1. The provision of anonymized data

The term "anonymized data" means questionnaire information that is collected by administrative organs, etc., through statistical surveys conducted under the Statistics Act and that is processed so that no particular individual, corporation, or other organization will be identified (including by way of collating it with other information).
The provision of anonymized data means a service, offered by administrative organs, etc., to provide anonymized data upon a request from the public when such administrative organs, etc., find that such provision will contribute to the development of academic research and higher education.

* Articles 35 and 36 of the Statistics Act (Act No. 53 of 2007)

For using this service, there is a service fee according to service contents.

2. Flow of application procedures

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (hereinafter referred to as the "MHLW") will examine matters stated in the application for provision request, including the purpose of use, the data control method, and the publication method of research results, and notify the requester of its approval or disapproval.
If the MHLW approves the application, the requester will be required to submit the designated request form and written pledge stating that he/she and all users of anonymized data give consent to and comply with the terms of use of the service, and are required to pay the service fee specified by the MHLW. Anonymized data will be handed over at the counter of the MHLW, or delivered by mail (by registered mail with return receipt requested).
Users must properly control their anonymized data, publish the results of their use after completion of use, and return the anonymized data to the MHLW together with a report on data deletion, etc., and a usage status report.

* If there is any future publication plan as at the expiration of the period of use, a usage status report must be submitted within three months after the completion of such publication.

Please refer to the flowchart of application procedures for anonymized data (PDF:32KB).

3. Consultation for use

When you intend to make an application for anonymized data, you should consult with us with respect to use of anonymized data, in advance of submission of documents, by using "Input Form" below, in order to facilitate and expedite examination procedures for documents submitted.

Input Form

For the details of the service use procedures, please make sure to go through the "Guidelines Pertaining to Using Anonymized Data" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines") and the "Terms and Conditions for Provision of Anonymized Data" (hereinafter referred to as the "Terms and Conditions"), both of which explain essential matters.

4. Requirements for use

The requirements that you are required to satisfy under laws and regulations when receiving anonymized data are outlined as follows:
Only if all the requirements under (1) to (4) below according to each purpose of use are satisfied, the use of the service will be permitted.

The following persons/entities are examples of the requesters who satisfy the requirements for use described above.

• Researchers who belong to universities or other institutions having the purpose of academic research, or such institutions
• Persons who engage in academic research at think tanks or other similar institutions, or such institutions
• –Persons who do not belong to an organization but nevertheless engage in academic research
• –Instructors who provide lectures or other education at higher education institutions such as universities, or such institutions

5. How to calculate the service fee

The service fee will be the total of the following unit prices.
Payment with a revenue stamp is the only accepted means of payment for the service fee.

1. (1) 1,850 yen per application
2. (2) Number of anonymized data files to be provided × 8,500 yen^*1
3. (3) Storage media:
   100 yen per CD-R × Necessary quantity^*2
   120 yen per DVD-R × Necessary quantity
4. (4) Postage (required if sent by mail)^*3
   The postage for registered mail with the fees for non-standard-sized mail and return receipt added thereto
   1. *1: Anonymized Data A and Anonymized Data B are handled as separate files.
   2. *2: Generally, one medium will contain one file.
      However, if the capacity of one medium is large enough, one medium may contain multiple files.
   3. *3: When receiving a CD-R containing one file of anonymized data by registered mail:
      • 1,850 yen + 8,500 yen + 880 yen + 100 yen = 11,330 yen
      • No postage will be required if you come to the contact point responsible for provision at the MHLW to receive the CD-R.

6. Guidelines Pertaining to Using Anonymized Data

In the Guidelines, you can find information including the definitions of the terms used, requirements for use, application procedures, measures against improper use, and a list of forms.

Please make sure to read the "Guidelines for Using Anonymized Data" (PDF:255KB).

7. Contract Terms and Conditions

In the Terms and Conditions, you can find information on legal compliance, restrictions on use, inspections, the reporting of results, the publication of results, violations and penalties, etc.

Please make sure to read the "Contract Terms and Conditions" (PDF:194KB).

8. List of forms

9. Available anonymized data

1. Confidentiality measures for anonymized data may partially differ from year to year, since changes in the social situation, and methods of preparing other surveys are taken into account each year.
2. For details, please see anonymized data specifications and precautions for use (Data A and Data B is common).
3. The code table is prepared in accordance with the "Standard Notation for Individual Sheet Data Layout of Government Statistics" [PDF:186KB] (Decision on March 31, 2006 by the Liaison Conference of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) of Ministries and Agencies).
4. The data format will be "CSV" and the character code will be "Shift-JIS."

For the detailed contents of the survey and the application procedures, contact the National Statistics Center.
https://www.nstac.go.jp/use/archives/anonymity/

10. Matters to be heeded

Please note the following matters when you use anonymized data.

1. (1) Under Paragraph 2 of Article 43 of the Statistics Act, using anonymized data for any purpose other than the purpose approved by the MHLW, or providing anonymized data to any third party is prohibited.
   In the case of any violation of this requirement, a penalty will be imposed pursuant to Article 61 of the Statistics Act.
   In addition to penalties for violation of laws and regulations, if you violate the Terms and Conditions, etc., you will be prohibited from using public statistical data services provided by the MHLW and by all other administrative organs.
2. (2) Anonymizing processes are performed for anonymized data so that no particular individual or household will be identified. Thus, such data will not always be consistent with aggregated values published in reports, etc.
3. (3) You must return anonymized data no later than the expiration of the period of use, and delete all anonymized data temporarily stored on computers, etc., when the period of use expires.