreach, including media engagement, public lectures, explanations of new policy initiatives, and publication of legal and policy commentaries to support practical implementation
3. Collaborative initiatives and research projects conducted in partnership with public institutions, industry associations, and other relevant stakeholders
Official Website
https://policy-ri.jp
連絡先
00-0000-0000

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Contact

Sample Policy Agenda

The Institute addresses a broad range of topics aligned with its mission and policy approach. Below is a partial list of agendas currently under consideration. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and will continue to evolve.

Cross-cutting legal and institutional frameworks for information infrastructure in the telecommunications sector, including trust-based models for information exchange across regulatory regimes
Legal frameworks for finance and information, reflecting the evolving nature of currency and financial services infrastructure and the functional transformation of financial institutions
Integrated regulatory models for information law, consumer protection, and competition law, developed in response to changes in digital architecture, including network systems, platform governance, and data-sharing infrastructure
Policy strategies for industrial transformation driven by external factors such as carbon neutrality and supply chain resilience
Legal and institutional models for sustaining essential infrastructure—including mobility, housing, water, and energy—in a depopulating society, encompassing urban development regulation, public utilities, and financial mechanisms