Business Planfor the Fiscal Year 2018
As a General Incorporated Association, The Life Insurance Association of Japan (LIAJ) will engage in thefollowing activities in order to promote the sound development of the life insurance business and tostrengthen itself under the self-governing structure with the aim of contributing to the enhancement ofpeople’s lives:
I.

Activities to Provide Information and Promote Understanding on the Life Insurance Business
1. Public Relations Activities
The LIAJ will promote proper understanding of the life insurance business through the following PR
activities;
・Holding meetings for exchanging opinions with and providing information for consumer affairsorganizations, consumer groups, experts and the media, while sharing information for member
companies.
・Strengthening the network with consumer affairs specialists, supporting them and through themenhancing enlightenment activities in collaboration with the Japan Institute of Life Insurance.
・Advertisement of the efforts of the industry.
・Public relations activities to raise public awareness of social responsibility (SR).
2. Providing Information on the Life Insurance Businessa) The LIAJ will provide information regarding the following subjects in order to promoteunderstanding of the life insurance business:
・Trends and Performances of the life insurance business・Life insurance companies and their products
・The Social Responsibility (SR) Activities
・Consultation and opinions submitted to Life Insurance Consultation Centerb) The LIAJ will work further to ensure its teaching materials and Web portal on social
security/insurance education are widely utilized for junior-high and high schools throughconducting operation to publicize them. In addition, the LIAJ will promote the understanding ofLife Insurance Business through lectures for university students.
c) The LIAJ will work on editing "A Brief History of The LIAJ's 110 Years" and will publish it.

II. Consultation Services, Complaint Processing and Dispute Resolution Operations regarding Life
Insurance
The LIAJ, as a designated dispute resolution body, will appropriately implement dispute resolution
operations including the followings.
a)
b)
c)

Analyzing and identifying the characteristics or tendencies of received complaints for eachmember company as well as proactively providing information to help improve the company’sbusiness operations and prevent the recurrence of such complaints.
Operating the Arbitration Advisory Committee serving as a monitoring agency for a designateddispute resolution body.
Publishing a summary of inquiries, complaints and arbitration cases, as well as data of thecomplaints submitted to member companies on the HP.

III.

Activities regarding Systems and Measures to Ensure Appropriate Operation of the Life
Insurance Business1.

Drawing up, reviewing and following up of voluntary guidelines.
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The LIAJ will:a) Draw up and review voluntary guidelines to ensure appropriate operation of the life insurance
business.
b) Regularly review whether the business practices of member companies satisfy the voluntaryguidelines and provide regular follow-ups to member companies. Furthermore, the LIAJ willcollect information on each member’s approaches to the voluntary guidelines and share suchinformation among the member companies.
2. Enhancing Compliance
The LIAJ will establish and strengthen the management system to improve compliance with laws andregulations in order to ensure that business is conducted properly through the following activities;
・ Regular review of the code of conduct, basic policies and other LIAJ rules and regulations.
・ Ensuring the compliance of anti-trust law and other relevant laws and internal inspections.
・ Operation of the Life Insurance Complaints Processing Center that was established based on theoperation rules of the designated dispute resolution body related to the life insurance business andforeign life insurance business.
・ Promote compliance with Act concerning Protection of Personal Information and safeguard
measures thereof and will act as a certified personal information protection organization under
the law.
・ Colleting and providing information on the development of consumer protection laws and otherlaws and regulations related to the life insurance business.
・ Monitor and take appropriate measures regarding international schemes to prevent base erosion
and profit shifting.
3. Measures against Moral Hazard and Anti-social Forces
In relation to measures against moral hazard and anti-social forces, the LIAJ will:
・ Take various measures including management and clerical work on systems such as the Policy
Data Registration System, Policy Data Inquiry System, and Cross Reference System for
Assessing Insurance Claims.
・ Aggregate information regarding false claims and consider measures to prevent them.
・ Share information regarding anti-social forces with member companies as well as relatedassociations.
・ Strengthen cooperation with the National Police Agency and prefectural police headquarters insuch aspects as sharing information as to policies as necessary and reporting the industry's efforts
to address special frauds.
・ Support local associations in such areas as preventing damages caused by special frauds.
・ Support member companies’ actions against money laundering and terrorism financing
4. Crisis Management Measures
The LIAJ will:a) Collect relevant information such as on damage estimates published by the Central Disaster
Management Council and on updates for related system reforms, and take appropriate actions
after major earthquakes in accordance with the manual for earthquakes. The LIAJ will also revise
the manual when necessary.
b) Collect relevant information such as public information of the World Health Organization and ofgovernmental bodies, and take appropriate actions regarding new strains of influenza inaccordance with the manual for new strains of influenza. The LIAJ will also revise the manual
when necessary.
c) Operate properly Life Insurance Referral System for Disaster Area, which is targeted for residentsof the areas subject to Disaster Relief Act.
5. Information Systems2The LIAJ will:a) Develop and operate IT systems and update the IT infrastructure at the Life Insurance NetworkCenter (LINC):b) Promote information sharing with governmental bodies, other CEPTOARs, and etc. and preventthe occurrence of IT failures including cyber-attacks or the spread of damage by failures that mayoccur.
6. Activities for the management for Life Insurance Solicitors
The LIAJ will:(a) Work in cooperation with regional finance bureaus and member companies to ensure smoothregistration of Life Insurance Solicitors and Qualified Variable Life Insurance Solicitors as wellas appropriate operation of relevant systems, such as:・ Delivering and receiving registration documents and data
・ “Life Insurance Solicitors Registered Data Inquiry System,” “Qualified Variable Life
Insurance Solicitors’ Data Registration System,” “Examination Results Inquiry System,”“Resigned Life Insurance Solicitors’ Data Registration System,” etc.
(b) Hold meetings with National Federation of Life Insurance Worker’s Unions regarding
employment systems and so on.
7. Measures for standardization and streamlining practices regarding payment and after
maintenance
The LIAJ will:(a) Continue its work on standardization of medical certificate and promotion of digitalization.
(b) Prepare for digitization of Certificate for Deduction for life insurance premiumIV.

