ABSTRACT
Japanese bureaucrats have been known as important players in decision-making process. This chapter examines the structure, functions, and relations with politicians of bureaucratic institutions in the Kokkai. Due to bicameral structure of the Japanese Diet, each chamber of the parliament hosts independent administrative organs. Parliamentary administration provides lawmakers with necessary data, assists them in drafting bill projects and in preparing interpellations, as well as supervises committee proceedings. In their work, parliamentary bureaucrats cooperate with their colleagues from the other Diet chamber, the executive branch, and foreign institutions. In recent years, parliamentary administration in Japan has faced the challenges of institutional downscaling and change of work patterns due to Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated digitalization of parliamentary administration in Japan. The role of parliamentary administration in Japan often exceeded its main function of simply providing institutional assistance to lawmakers.
