White paper

A publication issued by each government ministry to inform the public of the current status, problems, measures, and future prospects of administrative activities under its jurisdiction. The name "white paper" was coined when the British government published a report on foreign affairs with a white cover. In Japan, the first white paper was published in July 1947 (Showa 22) by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Tetsu Katayama, titled "Economic White Paper" (now "Economic and Fiscal White Paper"). Since then, major ministries have published more than 30 types of white papers in the form of annual reports, such as the "Welfare White Paper," "Labour White Paper," "Construction White Paper," and "Environment White Paper." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "Recent Status of Our Diplomacy" is called the "Diplomatic Blue Book." Recently, local governments have also begun to publish reports on administrative issues that are close to the public's hearts under titles such as "Citizen Life White Paper" and "Pollution White Paper."

[Norikazu Nakamura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

政府各省庁が所管の行政活動の現状、問題、対策そして将来の展望などを国民に知らせるために発行する刊行物。イギリス政府が外交に関する報告書を白表紙white paperで刊行したのがきっかけで白書の名がつけられた。日本では1947年（昭和22）7月『経済白書』（現『経済財政白書』）が片山哲(てつ)内閣の手で発表されたのが最初である。以後『厚生白書』『労働白書』『建設白書』『環境白書』など、主要省庁が年次報告書の形で30種を超える白書を発行するようになった。なお、外務省編の『わが外交の近況』は『外交青書』blue bookとよばれている。また、最近では、地方公共団体においても、住民に身近な行政の課題を『市民生活白書』『公害白書』などの名で発行する例がみられる。

［中村紀一］

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