Activities regarding Education and Training for the Staff of Member Companies
The LIAJ will:(a) Provide and manage relevant educational systems and measures appropriately with the aim ofpromoting improvements in the qualification and quality of life insurance solicitors. Thisincludes:
・ Holding examinations for common-to-industry educational courses
・ Awarding diplomas of “Total Life Consultant (Financial planner certified by the LIAJ)”・ Editing and publishing textbooks for FY2018 for industry-wide educational courses
・ Operating a continuing education system, checking and following each member company’sefforts as well as regularly reviewing the curriculum and textbook for the General Course
such as by reflecting consumers’ opinions(b) Carry out proper measures for promoting skills of staffs in charge of underwriting and payment
services. This includes.
・Editing and publishing textbooks for Life insurance interviewer、conducting examinations ofand registering Life Insurance Interviewer.
・ Editing and publishing textbooks for Life Insurance Claims Assessors and conducting
examinations(c) Edit and publish textbooks and hold examinations regarding the Life Insurance Course for office
staff engaged in the life insurance business.
(d) Work further on adopting CBT(Computer Based Testing) system in Common-to-Industry
qualification examinations in each category.

V.

Research and Study Activities regarding the Theory and Practice of Life Insurance

1. Research and Study Activitiesa) Research and study on the following matters:
・ Fundamental issues related to the life insurance industry, such as tax treatment for life
insurance policies, regulatory reforms, and consumer protection measures3

・・・・・・・・・

Asset management of member companies
Common-to-industry education and training
Sales divisionCorporate insurance and asset-formation insuranceLife insurance contracts
Collection of premiums and policy administration
Payment of life insurance claims/benefits
Legal and accounting matters concerning life insurance
Mortality Rate Research・ Overseas insurance regulations and laws regarding insurance contracts.
・ Diversify research methods and strengthen the relations with major overseas insurance
associations in order to enhance the research functions.
2. Library
The LIAJ will manage a library.
VI.

Activities regarding Making Requests and Proposals to Relevant Authorities, Agencies andOrganizations

1. Requests and Proposals
The LIAJ will:a) Make requests on tax incentives for life insurance contracts and on regulatory reforms to theparties concerned.
b) Submit the LIAJ’s comments on proposed amendments to legislation and administrative
guidelines concerning the life insurance business, on which governmental bodies including theFSA or related organizations solicit public comments.
c) Formulate its basic policy and express its opinions toward inter-industry issues such as postal
privatization and cooperative insurance in cooperation with the relevant administrative authorities
and other organizations.
d) Conduct a survey on the return of profits to shareholders and make requests/proposals frominvestors’ point of view and publicize the progresses made in Stewardship Activities of member
companies, industry’s initiatives, and with the aim of PR of activities taken in each member
company, will publish the result of Stewardship Activity research projects.
e) Monitor discussions at relevant formal conferences on the reforms of social security system,making use of personal identification number system in private sectors and insurance educationand take appropriate measures on a timely basis if necessary, taking into consideration the LIAJ’srecommendation.
f) Express its opinions over establishment, alteration or revocation of the standards and rules ofinformation system in such occasions as in the committees established in FISC (The Center forFinancial Industry Information Systems) and NISC(National center of Incident readiness andStrategy for Cybersecurity)g) Express Properly and promptly the LIAJ’s opinions or requests on other matters relating to thelife insurance business.
2. International Activities
The LIAJ will:a) Present the industry’s opinions and proposals, exchange information, strengthen the relationshipwith domestic and international organizations and institutions and also address international
policy issues on behalf of the industry by getting involved in the activities of internationalorganizations.
b) Present the LIAJ’s opinions and proposals to international organizations on international issues,considering the potential impacts on the Japanese life insurance industry, including comments of4c)d)

