Key Facts
• This fall, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will hold cybersecurity training for local government staff.
• Training sessions will be held in October and December at the Local Autonomy College in Tachikawa, Tokyo.
• A total of 100 prefectural and municipal employees will participate.
• Each training lasts two weeks, covering laws, technical measures, and incident response.
• The ministry plans to establish a Cybersecurity Measures Office in April 2025.
• The revised Local Autonomy Law, effective April this year, mandates cybersecurity policy formulation by local governments.
• Smaller municipalities face more severe shortages of cybersecurity specialists than large prefectures or ordinance-designated cities.
• The government aims to reduce regional disparities by continuing training beyond next fiscal year.
• Recent cyberattacks on contractors have led to personal data leaks, including a March incident affecting 130,000 Tokyo households.
Summary
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is launching its first cybersecurity training program this fall for local government employees to address a growing shortage of specialized personnel amid increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. The two-week sessions, held at the Local Autonomy College in Tokyo, will educate 100 staff members on legal frameworks, technical defenses, and incident management. This initiative complements the April 2025 establishment of a dedicated Cybersecurity Measures Office and recent legal reforms requiring local governments to develop cybersecurity policies. Recognizing that smaller municipalities suffer more acute talent shortages compared to larger prefectures and ordinance-designated cities, the ministry plans to continue these trainings to bridge regional gaps. The urgency is underscored by recent breaches, such as a March cyberattack on a subcontractor in Tokyo that potentially exposed personal data of 130,000 households. This national effort aims to strengthen local governments’ cyber resilience through coordinated training and policy support.
