Japan to Establish "National Intelligence Agency" This Summer
According to Japanese media reports, the Japanese government has decided to formally establish a national intelligence agency this summer, tasked with core functions such as intelligence gathering and analysis. Initially staffed with around 700 personnel—comparable in size to the current Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office—the agency will gradually expand its workforce over time.
Starting next year, Japan will launch a specialized competitive examination for elite professional intelligence officers. The government is also considering recruiting professionals skilled in international negotiations, as well as technical talent from society through career transitions.
Several government sources have disclosed these details. The "Act on the Establishment of the National Intelligence Council," which provides the legal basis for setting up the agency, was passed in the House of Representatives in April, and deliberations in the House of Councillors are set to begin on the 8th. The government aims to implement the establishment as soon as possible, with the agency expected to be officially launched as early as July.
The National Intelligence Agency will be established through the reorganization and upgrade of the current Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office. With a total staffing capacity of about 700 people—including part-time officials from various ministries and agencies—the new agency will initially operate at this same scale.
Traditionally, the head of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, known as the Chief Cabinet Intelligence Officer, has been appointed from among former police officials. Senior positions within the office have historically been filled by personnel transferred from institutions such as the Police Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the office has never conducted recruitment for integrated-career elite cadres. With the establishment of the National Intelligence Agency, this system will now be formally introduced.
Japan will also actively recruit talent from private-sector enterprises. The newly established National Intelligence Agency will be responsible for intelligence exchanges with overseas agencies, overseas intelligence analysis, and addressing false or misleading information disseminated via social media. To fulfill these missions, the agency will intensively recruit individuals with advanced foreign language skills and expertise in internet technologies.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara stated that, given the massive volume of intelligence data to be processed, it is urgently necessary to establish an efficient and practical intelligence work mechanism based on artificial intelligence. Toward this end, Japan is currently studying ways to increase recruitment of technically proficient personnel skilled in AI applications.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864503472514314/
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