This blog post is part of our on-going Network series featuring updates from chapters across the Open Knowledge Network and was written by the Open Knowledge Japan team.
The OK Japan chapter has been active in the open data space in activities such as the promotion of open data use and policy discussions. Since we formed the team in 2012, our members have been instrumental in promoting International Open Data Day in Japan and OpenSpending/ Where Does My Money Go. We published use cases and other notable developments in the space through our blog. Our members also took part in many different government boards, advised or worked with municipalities and departments on open data implementation. Below is some news about us and open data developments in Japan.
Transparency discussed
Late October, Open Knowledge Japan has co-organized, with OpenCorporates Japan an event discussing corporate ID and transparency issues, including the Panama Papers. The keynote talk was given by Chris Taggart, CEO and founder of OpenCorporates, who was visiting Tokyo that time.
Chris Taggart and Japanese experts discussing transparency issues in Tokyo
Work meeting held for Global Open Data Census
We hosted an informal meeting inviting key government officials to work on the Global Open Data Census. The Census scores and Japan’s ranking have been discussed in the open data policy circle.
Relevance of open knowledge for Japan
Aside from what we did lately, there are recent news reports that make open knowledge issues very relevant in the country. Related to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, we have been learning about many allegations of shady processes. For example, some large sums of tax money reported going from our government to an unnamed “consultant” so that Tokyo could become the host city for the 2020 Olympics. Tokyo has also been involved in other transparency issues – the governor resigned this year after criticisms related to his spending and lack of clear explanations on those, and was given a vote of no-confidence. The new governor uncovered additional problems with the ongoing project of relocating the Tsukiji market, the largest fish market in Tokyo, including potential underground water contamination.
Image Credit: by t-mizo Tokyo Tower Special Lightup <Invitation for 2020 Olympic Games> (Shibakouen, Tokyo, Japan) (CC BY 2.0)
In the early part of 2017, we will be working towards International Open Data Day 2017. Japan has been one of the most active countries in terms of the number of localities participating in IODD in the past few years (with more than 60 cities participating in 2016!). Some of the issues we will be discussing through this and other occasions include the above-mentioned data plans that the national and prefectural governments will create, as well wider use of Open Spending Next that some of our members have started learning.
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