Japan's space policy and its governance are at a major turning point. The Basic Space Law enacted in 2008 defines some new objectives of space activities: promoting space utilization, space diplomacy, and industrialization of space, in addition to scientific research and technological development. In particular, the current Japan's space policy places more than ever particular emphasis on promoting space utilization. To achieve the new goal, Japan's space policy structure has been strengthened since 2008. The 2012 amendment law concerning the Cabinet Office and JAXA newly created the Office of National Space Policy under the Cabinet Office, and made JAXA a core agency of Japan's space activities, which makes all necessary contribution to Japan's comprehensive space policy stipulated in the Basic Space Law and the Basic Plan on Space Policy. Furthermore in April 2012, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan also strengthened its function for space policy and activities by establishing a new office, the Space Policy Division, under the Foreign Policy Bureau. However, while Japan's space policy and the organizational structure have rapidly changed, the space governance to promote effective decision-making and policy implementation has remained unclear. The purposes of this paper are to overview the recent development of Japan's space policy and governance, and examine the challenging issues for Japan's space policy and governance by analyzing the decision-making process of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System project and reviewing international space cooperation in Asia Pacific region for past decades. In conclusion, this paper will suggest some key elements essential to Japan's space policy in the new era.
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