Established in 1991, the Japan Information Access Project is a trusted member of the U.S. policy community interested in Japan and Asia. The Project specializes in introducing to Washington the best "outside-the-Beltway" scholarly research and analysis on critical Asia policy issues. The goal is to strengthen international understanding of Japanese and Northeast Asian science, technology, economic and security policy. Through a range of programs and publications, the Project educates its members, policymakers, and the public to use knowledge of Japan and Asia to increase national strategic competitiveness and security.

Information for Public Policy

The Project supports educational organizations, government agencies, corporations, laboratories, universities, trade associations, foundations, think tanks, and the media in gaining access to and understanding the experts, organizations, and reference materials that comprise Japan and Asia's vast and often puzzling information networks. The Project meets the practical needs of educators, policy researchers, business executives, scientists, engineers, legislators, and journalists; all who seek to apply Japanese and Asian information strategically in their policymaking, planning, marketing, teaching, and research.

The Japan Information Access Project operates as a neutral and objective clearinghouse that complements the work of policymakers, researchers and information centers. The Project does not make policy nor lobby. The Project analyzes Asia's information cultures and how they differ from and influence that of the West. The Project also identifies and evaluates Western resources on Japan and Northeast Asia. The Project staff works closely with Washington policymakers to design relevant public and private briefings. By helping others tap into Japan's and Northeast Asia's vast science, technology, and policy networks, the Japan Information Access Project promotes international partnerships and learning.

A Unique Washington Resource Expanding the Policy Mix

The Japan Information Access Project has a number of unique features for a Washington research center on Asia. The focus of our work is on science and technology and on Japan as a prism through which to view Asia's trade, economic, security, and foreign relations. In contrast to many nonprofit organizations that study Asia, the Project neither solicits nor receives funding from Japan.

The Japan Project is not merely a clearinghouse of data and experts on Asia. Nor does the Project generate long-range policy studies chaired by policy generalists and staffed by figurehead scholars. An important goal of the Japan Project is to assist the Washington policy community to access the best scholarship and analysis on Japan and Northeast Asia. By relying solely on Washington's experts and think tanks, the intellectual infrastructure supporting senior policy officials is incomplete. 

The task is to equip our public with the tools to do their own research, pursue their own ideas, and ask the hard questions. To do this, the Project identifies and brings to Washington scholarly specialists whose work is relevant to specific, current policy issues. These experts prepare substantive policy briefs that include resource materials for further research. The Japan Project arranges both public and private opportunities for these experts to speak directly to Washington's decision makers.

Cultivating New Audiences

Unifying the Project's work is a belief that the Japan and Asia information provider can no longer be content with satisfying the needs of those who already are knowledgeable. An interest must be cultivated in people whose work may be affected by activities in Japan and Asia or who could learn from Japan. There is a new audience for Asian and Japanese information, many of whom are unaware and unconcerned that this information is relevant. A greater understanding of Japan's industrial and foreign policies and practices, moreover, is key to expanding trade and technology relations with all of Asia. The science and policymaking communities of these countries, patterning themselves on Japan, are poised to become formidable competitors.

The Japan Information Access Project believes that the new information professional can no longer rest as a mere gatekeeper nor distant expert of exotica. The Asia expert now needs to be a guide, a trainer, and an innovator. The end goal is not to create an avalanche of information, but to create citizens who are independent problem-solvers--citizens who have available, and possess the know-how to use, Japan-related information to address contemporary technology and policy challenges.

The Japan Information Access Project carries forward its objectives by

• Organizing meetings and private briefings that bring together experts and policymakers on Japanese and Northeast Asian science, technology, finance, security, and public policy
• Publishing directories, newsletters, translations, and regular reports specifically designed to give researchers and policymakers consistent easy access to information and experts on Japan and its neighbors
• Tracking legislation and policies in Washington and Tokyo affecting trade, information, technology, science, security, and U.S.-Japan/Asian relations
• Developing and identifying innovative electronic means to deliver information resources, research, and policy information
• Assisting members on how to structure and disseminate their policy research on Japan and Northeast Asia
• Identifying and promoting young scholars and innovative research on contemporary Japan and Northeast Asia to the policy community