Japan's Standardization Policy 2013

Japanese economy has been facing serious issues, such as long-running defl ation, rising energy
costs and declining exports due to structural changes in international trade and industry. While
Japan should continue the challenge to overcome the issues for the future of Japanese economy,
“Abenomics” has been adjusting the route to economic recovery, especially upturn of corporate
earnings due to lowering the high currency rate of Yen.
In order to achieve further economic recovery and growth, it is significant that Japanese
industry should enhance its competitiveness in global markets by accelerating to create
innovations bringing new markets. Promotion of international standardization activities
integrated with business strategy will play a vital role in this.
It is particularly important to respond strategically to international standardization, taking
account of intellectual property strategy and effective certifi cation scheme, and focusing on such
fields as smart grids, advanced medicine, and next-generation automobiles, where Japan has
outstanding technologies and global market growth is expected.
Since its establishment in 1949, Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC) has played
a central role in Japan’s standardization activities in cooperation with a wide range of concerned
parties. These activities include the establishment and revision of Japanese Industrial Standards
(JIS) and the participation as Japan’s representative in international standardization organizations
such as ISO and IEC.
We hope that this updated report will serve to expand awareness of JISC’s activities among a
greater number of people, and that it will also foster a deeper understanding of standardization.