CEIAI Governance Database
Back to the database
Record STMT-W963C00Aspirational

Interim Report

Report State lawEastern Asia · JPadopted

This interim report by Japan's AI Strategic Council and AI Institutional Study Group outlines recommendations for developing a flexible AI legal and policy framework. It emphasizes balancing innovation promotion with risk mitigation, utilizing soft laws alongside targeted legislation, ensuring international interoperability, and strengthening the government's strategic leadership. The report also addresses AI safety evaluations, transparency across the AI lifecycle, government procurement, and national security.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Cabinet OfficeGovernment · JP
Lead issuer
Legal forceAspirational
Under whose authorityState law
Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

National governmentRegulatorsPublic sector bodiesCompaniesAI developers and providersAI deployers and usersResearchers and academics

Policymakers, regulators, researchers, and business operators seeking to understand Japan's emerging strategic direction on AI governance and legal frameworks.

Sectors
Cross-sectorPublic administration · government use and procurementResearch and science · AI research and development

What the document contains

What's covered

The document covers the strategic direction for Japan's AI legal and institutional framework, defining key actors, analyzing international trends (such as the EU AI Act and US Executive Orders), addressing innovation support and risk mitigation, and proposing specific policy measures regarding government leadership, safety evaluations, public procurement, and national security.

What's missing

The text does not provide finalized statutory text, specific enforcement penalties, or detailed technical specifications for safety evaluations.

Key takeaways
  • Japan should balance AI innovation with risk mitigation to become the friendliest country for developing and implementing AI.
  • Regulatory approaches should primarily rely on a combination of existing laws and flexible soft laws, limiting new binding legislation to necessary areas.
  • The government's strategic leadership function should be strengthened through a consolidated board and national strategy.
  • Transparency and appropriateness across the AI lifecycle must be ensured via stakeholder information sharing, voluntary certifications, and government surveys.
  • International consistency and interoperability, guided by the spirit of the Hiroshima AI Process, are essential for global market access.
Principles it states
Balance between risk mitigation and the promotion of innovationDesign of flexible legal systems that can respond to the speed of technological and business changeInternational interoperabilityProper procurement and use of AI by the government
Outline
Contents
Overview
I. Preface
II. Basic approach to legal systems
1. Recent developments in AI
2. Related actors
3. Promotion of innovation while mitigating risks
4. Promoting international cooperation
III. Direction of specific legal systems and policies
1. Overall items
2. Use by the government
3. Matters related to life and body safety, systemic risks and national security
IV. Conclusion
Issued4 February 2025
Length9,253 words · 26 pages
FormatNot recorded
Scopenational

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

3/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

To appropriately mitigate risks, in addition to clarifying the roles of each entity such as developers and providers in accordance with the guidelines, it is necessary to clarify responsibilities.

II. Basic approach to legal systems, 3. Promotion of innovation while mitigating risks, (3) Mitigating risks

screening score · 2026-10-25

Fairness

2/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

The OECD established AI principle in 2019, which consists of inclusive growth, sustainable development and well-being, human-centered values and fairness

II. Basic approach to legal systems, 4. Promoting international cooperation, (1) Formation of AI governance

screening score · 2026-10-25

Human Oversight

1/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

This advanced AI has the potential to replace tasks traditionally performed by humans and even produce outcomes that surpass human achievements.

I. Preface

screening score · 2026-10-25

Transparency

4/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

the Act has established regulations imposing obligations of the transparency including creation of technological documents and disclosure of training data on providers of the general -purpose AI

I. Preface

screening score · 2026-10-25

Enforcement

2/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

If there is any penalty provided in laws, public organizations can invoke some kind of coercive power

II. Basic approach to legal systems, 3. Promotion of innovation while mitigating risks, (2) Application of laws and making use of soft law

screening score · 2026-10-25

Impact Assessment

4/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

imposing an obligation to conduct impact assessments and conformity assessments before putting a high-risk AI

I. Preface

screening score · 2026-10-25

Topics

ai_governance legal_systems innovation risk_mitigation international_interoperability