Beyond the e-Japan Strategy:Vision for Information-based Economy and Industries.

(From Journal of Japanese Trade & Industry (JJTI))

Byline: Murakami Teruyasu

Entering the 2nd Stage of IT Enhancement The e-Japan strategy is an IT infrastructure development policy that began after the collapse of the IT bubble, responding to the rapid development of broadband networks in South Korea and the United States. It is based on the concept that Japan must catch up with these countries in the area of information technology.

Japan quickly achieved its goal and its development of broadband networks for high-speed Internet connections has been remarkable. Given such progress in infrastructure-building, the updated e-Japan strategy II, announced in 2003, greatly shifted the strategic targets to promote the enhanced use of IT.

Nevertheless, when we look at each category of IT utilization today, there are still various issues that need to be resolved before we can achieve real satisfaction.

IT usage in corporation has always been the driving force behind IT adoption in Japan. Yet IT was limitedly used for optimizing certain domestic operations, such as improving the efficiency of individual business departments and industrial plants by using computers with narrowband networks. It is still difficult to say whether IT has led to increased competitiveness, innovation and the resolution of problems for companies. Meanwhile, some negative aspects of the network society have now emerged, in the form of growing unease over information security and privacy.

On the other hand, from the IT infrastructure development viewpoint, Japan has gone beyond the mere popularization of broadband. There are now initiatives to lead the world in the creation of the ubiquitous network, the next-generation IT usage environment which will connect anyone, in any place, at any time, by linking not just people to people, but also people to things and things to things.