ABSTRACT
Japanese politics are currently challenged by a series of transitional developments, the two most important causes of which are the influences of globalization and the shift toward a post-industrial society. The former is evidenced by the rise in financial institutions and information technology. These two developments have caused changes in human consciousness. The most prevalent influence that globalization has brought is the social transformation to third-sector industries, namely the service industry centered on finance and communication. In politics, the influence of globalization came to be felt from the 1980s, when the United States, Great Britain, and other European states pressured Japan to engage in deregulation and public enterprise privatization, as well as to undergo political reform in its government administration practices. Regional politics were much quicker than central politics to address post-industrial social issues such as the environment, public welfare, and human rights. Globalization has had a big impact on regional politics.
