The current state of human resource development administration in Japan and the debate on its future

Describes the areas of human resource development that come under the administration of the Human Resources Development Bureau of the Ministry of Labour in Japan, and are administered through human resource development councils at the central and prefectural level. The recent rapid changes in industrial and demographic structures necessitated a systematic training for new skills and upgrading of the current ones for people who enter the labour market for the first time as well as those who are changing jobs. The Ministry’s role is to provide the integrated system of training opportunities, evaluation and certification, and the financial support to encourage participation of an increasing number of workers in vocational education, to improve their future prospects in employment. In particular, the establishment of the Business Career Development System is a reflection of a trend from generalist training of managers hitherto carried out in‐company to specialist development now offered outside the company.