The Civil Society Monitor serves as one of the only sources of English-language information on the current state of Japan's nonprofit sector. It seeks to link Japan's nonprofit sector with the international community by reporting on current events and noteworthy activities and organizations in Japan's emerging civil society.

Special Report, March 2012 (English | Japanese version PDF)

• US Giving in Response to Japan's March 11 Disaster Tops $630 Million

Issue 13, November 2008 PDF [152k]

• G8 Mobilization Reflects Progress of Japan's NGOs
• Key Civil Society Initiatives Targeting the 2008 G8 Summit
• Inaugural Tiffany Foundation Award Honors Enterprising Nonprofits
• Recent Developments in Japanese Civil Society

Issue 12, August 2007 PDF [280k]

• Breaking New Ground for NGO Advocacy in Japan
• Slump in Corporate Giving Continues
• A New Era in Corporate Philanthropy
• Japan's Nonprofits Prepare for a New Legal System

Issue 11, October 2005 PDF [176k]

• Japan's Nonprofit Sector Fights AIDS
• Weak Giving Hampers Work of Japan's AIDS Groups
• Prime Minister Pledges Dramatic Hike in International AIDS Funding
• Nonprofit Sector Reform Update

Issue 10, April 2005 | PDF [256k]

• Tsunami Response Showcases NGO Progress and Challenges
• Japanese International Development NGOs Reach Critical Stage
• American Investment Firm Launches Innovative Funding Scheme
• New Organization Fights AIDS and Other Communicable Diseases
• Reconcilliation and Civil Society: Lessons from History
• Nonprofit Sector Reform—A Step Forward?

Issue 9, June 2004 | PDF [192k]

• New Fundraising Initiatives Seek to Bolster Growth of Nonprofit Sector
• Weak Funding Environment Sparks Local-Level Efforts to Support NPOs
• Initial Report on Public Interest Corporation Reforms Stirs Further Debate

Issue 8, December 2003 | PDF [84k]

• New Legal Reform Efforts Receive Mixed Welcome
• Amendments to the NPO Law and Tax Bill Bring Increased Flexibility to Nonprofits
• Proposed Reforms Affecting Public Interest Corporations Spark Heated Debate
• Amended Law to Promote Specified Nonprofit Activities | PDF [144k]
• Outline of the 2003 Revision of the Special Tax Measures Law | PDF [20k]

Issue 7, February 2002 | PDF [96k]

• Local Initiatives Support Nonprofit Organizations and Activities in Japan
• Japan Association of Charitable Organizations Launches New Project

Issue 6, July 2001 | PDF [180k]

• New Tax Bill Gives Partial Victory to NPOs
• Law Amending in Part the Special Tax Measures Law

Issue 5, September 1999 | PDF [116k]

• NPO Law and Civil Society's New Phase of Development
• Corporate-NGO Partnership in Asia Pacific: JCIE Publishes Results of Case Study Project

Issue 4, April 1998 | PDF [188k]

• New NPO Law Fosters Enabling Environment
• Law to Promote Specified Nonprofit Activities
• Selected Annotated Bibliography of Literature on the Nonprofit Sector in Japan

Issue 3, October 1997 | PDF [76k]

• NPO Bill Passes the Lower House
• Surveys Highlight Japanese Corporate Philanthropy
• NPO Bill

Issue 2, Spring 1997 | PDF [104k]

• Debate over New NPO Law Intensifies
• Japan NPO Center Launched
• GAP to Host International Conference to Promote Cooperation among Asian Foundations and Organizations

Issue 1, Fall 1996 | PDF [108k]

• The Recent Debate on the Role of NPOs in Japan and Private-Sector Responses
• Keidanren Mission to Explore Corporate Support for NPOs
• Emerging Civil Society Awarded Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Award