1. Author's translation: the actual name of the law is 「内閣府設置法等の一部を改正する法律 法律第３５号（平成24年）」 “Naikakufu Sechi Hō Nado No Ichibu wo Kaisei Suru Hōritsu Dai- Sanju Go Gō, [Partial Revision of the Cabinet Office Establishment Act Law 35]” which was based on, and almost completely unchanged from, a bill sent to the Lower House on 14 February 2012. Both the bill 「内閣府設置法等の一部を改正する法律案（閣議決定）」 “Naikakufu Sechi Hō Nado No Ichibu wo Kaisei Suru Hōritsu An (Kakugi Kettei) [Partial Revision of the Cabinet Office Establishment Bill (Cabinet Decision)]” and supplementary materials, including preceding legislation (Japanese only) can be downloaded at Secretariat for the Strategic Headquarters for Space Policy (SHSP) homepage: http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/utyuu/index.html [accessed 20.06.12]. A convenient summary of the CO's new role and responsibilities can be found out on the SSO's website: 「内閣府設置法（抄）」 “Naikakufu Sechi Hō (Shō) [Cabinet Office Establishment Act (Excerpt)]” at: http://www8.cao.go.jp/space/cao/jurisdiction.html [accessed 25.06.12].
2. Space Policy Commission and Space Strategy Office are the author's own translation of the Japanese 「宇宙政策委員会」 “Uchū Seisaku Iinkai” and 「宇宙戦略室」 “Uchū Senryaku Shitsu” respectively.
3. On the Basic Law for Space, see the original bill in the 169th Diet Session, Bill No. 17, “Uchū Kihon Hōan [Basic Space Law], ” Available from: www.shugiin.go.jp that was approved by the lower and then Upper House on 20 May 2008. SHSP homepage: http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/utyuu/about2.html. See also Kazuto Suzuki. A brand new space policy or just papering over a political glitch? Japan's new space law in the making. Space Policy 2008;24:171–4; Uchyū Kihon Hō Kyō Seiritsu [Basic Space Law Passed Today]. Asahi Shinbun, 21 May 2008; Shasetsu: Uchū Kihon Hō – Gunji ni wa Meikaku Na Gensoku o [Editorial: Basic space law – distinct military principles]. Asahi Shinbun, 22 May 2008; Japan Diet to End Peaceful-Use Space Policy. The Japan Times, 10 May 2008; Kakumi Kobayashi, New Space Policy Result of Regional Tensions. The Japan Times, 22 May 2008; and Diet Enacts Law on Use of Space for Defense. The Japan Times, 22 May 2008; On the Basic Space Plan, see Strategic Headquarters for Space Policy (SHSP), “Uchyū Kihon Keikaku, also Nihon No Eichi ga Uchyū o Ugokasu” [Basic Space Plan: Wisdom of Japan Moves Space]: SHSP: http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/utyuu/keikaku.html [accessed 12 .02.12].
4. This section also contains some interpretation of the significance of the elements of the law, based on a series of interviews with Hiroshi Yamakawa, at the time, Secretary-General, Secretariat of Strategic Headquarters for Space Policy (SHSP), Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Japan, and Takafumi Matsui, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, who has been a prime mover for the changes, and who on 20 July 2012 became a member of the CO's newly-minted Space Policy Commission.
5. Interview with a senior member of the SHSP, 16 January 2012.