lines called for: (1) taking the opportunity presented by the social security and taxation number system's introduction to make information systems more efficient, starting with deploying cloud-based local government services; (2) working to improve the convenience for residents through the use and application of open data and other new forms of ICT; and (3) establishing systems to promote e-local government, such as ensuring the security of systems and constructing PDCA cycles. In November 2014, MIC launched the Follow-up Study Group on the Ten Guidelines to Accelerate E-Local Government Initiatives, consisting of experts in the field and officials from local governments.

## (1) Constructing local government ICT infrastructure that is resilient against disasters and accidents

### a. Promoting the Local Government Cloud

The Local Government Cloud is an initiative that enables local governments in rural areas to make use, via networks, of system hardware, software, and data that are managed and operated at an external data center. This saves local governments in rural areas from having to manage and operate system hardware, software, and data at their own offices. MIC has several initiatives to help deploy the Local Government Cloud nationwide, including regional financial measures and research and studies on the introduction of the Local Government Cloud.

### b. Promoting business continuity and ensuring information security

Considering the lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake, MIC released an initial version sample of the Business Continuity Plans for ICT Units in Local Governments (ICT-BCP) in order to ensure the fluid execution of emergency response operations by preparing ICT units for crises. The plans focus on initial-response operations during the first 72 hours or so after the occurrence of a disaster.

In FY 2014, the Ministry revised and released the

### 3. Promoting online national census

The national census is the country’s most fundamental statistical study that covers all people residing in Japan. It has been performed every five years since 1920. For the 2015 national census, given the advances in ICT, an online version of the census is being rolled out nationwide in the interest of reducing the burden on citizens and improving the convenience of the census as well as producing accurate statistics more efficiently. To pro-Guidelines on Information Security Policies for Local Governments, given the changing social landscape including the increasing sophistication and diversity of information security threats, the advancement of cloud technology, and the proliferation of social media.

### (2) Enhancing infrastructure to achieve citizen-centered e-government and more efficient administrative procedures a. Application of the Basic Resident Registration Network System

The Basic Resident Registration Network System is a local government system that networks basic resident registries. The system enables the provision of personal identification records (name, address, date of birth, gender, resident register code, and update information) to government institutions and the administrative processing of basic resident registers between municipal boundaries.

The number of personal identification records provided from the Resident Registration Network System to government institutions has been increasing year by year, reaching approximately 559 million items in FY 2013. This growth is due to the start in FY 2011 of the provision of personal identification records to allow the elimination of change of address and other notifications by pensioners.

### b. Public Certification Service for Individuals provided by local governments

Applications and procedures that can be done with the Public Certification Service for Individuals include filing tax returns and property registrations. As of April 1, 2015, the Public Certification System for Individuals was being used for procedures from 10 government ministries and agencies, 47 prefectural governments, and some municipalities. It is necessary to promote the early and voluntary adoption of the Public Certification System for Individuals and to develop and entrench it as the authentication platform for many other online procedures.

mote usage of the online census, a period will be set for answering the census on the Internet before distributing the paper census. After this period, the paper census will be distributed to only those households that did not reply online. (Thereby, putting priority on the online census). A smartphone version of the online census will also be constructed.

### 4. Promoting ICT applications in the fire, safety, and disaster preparedness field

## (1) Establishing resilient fire, safety, and disaster preparedness communication networks

Currently, five major communications networks that will make up the fire, safety, and disaster preparedness communication networks connecting the national government, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, local governments, and residents have been constructed. The five networks are: (1) a central disaster administration wireless network for collecting and transmitting information within government; (2) a fire-prevention and disaster wireless network that connects the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and prefectural governments; (3) prefectural disaster administration wireless networks that connect prefectures with municipalities;