Comments from the SDGs Japan regarding the Government of Japan’s Voluntary National Review (VNR)

Yuki Matsuno
Jul 29
5 min read

Comments from the Japan Civil Society Network on SDGs (SDGs Japan)

regarding the Government of Japan’s Voluntary National Review (VNR)

Introduction

The Government of Japan’s third VNR stands out for one key reason: for the first time, a Stakeholder Meeting—bringing together civil‑society groups, businesses, trade unions, consumer co‑ops, and researchers—was held to discuss and comment on the VNR draft before finalization. Many of the opinions submitted through the subsequent public‑comment process were incorporated into the final document, demonstrating a maturing democratic policy‑making process.

The VNR also highlights the importance—spelled out in the revised SDGs Implementation Guideline—of “managing SDGs progress and initiatives on the basis of scientific evidence.” Initiatives flagged in the VNR such as GX‑driven decarbonization, DX‑driven growth, the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision for cutting plastic waste, and one‑stop support centers for survivors of sexual violence are indeed vital for achieving the Goals. Yet the evidence base for measuring progress remains thin; stronger, data‑driven evaluation is essential. The same applies to AI: potential links to digital violence must be recognized. Likewise, the long‑running debate over how Japan defines “poverty” warrants explicit acknowledgment.

Positively, the VNR features growing uptake of SDGs as a framework for solving local challenges. “Regional Revitalization SDGs” initiatives are showcased, and the next step should be to link these efforts to local well‑being indicators that can gauge SDGs attainment. Toyama Prefecture’s plan to create a well‑being index that goes beyond GDP echoes a core agenda item for the upcoming UN Summit of the Future and could become an international model.

Overall, the 2025 VNR both builds on past gains and signals a path forward toward “Japan’s sustainable future.”

Unit‑by‑Unit Comments from SDGs Japan

[Poverty Unit]

For Goal 1, the VNR should present time‑series data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s regular Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions according to the OECD’s relative‑poverty definition, making clear the stagnation in poverty reduction and the hardships faced by single‑mother and single‑elderly households. Under Goal 2, despite government action, weekly food‑distribution data from a Tokyo‑based NPO reveal a rising number of people in food distress; the VNR should state this candidly. Japan’s ODA record also shows very limited grant aid with direct poverty‑reduction impact—this reality deserves acknowledgment.

[Development Unit]

The VNR affirms Japan’s continued commitment to human security and the rule of law amid heightened conflict worldwide, and reports efforts to maintain and scale up ODA, applying a humanitarian–development–peace nexus in fragile contexts. Yet it omits discussion of achieving the 0.7 % ODA/GNI target, ensuring human‑rights safeguards when mobilizing private finance, addressing debt sustainability and tax fairness, and exploring an international solidarity tax. These gaps should be addressed.

[Global Health Unit]

We welcome additions—prompted by public comments—such as positioning Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under Goal 3. Domestically, however, the VNR says little about UHC achievement, gender dimensions, or policies for non‑Japanese residents. Some indicators cannot be compared internationally; fuller data disclosure is needed.

[Education Unit]

We welcome references to measures on school refusal and bullying, promotion of ESD, the importance of social education, and stronger links with agencies such as ECW and GPE to improve education in developing countries. Missing, however, are (i) Japan’s 900,000+ adult non‑literate population, (ii) guaranteed compulsory education for children of foreign nationality, (iii) progress on inclusive education letting children with disabilities learn alongside peers in mainstream schools, and (iv) Japan’s endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration barring military use of schools.

[Gender Unit]

The 2025 VNR records advances in gender mainstreaming and women’s support, but still offers scant quantitative results and little mention of LGBTQ+ issues. Adding “mainstreaming human rights and gender perspectives” in response to public input is progress, yet thorough policy evaluation and problem analysis remain lacking. Genuine gender equality demands deeper scrutiny and greater attention to diversity.

[Environment Unit]

The VNR notes steps to curb heat‑stroke risk as part of climate adaptation, supports full‑spectrum greenhouse‑gas cuts (including methane and F‑gases), urges swift ratification of the new BBNJ treaty on biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and promotes “nature‑positive” private‑sector action—all welcome. Yet Japan should accelerate integrated approaches that bridge environmental, social, and economic agendas and actively disseminate good practice at home and abroad to invigorate global SDG momentum.

[Business & Human Rights Unit]

We applaud the placement of “Business and Human Rights” under the broader banner of “Leaving No One Behind,” with plans to raise awareness—SMEs included—and to reinforce the OECD National Contact Point. Still, the VNR is silent on stakeholder engagement and indicator setting for the 2025 revision of the National Action Plan (NAP), and on progress toward legislating human‑rights due diligence or establishing an independent national human‑rights institution.

[Disaster Risk Reduction Unit]

Few countries devote as much VNR space to DRR. The report covers not only hard infrastructure but also soft issues such as gender equality and disaster‑related indirect deaths—commendable breadth. In development cooperation, however, Japan’s DRR support remains skewed to hard infrastructure; cost‑effective soft measures merit stronger emphasis. As debate on a new “Disaster Management Agency” unfolds, SDG alignment should guide the discussion.

[Social Responsibility Unit]

The VNR rightly notes the 2023 governmental policy on human‑rights‑based public procurement and related awareness‑raising efforts. Because robust social‑responsibility procurement underpins a sustainable economic and social system—the SDGs’ core vision—Japan should now shore up the legal architecture so such efforts can expand.

[Youth Unit]

Youth‑related content has grown—columns penned by young people appear in the VNR, and their intent is duly respected. Youth perspectives are now surfacing in assessments of other stakeholders’ actions as well. Going forward, embedding youth concerns across all thematic areas can spur cross‑sectoral synergies. Unified public release of indicator data for each Goal is also essential.

[Local Communities Unit]

Public comments strengthened coverage of human‑rights considerations and regional revitalization, which we welcome. Still, the VNR says too little about best civil‑society practices, peacebuilding, Indigenous peoples, gender, and forward‑looking recommendations. Locally grounded SDG progress demands (i) wider adoption of rights‑based approaches feeding local insights into national policy, (ii) local indicators that aggregate bottom‑up achievement, and (iii) closer collaboration with community‑level civil‑society actors.

[Disability Unit]

Throughout the drafting process we urged the Government to explicitly reference persons with disabilities whenever it invokes an “inclusive society.” The final VNR does list “promotion of barrier‑free environments” under Priority Area ② (“An Inclusive Society that Leaves No One Behind”). Nonetheless, it omits key disability challenges—ending segregated education and promoting community deinstitutionalization. We call for situational analysis and goal‑setting toward 2030, led by persons with disabilities themselves.

Conclusion

It is encouraging that the VNR recognizes the need to “mainstream respect for human rights and gender perspectives” as a response to persistent gaps on Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Repeated references to the “importance of policies for a cohesive society” and to “upholding multilateralism” also merit praise. True progress on gender equality and inequality reduction requires targeting those who are left behind or unable to make their voices heard. Addressing intersecting and compounding forms of discrimination is essential. How will the concerns of people unable to attend—or even learn about—the Stakeholder Meeting be reflected in policy? Advancing gender equality is also pivotal for tackling Japan’s low birth‑rate. The SDGs face headwinds worldwide, yet in this milestone year—80 years after the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations—Japan’s VNR should prompt us to seek “light” in the form of renewed trust and solidarity, and to chart a forward‑looking course.

(Introduction & Conclusion by Atsuko Miwa, Co‑Representative of SDGs Japan)