What elements of that story from the imperial era do you think remain relevant for us here?

Yes.

The Japanese government established the Cabinet Information Research Bureau in 1952 after the World War II, taking the American CIA as a model.

But the bureau was not given any legal mandates.

As a result, the bureau has been malfunctioned for the past 70 years.

And finally, the present Prime Minister, Sanae Takeuchi, decided to reform the system.

The National Intelligence Council Establishment Act will give the National Intelligence Secretariat the mandate to consolidate information or intelligence of the Japanese intelligence community, consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, National Police Agency, and the Public Security Intelligence Agency.

Ken, can you give us a just a quick account of how is the role of the PSIA distinct from the others? Where does it fit in in terms of its special skills or the scope of what it does?