2026 OpenFisca Conference - Japan's Digital Government Transformation - Naho Kitano

Naho Kitano presents on policy innovation in Japan, focusing on the government's digital transformation efforts and Rules as Code initiative. She highlights Japan's demographic challenges, including the "Crisis 2040" due to an aging population and labor shortage, which has driven efforts to digitize government services and modernize public sector processes. Naho describes the Digital Agency's four-year journey since 2021, including achievements in digital identity, cloud migration, and the development of Rules as Code, while also discussing the challenges of implementing digital solutions in local government and during crisis responses like natural disasters. The presentation concludes with insights about Rules as Code as both a technological and community-driven initiative that involves ethical considerations about opening government processes to public participation.