The 2025 Information & Communications White Paper
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has published the "Reiwa 7 (2025) Information and Communications White Paper," presenting a critical analysis of the nation's digital landscape. Framing 2025 as a "quarter-century mark" in the 21st century, the white paper establishes its central thesis: digital technology has evolved from a mere tool into a fundamental form of "social infrastructure," as essential as roads, electricity, and water.
This transformation brings both immense opportunities and unprecedented challenges. The white paper outlines the deep penetration of digital services in daily life and business, the explosive advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the growing dominance of foreign tech giants. It contextualizes these digital trends within a broader landscape of pressing national and global issues, including geopolitical instability, intensifying natural disasters, and Japan's severe demographic decline. The document serves as a stark warning and a call to action, arguing that Japan must urgently address its digital vulnerabilities and strategically leverage technology to solve its most critical social and economic problems.
The white paper is structured into two main parts:
- Part I (Special Feature): An in-depth look at the expanding role of "Digital as Social Infrastructure," covering its penetration, the challenges it creates, and its potential for solving societal issues.
- Part II (Current Status and Issues): A detailed review of the current state of Japan's ICT market and the corresponding policy initiatives undertaken by the MIC.
