Japanese NPOs and the State Re-examined

Abstract

This chapter builds on long-term research at SLG, a pseudonym for a non-profit organization (NPO) in eastern Tokyo, established under the 1998 NPO Law. Incorporated as an NPO in 2000, SLG is one of the largest civic society organizations promoting lifelong learning in Japan. Over nearly two decades, SLG offered more than a hundred courses to the local community. However, SLG faced a crisis and risked dissolution in 2018 due to the municipal government’s decision to cut its funding. This chapter argues that SLG was a successful case of neoliberalism-oriented public administration, pursuing decentralization and reduced costs; at the same time SLG did not encourage independent, citizen-oriented activities. This chapter documents current discussions at SLG, reflecting the reality of a Japanese civil society landscape in which NPOs are central.