Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in the context of "Kasumigaseki"

The Statistics Bureau of Japan or SB/SBJ (統計局, Tōkeikyoku) is the statistical agency of Japan, subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). The SBJ have conducted the Population Census and large-scale surveys to establish key official statistics of Japan. It is also in charge of the management of the public online system of official statistics, international cooperation with other countries' statistics offices, and research and publication regarding statistics.Its headquarters is in the ministry's Second Government Office (第2庁舎), in Wakamatsu-cho [ja], Shinjuku, Tokyo, near Wakamatsu-kawada Station of the subway Toei Ōedo Line.The National Statistics Center [ja] (NSTAC) and the MIC Director-General for Policy Planning  [ja] are in the same building.

Japan's official statistics system is so "decentralized"that various ministries and agencies have their own statistical departments. The SBJ is the oldest among them. The SBJ's chronological table starts from 1871, when the pre-constitutional Meiji government founded the Statistics Division (政表課, Seihyōka) under the Dajōkan system, appointing Sugi Kōji [ja] to its director. After frequent changes in the government organization, the Cabinet Statistics Bureau (内閣統計局, Naikaku Tōkeikyoku) was established in 1885 with the Cabinet system starting. In 1920 it was reorganized as Census Office (国勢院, Kokuseiin) to conduct the first Population Census (国勢調査, Kokusei Chōsa), but in 1922 it was re-reorganized to the Statistics Bureau as an agency of the Cabinet. Since then, it has used the name of Statistics Bureau (Tōkeikyoku). Despite some changes in its affiliation, it has kept the identity at least since the 1880s.

The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (総務大臣, Soumu Daijin) is a member of the Cabinet of Japan and is the leader and chief executive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The minister is also a statutory member of the National Security Council, and is nominated by the Prime Minister of Japan and is appointed by the Emperor of Japan.

The current minister is Yoshimasa Hayashi, who took office on October 21, 2025.

The Committee for Settling National-Local Disputes (国地方係争処理委員会, kuni chihō keisō shori i'inkai) is a review board affiliated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan. It is responsible for resolving disputes between the national government and local authorities regarding grants (or denied grants) of national government authority to local governments.

Under the Local Autonomy Law, the Committee is appointed by the Internal Affairs Minister with the consent of both houses of the Diet. It consists of five part-time members (although two may be made full-time as necessary) who serve for a term of three years. Decisions are made by a simple majority of members present at a meeting, with a quorum requirement of three members (including the chairman).

The Home Ministry (内務省, Naimu-shō) was a Cabinet-level ministry established under the Meiji Constitution that managed the internal affairs of Empire of Japan from 1873 to 1947. Its duties included local administration, elections, police, monitoring people, social policy and public works. In 1938, the HM's social policy was detached from itself, then the Ministry of Health and Welfare was established. In 1947, the HM was abolished under the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers restoration, then its administrative affairs were proceeded to the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Home Affairs and so on. In 2001, the MOHA was integrated with the Management and Coordination Agency and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, then the Ministry of Public Management, Home affairs, Posts and Telecommunications was established. In 2004, the MPHPT changed its English name into the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. In other words, the MIC is the direct descendant of the HM.

The Ministry of Communications (逓信省, Teishin-shō) was a Cabinet-level ministry in the Empire of Japan, operating a postal, telegraph and telephone service. Its modern successors include the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan Post Holdings and NTT.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (自治省, Jichishō) was a ministry in the Japanese government that existed from July 1, 1960, to January 5, 2001. It is now part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The head of the ministry was a member of the Cabinet of Japan.

Urban Employment Area (都市雇用圏, Toshi Koyō-ken) is a definition of metropolitan areas used in Japan, defined by the Center for Spatial Information Service of the University of Tokyo. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry defined 233 areas for the UEAs of Japan. It is different from the definition of metropolitan areas defined in census by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. For the latter scheme, see the List of metropolitan areas in Japan article.

The basic principle of UEA is similar to that of the Statistics Bureau definition; a central city and its associated outlying municipalities with certain numbers of commuters. A UEA with at least 50,000 DID (Densely Inhabited District) population is called Metropolitan Employment Area (大都市雇用圏, Dai-toshi Koyō-ken) or MEA for short in English. A UEA with at least 10,000 and less than 50,000 DID population is called Micropolitan Employment Area (小都市雇用圏, Shō-toshi Koyō-ken) or McEA for short in English.