The Japan IT Organizations Federation (IT Federation)—a general incorporated association of which Wataru Hasegawa, President of the Information University Educational Corporation (Kyoto Graduate School of Information Science and Technology and Kyoto Computer Academy), serves as Representative Director and Senior Vice President—celebrated its 10th anniversary. On June 25, 2026, a commemorative ceremony and reception were held at the Hotel New Otani Tokyo in Kioicho, Tokyo, attended by approximately 50 members of the Diet,representatives from about 30 relevant government ministries and agencies, and more than 300 members from member organizations and other groups attended a commemorative ceremony and reception held at the Hotel New Otani Tokyo in Kioicho, Tokyo.Takuya Hirai, a member of the House of Representatives and the first Minister for Digital Affairs, along with guest of honor Nao Matsumoto—the current Minister for Digital Affairs—and all other attendees celebrated the IT Federation’s 10th anniversary and its future growth.President Hasegawa delivered the organizer’s address, stating, “We will do our utmost to further develop Japan’s IT industry and realize a prosperous digital society.”
The IT Federation was established on July 22, 2016, by President Wataru Hasegawa and Norio Ogihara (then Chairman of the Computer Software Association, a general incorporated association), with the aim of contributing to the sound development of Japan’s IT industry and building a world-class IT society.It is one of Japan’s largest federations of IT-related organizations, comprising more than 60 groups representing approximately 5,000 IT companies with a total workforce of about 4 million people.To date, we have been engaged in a wide range of activities, including technical exchanges, human resource development, and policy recommendations to the government.
At the commemorative ceremony, Kunihiro Tanaka, President of the Software Association of Japan (Representative Director and President and CEO of Sakura Internet, Inc.), who was appointed Representative Director and third President that day, delivered the opening remarks.Chairman Tanaka stated, “The contributions the IT Federation has made to society over the past decade have been immense,” adding, “I believe it is extremely important for this highly influential IT Federation to continue serving as a major hub and contributing to Japan’s digital strategy.”
Next, President Hasegawa, the founder of the IT Federation and its Representative Director and Senior Vice President since its inception, outlined the circumstances leading up to and following the federation’s establishment, as well as its progress over the past 10 years.Reflecting on the establishment of the Digital Agency in September 2021—a goal the Federation had advocated for through “policy advocacy,” one of its key areas of focus—he said, “This marked the fulfillment of a long-cherished aspiration for our Federation.”He then explained the details of the IT Federation’s upcoming initiatives:“Contributing to Internet Governance in the International Community” and “Creating New Systems for Human Resource Development in the AI Era,” and concluded his remarks by stating, “With the aspiration to ‘realize a world-class IT society’—a goal we have consistently upheld since our founding—we are determined to move forward with even greater vigor.”
Following this, Hirai, the first Minister of Digital Affairs, delivered a congratulatory address as a guest of honor.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga also sent congratulatory messages for the 10th-anniversary ceremony.
At the celebratory reception, which was held at a different venue, Digital Minister Matsumoto, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Daisuke Kajiwara, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryoji Akazawa (with a speech read on his behalf by Satoshi Nohara, Director-General of the Bureau of Commerce and Information Policy at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) delivered congratulatory remarks.A congratulatory message (telegram) from Prime Minister Takaichi and a video message from Manabu Miyasaka, Vice Governor of Tokyo (and the first chairman of the IT Federation), were also presented.