Since its establishment, NIRA has conducted nearly 900 research projects, dealing with as many themes of research. At present, the socio-economic environment surrounding Japan is changing at a rapid pace, both at home and abroad, resulting in numerous issues which need to be resolved. International society continues to struggle to cope with territorial, ethnic and religious conflicts, including the Kosovo situation and the riots which broke out following the independence of East Timor. In addition, worldwide environmental problems, such as global warming, present challenges that must be solved in an inclusive manner and on a global scale.
Japan also faces numerous problems on the domestic front.
The changing social structure caused by the declining birthrate and an aging society, and the pressing need to implement social welfare systems related to employment, pensions, medical services and nursing are all issues that must be addressed in a timely and effective manner. Further to this, increasing unemployment and large-scale restructuring are key areas that must be tackled to ensure the creation of employment opportunities and the revival of the Japanese economy. A succession of juvenile crime has also served to highlight the importance of educational reform and reform of the legal system as challenges that must be overcome. In order to respond to the challenges outlined above, NIRA is conducting a wide range of research projects that make full use of our network of domestic and overseas research institutions, as well as draw extensively on NIRA's twenty-six years of accumulated research results. Moreover, it is hoped that this project will contribute to fostering a consensus among Japanese citizens concerning the future course of the country.