Major External Organs of the Ministry

Public Security Intelligence Agency

The Operations of the Public Security Intelligence Agency

●Control of Subversive Organizations

　In Japan, there are many organizations and forces which may pose a security risk to the public. They include: Aum Shinrikyo, which carried out the subway sarin gas attacks, among others; leftist extremists, which have repeatedly conducted illegal activities including terrorist and guerilla attacks; right wing groups; and the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
　Based on the Subversive Activities Prevention Act, the Agency conducts intelligence activities regarding those organizations which have a potential for subversive terrorist activities. When it is deemed necessary to take control measures as a result of intelligence activities, the Agency files an application with the Public Security Examination Commission in order to take control measures such as restricting their activities or giving them a dissolution order. Also, in accordance with the Act on the Control of Organizations Which Have Committed Acts of Indiscriminate Mass Murder, the Agency files an application with the Commission against organizations that have committed indiscriminate mass murder in the past and are still considered dangerous in order to take “surveillance measures” or other measures for preventing a recurrence. At the same time, the Agency conducts on-site inspections at the facilities of these organizations under the Commission’s order for surveillance and carries out necessary investigations.

●Aum Shinrikyo Today -20 years after the Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attacks-

  　In order to reveal the status of the activities of Aum Shinrikyo, the Agency conducts surveillance of the cult in an appropriate and rigorous manner. Investigations and on-site inspections of Aum Shinrikyo have revealed that the cult still poses a threat in nature: the cult has increased the number of new followers by recruiting activities without mentioning its name; the cult also has reinforced teachings designed to increase the followers’ absolute faith in Asahara, who is currently on death row.

●Intelligence Contribution
   
   There are many challenges to the security of Japan and its people such as North Korea’s ballistic missile test-launches, nuclear development and abductions of Japanese nationals; China’s extensive and rapid modernization of military strength; threats posed by international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. These challenges need to be carefully watched. Especially, Japan has repeatedly faced situations where tensions became heightened with its neighbouring countries over the territory and maritime interests of Japan, and these situations have become matters of great concern to the government and relevant organs of Japan. It has become one of the most important missions of the Agency, which is tasked to secure public security, to collect and analyze relevant intelligence with regard to these challenges, thus contributing to the government’s policies by providing relevant organs with the intelligence.

●National Security Council and Public Security Intelligence Agency

   　In December 2013, the National Security Council was established as the control tower for diplomacy and national security of Japan. The Public Security Intelligence Agency provides the National Security Council on a timely basis with intelligence/ materials for deliberation at the council.
 

Public Security Examination Commission

Subversive Activities Prevention Act

　The Subversive Activities Prevention Act provides for necessary restrictive measures against organizations that have committed violent subversive activities, such as insurrection, disturbance, or homicide, with the aim of creating civil commotion or achieving their own political purposes, where such activities posed a serious threat to the peaceful lives of citizens. The Act also provides a means to complement the usually applicable punitive provisions regarding such activities to help ensure public safety in Japan.
　The Act provides that, if an organization that has committed violent subversive activities is determined to pose a threat, and if apparent risk for conducting further activities is detected, the organization shall have its activities under restriction or be disbanded. It also provides for additional or stricter punishments for organizations that have committed violent subversive activities; the Act stipulates that proper punishments be inflicted on violent subversive activities that might not be covered by the provisions of the Criminal Code or other laws, or that could only be dealt with by a lenient punishment. (Enforced in 1952)
 

Act on the Control of Organizations Which Have Committed Acts of Indiscriminate Mass Murder

　The Act on the Control of Organizations Which Have Committed Acts of Indiscriminate Mass Murder is intended to contribute to securing the public security of Japan by prescribing necessary control measures in order to reveal the status of the activities of organizations which have committed an act of indiscriminate mass murder in the past and which are still found to possess a menacing nature, or to prevent the recurrence of an act of indiscriminate mass murder.
　The Act provides for measures, aiming to prevent those organizations from committing indiscriminate mass murder again, such as the submission of mandatory reporting, surveillance action that legally authorizes the Agency to conduct on-site inspections, prohibition of acquisition and use of facilities, and/or prohibition to receive donation of money and goods. The Act also stipulates to impose appropriate punishment against prohibited conducts or rejection of on-site inspection. (Enforced in 1999)
 

Research and Training Institute of the Ministry of Justice

Research

　Research activities of the Institute encompass from general crime trends and the treatment of offenders in Japan to the analysis on specific crime situation and effective measure to reduce recidivism. White Paper on Crime is an annual publication that portrays the over all crime situation in Japan, and detailed analyses on thematic research topics can be found in the Research Department Reports and Materials.


White Paper on Crime

 

Training

　Various trainings are conducted for the officials of the Ministry of Justice (excluding correctional personnel and those at Public Security Intelligence Agency). In the trainings, various training subjects such as lectures, debates, and exercises are adopted so that the officials can acquire knowledge and skills needed as the officials of the Ministry of Justice, depending on their duties. Through the trainings, the institute is aiming to foster officials who can respond appropriately to operations that are becoming diverse and complex in recent years.
 

International Cooperation

　The Research and Training Institute has been actively offering international cooperation both in the criminal and civil sectors through: (i) providing training for criminal justice practitioners and implementing research for developing countries, mainly from the Asia-Pacific region, in cooperation with the United Nations, to contribute to, inter alia, the enhancement of countermeasures against organized crime and corruption, which are major policies of the UN; and (ii) providing technical assistance to developing countries mainly in Asia, that are promoting the development of their legal systems, focusing on the drafting or amending of fundamental legal codes, as well as the establishment of systems and status quo necessary for the operation of law, and capacity building for legal practitioners.
　Promoting such international cooperation as mentioned above has not only contributed to the development of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, but has delivered an important message to the whole world of Japan’s determination to make active international contributions from the viewpoint of strengthening countermeasures against international crimes and promoting smooth economic activities.
 

Operation of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders

　The Ministry of Justice cooperates with the United Nations in terms of policy-making and policy implementation in the field of crime prevention and the treatment of offenders through its financial and human resource contributions to the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI), established in 1962 based on the agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Japan.
 

Technical Assistance in the Legal Field

　Japan has invited legal practitioners of target countries to Japan for training, and has also dispatched Japanese experts to such countries to conduct advisory activities and to hold seminars. Japan has so far offered support to such countries as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Myanmar.