By Kazuto Kato, Ph.D. and Masahiro Kawakami, Ph.D.

Stem cell research has a long history in Japan and has been strongly supported by the government as one of the priority areas of science since the turn of the 21st century. After the publication of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in 2007, the Japanese government has made an even stronger effort to boost stem cell research. The swift move was led by explicit support by many leading politicians. As a result, large research projects are now carried out with funding from various ministries including the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW). There has also been an exceptionally quick move to revise or establish governmental guidelines for stem cell research. To maximize the outcomes of the research, funding and regulatory systems for clinical translation need to undergo further reform and the participation of private companies should be encouraged. It is also necessary to communicate more information to the society and carry out public engagement activities.