[2018-10-03]Japan’s Prime Minister Appoints Pro-Blockchain Figure as Minister. .

[anamie]

Japan’s Prime Minister Appoints Pro-Blockchain Figure as Minister of Science, Tech, IT

A prominent pro-blockchain politician has been appointed as Minister of Science, Technology, and IT as part of the fourth reshuffle Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's cabinet, Cointelegraph Japan reported October 2.

Takuya Hirai, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and reportedly one of the architects of a law legalizing crypto exchanges in Japan last year, will take up the key role as head of the ministry — charged, among other things, with overseeing official government policy towards financial technologies.

As CT Japan outlined, Hirai has been proactive in promoting blockchain as part of his role as chairperson of the Liberal Democratic Party's IT Strategy Special Committee, as well as chairperson of the Fintech Promotion Parliamentarians’ Federation.

Moreover, Hirai is credited for his role in drafting Japan’s basic cybersecurity law, which was enacted in 2015; at the time, Hirai stated that the LDP “concluded that [the government] will, for now, avoid a move towards legal regulation” of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC).

CT Japan further points to local Japanese media reports that have highlighted Hirai’s positive remarks regarding Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) at the JBA (Japan Blockchain Association) meeting this August; he has also advised the ICO Business Study Group at Tama University's Rule Formation Strategy Institute.

In regards to progress in establishing futures rules “such as the creation of voluntary ICO regulations in the future,” CT Japan writes that “various support and efforts from the government are [to be] expected,” given the appointment of a figure that is well versed in crypto to the head post of the country’s Science, Technology, and IT Ministry.

As previously reported, Hirai’s advisory role at Tama University saw the study group release a wide-ranging list of guidelines for the regulation and full legalization of ICOs in the country, which will reportedly be officially considered by Japan’s Financial Services Agency and could eventually be passed into law in a few years’ time.

The guidelines included rules for anti-money-laundering (AML), know-your-customer (KYC) measures, tracking project progress, and protecting existing equity and debt holders.

Cointelegraph

[Harlot]

We know that he is qualified for the job as he is successful on the things he done in Japan's cryptocurrency industry but now he will be taking a bigger responsibility and it is covering more than cryptocurrencies. It still early to judge him from now and we haven't seen his planned platform yet as the minister but I hope that he won't forget their cryptocurrency industry because of the bigger role he has taken. This is a bigger role and hopefully the power he has now will be use for the benefit of their cryptocurrency industry.

[Kemarit]

We know that he is qualified for the job as he is successful on the things he done in Japan's cryptocurrency industry but now he will be taking a bigger responsibility and it is covering more than cryptocurrencies. It still early to judge him from now and we haven't seen his planned platform yet as the minister but I hope that he won't forget their cryptocurrency industry because of the bigger role he has taken. This is a bigger role and hopefully the power he has now will be use for the benefit of their cryptocurrency industry.

Yes, its looks like the guy is more qualified to take the positive because of his intensive involvement in crypto sphere for a long time and I think he also deserves the position. I have no doubt that he will take Japan to the next levels. He has more power to wield and change the course not only crypto but the whole IT industry of Japan, and I'm sure that we will hear his name a lot in the next coming months. LOL.

[Kakmakr]

Take my word for it, Japan is going to become the most successful Bitcoin country in the world, because they saw the potential in the technology and their government embraced it.

Japan will also become a prime Bitcoin holiday destination for people from other countries, where Bitcoin was banned or restricted. The people from these countries will cross borders with their bitcoins, because they cannot spend it in their country and they will have expensive holidays in Japan. 

[deisik]

Take my word for it, Japan is going to become the most successful Bitcoin country in the world, because they saw the potential in the technology and their government embraced it.

Japan will also become a prime Bitcoin holiday destination for people from other countries, where Bitcoin was banned or restricted. The people from these countries will cross borders with their bitcoins, because they cannot spend it in their country and they will have expensive holidays in Japan. 

It may turn out too expensive in the end

Indeed, if you are looking to spend your precious holidays in Japan no matter what, a positive attitude toward Bitcoin may be of great help there. But other than that, you can exchange your bitcoins to fiat "in situ" and get done with that where you happen to live. On the other hand, Japan seems to be a decent country to move to (provided you have enough bitcoins) - if we discard that this country is somewhat expensive (let's call it an Asian version of Switzerland) and deep inside the Japanese folks are not really very friendly to outsiders despite their seeming hospitality and cordiality. Japan remains a pretty closed-in culture

[yesyes18]

Haha...another gokd news on a new day.
It seems the countries are starting to get people more knowledgeable about certain things rather than their political interest. Blockchain adoption is gradually increasing and one thing i believe is that very soon it's gonna be a wild race between countries. It's goid some are taking initiatives already.