the Global Federation of Insurance Association (GFIA).
Express the LIAJ’s opinions on the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)’s projects
related to life insurance in cooperation with related organizations in other countries.
Receive visitors from foreign countries, respond to inquiries, and accept invitations to speak atinternational conferences in order to respond to international affairs.

VII. Activities to Fulfill Social Responsibilities
1. Social Service Activities
Based on the Three-Year Plan for Social Service Activities from FY2017 to FY2019 established inFY2016, the LIAJ will:
・ Operate Scholarship Program for Education of Nurses,
・ Operate Scholarship Program for Students of Training Institutions for Certified Care Workers.
・ Provide scholarships for international students in Japan, the “SEIHO Scholarship Program,”
intended for privately-funded overseas students from Southeast Asian and East Asian countries.
・ Subsidize day nurseries/clubs for after-school activities for children.
・ Subsidize non-profit organizations/groups that engage in activities targeted for the elderly tofacilitate health care and health promotion or to promote independence of the elderly.
・ Conduct activities to enhance family bonds by reading picture books to children in order tohighlight the importance of family bonds.
・ Conduct various community relations activities (local CR activities).
・ Conduct an awareness-raising project for health promotion.
2． Activities on Health Promotion Support Project
LIAJ will work on and publish the report of “Health Promotion Support Project,” conducted in aneffort to encourage health promotion through sports with the aim of contributing to the realizationof society where people live in health and with rich spirits.
3. Approach to Environmental Issuesa)b)

The LIAJ will consider and engage in specific efforts to address environmental issues in the life
insurance industry based upon relevant guidelines, such as the “Guidelines for Action by the Life
Insurance Industry on Environmental Issues” and “Life Insurance Industry’s Commitment to aLow Carbon Society.”
The LIAJ will actively work towards reducing electricity consumption by making efforts toachieve numerical targets for FY2020 and FY2030.

4. Insurance for Supporters of Mentally and Physically Disabled Dependents
The LIAJ will conduct clerical work for the life insurance policies of the “Insurance for Supporters ofMentally and Physically Disabled Dependents System” which is run by local governments.
VIII. Other Activities Considered Necessary to Achieve the Goals of the LIAJ
1. Services relating to the Agency Housing Loan Credit Life Insurance
The LIAJ will conduct clerical work relating to the Agency Housing Loan Credit Life Insurance
Add-on Option System and new Agency Housing Loan Credit Life Insurance operated by theJapan Housing Finance Agency.
2. Contracted Business from the Japan Institute of Life Insurance
The LIAJ will take responsibility for advertising and promotion activities which the Japan Institute ofLife Insurance plans for consumer education.
3. Contracted Business of Management of the Suetaka Foundation
The LIAJ will take responsibility for asset and financial management of the Suetaka Foundation,categorized in special account of Life Insurance Underwriting College.
54. Others(1)The LIAJ will conduct profit-earning business, such as the followings:
・ Publication and sales of textbooks for FY2018 for common-to-industry educational courses
・ Rent of office rooms
・ Distribution of Life Insurance Business Data Package (CD-ROM)(2)The LIAJ will conduct a survey on the present situations of paid leave in member companies,
summarize the result and provide feedback in order to encourage the use of paid leave.
IX.

Management of the Organization
The LIAJ will:a) Operate the organization appropriately and smoothly in accordance with the “Act on General
Incorporated Associations and General Incorporated Foundations” and etc..
b) Promote social service activities in local communities as well as strengthen cooperation with thepolice, consumer organizations and the government in the process of integrating operation with
the Local Associations established in each region, thereby strengthening relationship with localcommunities.
c) Appropriately manage progress in system development in accordance with a mid- to long-termplan and the plan for FY2018.
d)
Accelerate promotion for cyber-security managements in LIAJ to counter cyberattacks.
e)Work further for more efficient management and spend-cutting making use of systeminfrastructures and promote work-life balance policies further, taking a due consideration inadopting Information Technologies.
f) Endeavor to have appropriate Association's administration system in place and foster thecapabilities of the Association’s administrative staff to perform the aforementioned activities
properly.

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