Announcement of the Establishment of NXJI Research and the Appointment of Masanobu Ogura as Director
The General Incorporated Foundation Next Japan Initiative (NXJI) has established its think tank division, 'NXJI Research,' and appointed former Minister of State Masanobu Ogura as its first director. This initiative aims to complement the activities of the 'Reiwa Seikei Juku' program for nurturing next-generation political leaders, creating a new integrated system for policy formulation and implementation.
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General Incorporated Foundation Next Japan Initiative (Location: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter 'NXJI') announced on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Reiwa Seikei Juku Special Public Lecture, where former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was invited as a speaker, the establishment of 'NXJI Research,' NXJI's think tank division, and the appointment of former Minister of State Masanobu Ogura as its inaugural director. We are pleased to inform you of this development.
Masanobu Ogura appointed as the first director of NXJI Research
■ Background and Purpose of the Announcement
NXJI has primarily focused on operating the 'Reiwa Seikei Juku,' a program for nurturing next-generation political leaders. The program has achieved significant results, with 24 out of 93 students running in national elections and 17 successfully winning seats (※1).
Now, in addition to the 'Reiwa Seikei Juku,' which serves as a 'do-tank' (executive department) for producing politicians, we are establishing 'NXJI Research,' a think tank division dedicated to policy formulation. NXJI Research aims to improve the quality of policy-making in Japan by conducting policy research and recommendation activities based on long-term optimal, overall optimal, and global perspectives. This new system will integrally promote activities from research to implementation, in conjunction with the do-tank function of Reiwa Seikei Juku.
(※1) The 1st cohort of Reiwa Seikei Juku had 39 students, and the 2nd cohort had 54 students. Starting with the 2024 House of Representatives election, and continuing through the 2025 House of Councillors election and the 2026 House of Representatives election, a total of 24 students from the 1st and 2nd cohorts ran in both houses, with 11 from the 1st cohort and 6 from the 2nd cohort experiencing election victories.
List of 2026 House of Representatives General Election Results
List of Incumbent Diet Members from/enrolled in Reiwa Seikei Juku
■ Features of NXJI Research
NXJI Research aims to be a new type of think tank that has not existed in Japan before.
- Policy recommendations based on long-term optimal, overall optimal, and global perspectives (without resorting to populism, advocating for vested interests, or falling into inward-looking thinking)
- Policy implementation in collaboration with the do-tank (Reiwa Seikei Juku)
- Member composition centered on individuals aged 40 and under, who will lead the Next Japan
- Support for academics (specialists with academic knowledge) who can also be active in politics and administration
- Visualization and monitoring of policy impact
■ Key Outputs (3 Pillars of Activity)
- Policy Dissemination
- Policy Implementation
- Policy Exchange
- Publication of quarterly reports, 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal)
(Anticipating topics such as education, administrative and fiscal reform, social security, political system reform)
- Hosting an annual general meeting (policy symposium)
- Support for activities of Diet members, etc.
- Providing opportunities for policy implementation to current and alumni students of Reiwa Seikei Juku
- Supporting the activities of related academics in Nagatacho and Kasumigaseki (centers of Japanese politics and administration)
- Operating subcommittees for each policy theme
- Nurturing in-house researchers through subcommittee activities
■ Annual Activity Schedule (Planned)
July 2026
Launch of NXJI Research
August 2026
Publication of 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal) No. 1
November 2026
Publication of 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal) No. 2
February 2027
Publication of 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal) No. 3
May 2027
Publication of 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal) No. 4
Around June 2027
Holding of 'Policy Symposium' (Annual General Meeting)
■ Biography of Masanobu Ogura, Director of NXJI Research
Former Minister of State (in charge of Child Policy, Measures for Declining Birthrate, and Gender Equality). After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined the Bank of Japan. He obtained a Master's degree (Financial Economics) from the University of Oxford. He has been elected to the House of Representatives four times and, as Minister of State for Special Missions of the Cabinet Office, was responsible for important policies such as the establishment of the Children and Families Agency, measures for declining birthrate, and gender equality. He possesses practical experience in policy formulation and extensive parliamentary experience, with deep insights into fields such as education, social security, administrative and fiscal reform, and political system reform. He has now been appointed as the first director of NXJI Research.
■ Venue of the Announcement
The announcement was made at the 24th Special Public Lecture of Reiwa Seikei Juku, 2nd Cohort (March 12, 2026, at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu). Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the 100th and 101st Prime Minister, delivered a lecture, and the establishment of NXJI Research and the appointment of Director Ogura were announced at the event attended by over 170 people.
Additionally, Masashi Masuda (Auditor of NXJI, Chief of NXJI Next Generation Project Team) reported on the publication of 'Government Collapse' (Shinchosha, Shincho Shinsho, first edition January 17, Reiwa 8 / 2026), co-authored by NXJI.
Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida giving a lecture at the 24th Special Public Lecture of Reiwa Seikei Juku, 2nd Cohort
Click here for details on the lecture
Masashi Masuda (Auditor of NXJI, Chief of NXJI Next Generation Project Team) explaining 'Government Collapse'
Click here for details on the release of 'Government Collapse'
■ About Reiwa Seikei Juku
Reiwa Seikei Juku is a program for nurturing next-generation political leaders aged 20-39. As mentioned above, out of a total of 93 students from the 1st and 2nd cohorts, 24 ran in national elections for both houses, and 17 were elected. Until now, it has fostered cross-party talent across the Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, Democratic Party for the People, Centrist Reform Alliance, and Team Mirai.
Masanobu Ogura appointed as the first director of NXJI Research
■ Background and Purpose of the Announcement
NXJI has primarily focused on operating the 'Reiwa Seikei Juku,' a program for nurturing next-generation political leaders. The program has achieved significant results, with 24 out of 93 students running in national elections and 17 successfully winning seats (※1).
Now, in addition to the 'Reiwa Seikei Juku,' which serves as a 'do-tank' (executive department) for producing politicians, we are establishing 'NXJI Research,' a think tank division dedicated to policy formulation. NXJI Research aims to improve the quality of policy-making in Japan by conducting policy research and recommendation activities based on long-term optimal, overall optimal, and global perspectives. This new system will integrally promote activities from research to implementation, in conjunction with the do-tank function of Reiwa Seikei Juku.
(※1) The 1st cohort of Reiwa Seikei Juku had 39 students, and the 2nd cohort had 54 students. Starting with the 2024 House of Representatives election, and continuing through the 2025 House of Councillors election and the 2026 House of Representatives election, a total of 24 students from the 1st and 2nd cohorts ran in both houses, with 11 from the 1st cohort and 6 from the 2nd cohort experiencing election victories.
List of 2026 House of Representatives General Election Results
List of Incumbent Diet Members from/enrolled in Reiwa Seikei Juku
■ Features of NXJI Research
NXJI Research aims to be a new type of think tank that has not existed in Japan before.
- Policy recommendations based on long-term optimal, overall optimal, and global perspectives (without resorting to populism, advocating for vested interests, or falling into inward-looking thinking)
- Policy implementation in collaboration with the do-tank (Reiwa Seikei Juku)
- Member composition centered on individuals aged 40 and under, who will lead the Next Japan
- Support for academics (specialists with academic knowledge) who can also be active in politics and administration
- Visualization and monitoring of policy impact
■ Key Outputs (3 Pillars of Activity)
- Policy Dissemination
- Policy Implementation
- Policy Exchange
- Publication of quarterly reports, 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal)
(Anticipating topics such as education, administrative and fiscal reform, social security, political system reform)
- Hosting an annual general meeting (policy symposium)
- Support for activities of Diet members, etc.
- Providing opportunities for policy implementation to current and alumni students of Reiwa Seikei Juku
- Supporting the activities of related academics in Nagatacho and Kasumigaseki (centers of Japanese politics and administration)
- Operating subcommittees for each policy theme
- Nurturing in-house researchers through subcommittee activities
■ Annual Activity Schedule (Planned)
July 2026
Launch of NXJI Research
August 2026
Publication of 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal) No. 1
November 2026
Publication of 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal) No. 2
February 2027
Publication of 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal) No. 3
May 2027
Publication of 'Kiho' (Quarterly Journal) No. 4
Around June 2027
Holding of 'Policy Symposium' (Annual General Meeting)
■ Biography of Masanobu Ogura, Director of NXJI Research
Former Minister of State (in charge of Child Policy, Measures for Declining Birthrate, and Gender Equality). After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined the Bank of Japan. He obtained a Master's degree (Financial Economics) from the University of Oxford. He has been elected to the House of Representatives four times and, as Minister of State for Special Missions of the Cabinet Office, was responsible for important policies such as the establishment of the Children and Families Agency, measures for declining birthrate, and gender equality. He possesses practical experience in policy formulation and extensive parliamentary experience, with deep insights into fields such as education, social security, administrative and fiscal reform, and political system reform. He has now been appointed as the first director of NXJI Research.
■ Venue of the Announcement
The announcement was made at the 24th Special Public Lecture of Reiwa Seikei Juku, 2nd Cohort (March 12, 2026, at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu). Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the 100th and 101st Prime Minister, delivered a lecture, and the establishment of NXJI Research and the appointment of Director Ogura were announced at the event attended by over 170 people.
Additionally, Masashi Masuda (Auditor of NXJI, Chief of NXJI Next Generation Project Team) reported on the publication of 'Government Collapse' (Shinchosha, Shincho Shinsho, first edition January 17, Reiwa 8 / 2026), co-authored by NXJI.
Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida giving a lecture at the 24th Special Public Lecture of Reiwa Seikei Juku, 2nd Cohort
Click here for details on the lecture
Masashi Masuda (Auditor of NXJI, Chief of NXJI Next Generation Project Team) explaining 'Government Collapse'
Click here for details on the release of 'Government Collapse'
■ About Reiwa Seikei Juku
Reiwa Seikei Juku is a program for nurturing next-generation political leaders aged 20-39. As mentioned above, out of a total of 93 students from the 1st and 2nd cohorts, 24 ran in national elections for both houses, and 17 were elected. Until now, it has fostered cross-party talent across the Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, Democratic Party for the People, Centrist Reform Alliance, and Team Mirai.