History | National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) Lightweight version Language Japanese Access Library for Student for Alumni Intranet Job Openings About GRIPS About GRIPS About GRIPS President’s Desk History Administration and Organization GRIPS ALLIANCE Facts & Figures Faculty Directory GRIPS in the Media Awards and Honors Major Partner Universities and Institutions Government-Academia-Private Sector Collaborative Projects Presenters Brochures Roppongi Campus GRIPS Fund Access and Maps (Japanese) 評価 (Japanese) 施設貸出 News & Events News & Events News & Announcements Events & Symposiums GRIPS FORUM Seminars Admissions / Scholarships Admissions / Scholarships Admissions (Japanese) 募集要項 How to Apply Scholarships / Tuition and Fees Application Deadlines Application FAQs Pre-Arrival FAQs GRIPS Bulletin (Academic Information) GRIPS Bulletin (Student Life Guide) Education Education Degree Programs Information for International Students Admissions Policy, Curriculum Policy, and Degree-Granting Policy Master’s Programs (Programs offered in English) Master’s Programs (Programs offered in Japanese) Docotral Programs Doctoral Dissertation, Summary, Defense Results, etc. Non-degree Certificate/Diploma System GRIPS Bulletin (Academic Information) GRIPS Bulletin (Student Life Guide) Academic Information Academic Resources & Facilities IT Support Center for Data Science Center for Professional Communication Health & Fitness Executive Training Executive Training Executive Training Tailor-Made Short-Term Training Research Research Research Seminars and Research Groups Faculty Directory Research Fellows Policy Research Center The Science for RE-designing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Center (SciREX Center) Center for Data Science Projects Institutional Repository Towards the Prevention of Unlawful Acts Library Alumni Alumni About Our Alumni Stay Connected Alumnus of the Month (ALMO) GRIPS SDGs Award Get Involved Request for certificates (Japanese) GRIPS国内同窓会報 FAQs GRIPS Alumni Homecoming Access Library for Student for Alumni Intranet Job Openings History About GRIPS About GRIPS History The Graduate School of Policy Science (GSPS), the predecessor of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), was established at Saitama University in 1977 as a new kind of graduate school. GSPS aimed to promote interdisciplinary policy research that had the potential to contribute in an effective manner to the making of appropriate policies for the real world and to train administrative officials and policy analysts equipped with policy analysis and policy-making skills backed by a scientific approach and methods. Established as an institute to engage in graduate-level research and education, GSPS took the form of an independent graduate school that was separate from undergraduate programs, with the appropriate academic staff, facilities, and equipment. Over the first twenty years of its existence, GSPS gained a unique reputation for producing mid-career government officials who had a clear understanding of policy issues. Central and local governments and government-related institutions regularly sent their most promising officials to GSPS, where, under the instruction of their professors, they engaged in the intellectual task of structuring and analyzing policy issues. At the same time, GSPS academic faculty developed interdisciplinary policy research. Through these activities, GSPS led the field of policy studies in Japan. With the advance of research and education in the field of policy studies, the question arose as to whether policy research could be further advanced if the school were independent. Behind this lay the awareness that Japan needed to quickly enhance its system for promoting policy research. There had been too few studies conducted on the governmental and administrative structures that had supported the nation’s economic growth, and Japan was about to enter a new stage amid a domestic and international situation that was changing at a dizzying pace. Thus, it was crucial for Japan to study its policies from their very foundations in order to envision the future of the country and create appropriate policies. In addition, there had been a dramatic rise in international interest in Japan’s policy system, and it was becoming increasingly important for Japan to explain its policies and contribute to global advancement and international collaboration. In response, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (today’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) set up a committee to study the future of policy studies and education in Japan. In March 1994, the committee proposed the creation of an independent graduate institute befitting the unique character of the academic discipline of policy research. Budgetary steps were taken to prepare for the establishment of the National Institute of Policy Studies (tentative name), and a committee to prepare for the founding of the institute was formed in June 1994. This committee of experts set up a special subcommittee and held deliberations to give concrete form to the new concept, including asking experts from industry, government, and