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Abstract

This chapter seeks to examine the important developments in the public administration system of Japan. The authors assess the evolution of administrative governance from the establishment of the Meiji constitution to the contemporary system. We identify the key features that relate to separation of powers in the three-tier government structure, legal framework, public bureaucracy, and the relationship between politics and bureaucracy. Whereas the chapter pinpoints the continuation of key facets of Japan’s traditional administrative culture, the authors identify and recommend further research on emerging trends such as the influence of public bureaucrats on democracy as a result of their prominent but informal role in legislation, and the challenges of departmental fragmentation that has hindered the alignment of ministerial activities with government policy.

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Agwanda, B., Opoku, P. (2022). Japan. In: Ă–nder, M., Nyadera, I.N., Islam, M.N. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Comparative Public Administration. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1208-5_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1208-5_16

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