Technology assessment and TA-like activities in Japan

Although Japan did once attempt to institutionalize technology assessment stimulated by the US experience, it has not been institutionalized. However, we can observe TA-like activities embedded in various institutional frameworks. We will first review the history of attempts to introduce TA and TA-like activities in Japan, then show some recent cases of TA-like activities, namely the case of TA on AI, the ELSI related efforts made by the RISTEX, an organization of the Japan Science Technology Agency, and universities. We conclude that we are entering the Third Generation of TA. While TA is not formally institutionalized in government organizations, the basic need for such concepts and ideas are being recognized and developed by networks of a variety of actors, including the universities in the context of ELSI. Challenges of TA practices concerning accumulation of knowledge and experience and human resources development are also identified.