academia to provide special cooperation, and referring to input provided by various sectors of society. In October 1997, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) was established as a new type of independent graduate university .GRIPS’ mandate was to promote high-level policy research and respond to various domestic and international needs based on international intellectual cooperation and the cooperation of leading members of Japan’s political, industrial, government, and academic circles. GSPS 1973 Center for Behavioral Science and Data Analysis, Saitama University established 1977 Graduate School of Policy Science (GSPS), Saitama University established Public Policy Program for domestic students launched 1984 International Program launched 1991 International Development Program launched 1993 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Program launched 1997 Tax Program launched GRIPS 1997 National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Policy Research Center, GRIPS Library were established 1999 Policy Information Center established, GRIPS relocated to campus in Shinjuku Wakamatsu-cho 2000 4 domestic programs (Public Policy, Development Policy, Regional Policy, and Cultural Policy) launched 4 international programs (Public Policy, Transitional Economy, International Development Studies, and Public Finance) launched 2001 Young Leaders Program （School of Government）and Graduate Program in Japanese Language and Culture launched 2002 First doctoral students accepted 2003 Center for Study of International Development Strategies established Graduate Program in Japanese Language and Culture (doctoral program) launched 2004 Intellectual Property Program launched Doctoral Program in Science and Technology Policy launched 2005 GRIPS relocated to newly built campus in Roppongi, Tokyo Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Program launched 2006 Institute for Comparative Studies in Local Governance established Security and International Studies Program launched 2007 Policy Professionals Program launched Economics, Planning and Public Policy Program launched Disaster Management Policy Program (formerly Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Program) launched 2008 Policy Analysis Program launched Urban Policy Program launched 2009 Young Leaders Program (School of Local Governance) launched Education Policy Program launched 2010 One-year Master’s Program of Public Policy （MP1）（formerly Public Policy Program）launched Two-year Master’s Program of Public Policy （MP２）（formerly Public Policy Program）launched Asian Economic Policy Program （formerly Transition Economy Program）launched Disaster Management Program launched 2011 Macroeconomic Policy Program (formerly Asian Economics Policy Program) launched 2012 Disaster Risk Management Program launched Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Program launched (Ph.D.) 2013 GRIPS ALLIANCE established Executive Development Center for Global Leadership (CGL) established State Building and Economic Development Program launched Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Program launched (Master’s) 2014 Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Center established GRIPS Global Governance Program (G-cube) launched 2015 Center for Professional Communication established Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program launched 2016 Regional Policy Concentration, Educational Policy Concentration, Infrastructure Policy Concentration, Disaster Risk Management Concentration, Health Care Policy Concentration, Agricultural Policy Concentration, Regional Development and Finance Concentration were launched (Master’s) Strategic Studies Program launched GRIPS Fund established 2017 Cultural Policy Concentration and Global Studies Course  were launched (Master’s) 2018 Science, Technology and Innovation  Policy Concentration was launched (Master’s) 2019 Open Concentration was launched (Master’s) 2020 International Cooperation Concentration launched (Master’s) Global Leadership Development Program launched (Master’s) 2022 Center for Data Science established 2024 Urban Policy Concentration launched (Master’s) ASEAN Initiatives Program launched (Master’s) 2025 Regional Development and Finance Concentration, Cultural Industries and Regional Development Policy Concentration were launched (Master’s) For more details, please refer to the link below. The History of GRIPS: Commemorating the 25th Anniversary (1.5MB) Issued in September 2022 About GRIPS President’s Desk History List of Presidents Administration and Organization GRIPS ALLIANCE Facts & Figures Faculty Directory GRIPS in the Media Awards and Honors Major Partner Universities and Institutions Government-Academia-Private Sector Collaborative Projects Presenters Brochures Roppongi Campus Donation for GRIPS Whistleblowing Contact Access and Maps (Japanese) 評価 (Japanese) 施設貸出 7-22-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8677 TEL : +81-(0)3-6439-6000 FAX : +81-(0)3-6439-6010 PAGE TOP Print Out Contact Website Policy Information Security Policy Social Media Operational Policy Copyright © National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies