The Japan Academic Council has been discussed in the wake of then-Prime Minister Kan's refusal to appoint six candidate members. The government is aiming to submit a bill to amend the law in the current Diet session.
The Japan Science Council issued a statement to the people along with recommendations to the government. The statement noted that the proposed revision of the law "may impair the independence of the academic council," and that there are voices of concern shared by researchers in Japan and overseas. It cited the risk of causing a decline in research capabilities, but added that it should not be "the beginning of the end of Japan academia"