Open data
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Decision documents and various materials related to open data are posted.
Overview
In Basic Act on the Advancement of Public and Private Sector Data Utilization (Law No. 103 of 2016), national and local governments are obligated to work on open data, which is expected to solve various problems, revitalize the economy, and improve the sophistication and efficiency of administration through the promotion of public participation and public-private cooperation.
Update History (Last Year)
- November 20, 2025 Open Data Updated local government materials that have been worked on.
- August 19, 2025 Updated Open Data 100 document
- February 10, 2025 Updated the list of questionnaire results and responses on open data initiatives to local governments in
Documents such as the guidelines
1. Open Data Principles
(Decided on May 30, 2017 by the IT Headquarters and the Strategic Council for the Advancement of Utilizing Public and Private Sector Data; revised on July 5, 2024)
Basic matters of open data (definition, significance, rules for disclosure, etc.)
- (I)
- Overview
2. Public Data License
Public Data License are terms of use (rules) for content applicable to websites and open data of public organizations such as national or local governments.
When applied to a website, the entire site can be made into open data.
Please use Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use when applying the terms of use for the first time, or for websites and open data that have previously applied Public Data License, CC BY4.0, etc.
(Decided by the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Liaison Conference of Cabinet Office and each Ministry on June 25, 2013; revised on July 5, 2024)
- Public Data License (Version 1.0)
- Main Unit (Published July 5, 2024)
- English translation (reference translation) (published on November 22, 2024)
- Commentary (Published on July 5, 2024)
- (Reference) Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use (version 2.0)
- Main Unit
- English translation
- Commentary
3. Local Government Guidebook
We have published a guidebook that can be used as a reference when local governments engage in open data.
- Guidebook "Let's Start Open Data" (revised on June 15, 2021)
- Contract add-on to promote secondary use of data (model additional provisions) (announced on March 31, 2023)
- Contract Add-on (Word/26KB)
- Sample contract (Word/39KB) (For details, please refer to Commentary on ("Contract Add-on (Model Additional Provisions)" to promote secondary use of data) (PDF / 497 kb) )
Data Portal Service (formerly Open Data Catalog Site)
The data portal service is a portal site that allows cross-sectional searches of open data published by administrative agencies.
* Renovated and reopened on March 31, 2023 as one of the e-Gov function. The name was changed from the open data catalog website due to the renovation.
Our data-portal service offers the following function:
- Full-Text search of open data function
- Function: Visualizing Open Data with Charts and Graphs
- A communication function where opinions and requests regarding open data and examples of data utilization can be shared
Local governments that have taken open data initiatives
Materials such as a list of local governments that have taken open data initiatives are posted.
Local governments that have newly started open data initiatives must contact Digital Agency using the following communication form. After this communication and the content of the disclosure are confirmed, they will be reflected as local governments that have already started open data initiatives. Or, if the posted information is updated, such as the URL where open data is published, please enter the latest information using this form.
List of Questionnaire Results and Responses Concerning Open Data Initiatives for Local Governments
A list of the results and responses from the "Questionnaire on Open Data Initiatives for Local Governments" is available.
Quality indicators for Open Data initiatives (Beta) and Training Materials
In order for local governments to understand the current status and issues of their efforts, they have created a flowchart diagnosis and quality evaluation index for their efforts. Please use it when reviewing open data efforts.
Local Government Standard Open Datasets (Official)
This is a compilation of data recommended for release by the government, as well as rules and formats to be followed in the creation of that data.
Open Data 100
To serve as a reference for local communities considering open data initiatives, we have published examples of open data use and activities (such as ongoing events and projects worth mentioning in various parts of Japan) by various businesses and local governments.
Open Data evangelist
In Digital Agency, experts who are familiar with open data are dispatched as "Open Data evangelist" to seminars and training sessions hosted by local governments.
Local governments that wish to dispatch personnel should apply using the form below. In principle, please apply at least one month in advance because arrangements must be made for dispatch.
- Implementation Guidelines for Open Data evangelist (revised on October 30, 2023) (PDF / 559 kb)
- Open Data evangelist List (PPTX / 122 kb) (as of October 1, 2024)
- Open Data evangelist Staffing Request Form
Open Data Support Group
Digital Agency has selected "Open Data Support Organizations (OD Supporters)," which mainly support workshops, for the purpose of introducing organizations supporting open data utilization in each area, and listed them.
Local governments that wish to hold workshops and other support are requested to fill out the following support request form (Excel) with the specific contents of the request and contact each OD supporter directly. In principle, please apply at least one month in advance because it takes time to adjust.
The local government which received the support of the OD supporter should report the implementation using the support completion report form below.
- Implementation Guidelines Regarding Support for Local Governments by Open Data Support Organizations (PDF / 501 kb) (formulated on January 19, 2023)
- List of Organizations Supporting Open Data (Excel / 47 kb) (as of March 31, 2023)
- Open Data Support Letter (Excel / 13 kb)
- Open Data Support Group Support Completion Form
Related Information
Contact:
For inquiries about open data, please contact us from the following:
- Contact Form: Opinions and Requests
- Comments Received for: Policy
- On Policy: Data Strategy