It has been more than a decade since the Internet came into common use in Japan. During that period, it has brought enormous changes to Japanese society. Its biggest contribution has been the power given to individuals. It can be said that the vitalization of individuals has led to a vitalization of society today.

　As of the end of March 2006, the Internet is used by around 80 million people, making up close to 70% of the Japanese population, and it has become an essential social infrastructure. While it goes without saying that the rapid growth of the Internet has taken place against the backdrop of technical innovations and deregulation, it should also be pointed out that competition among various providers of Internet-related businesses for the creation of new and attractive services has led to the active situation today. On the other hand various problems such as the Internet literacy gap, illegal activities, harmful contents, leaks of personal information, etc. have become ever more serious. Furthermore new problems that individuals did not face in the past, such as information security, have arisen.

　The Japan Internet Providers Association aims to further develop Internet-related businesses, tackle the issues faced by the Internet society as a whole from the position of providers, who are close to the users, and contribute to the further development of the most advanced ICT nation in the world, in a way that is sound and reliable.

September 2006
Taketsune Watanabe
Chairman
Japan Internet Providers Association