日本已分別在外交、防衛與警政等體系下設置不同任務屬性之情報機關。然而在經過數十年運作後，現存情報組織上已無法充分發揮機能。隨著冷戰及九一一事件之後國際局勢的劇烈變化，非傳統安全威脅日益升高，以及日本欲積極發揮其在國際上之影響力，朝向正常化國家邁進等，使得現存的情報體制面臨變革，必須強化情報機能，以作為日本達成前述目標之後盾。政府與民間有識之士對此一方向亦有深切體認，分別提出許多強化情報機能的改革建議，例如強化情報機構之聯繫、加強情報蒐集能量及提升情報研析水準..

Japan has various intelligence agencies that carry out different tasks under the diplomatic, national defense and police systems. After several decades in operation, these agencies have become less capable of fulfilling their functions. The end of the Cold War and the 911 terror attack have sparked a string of sea changes in international dynamics. Increasing non- traditional security threats, Japan’s ambition to exert bigger international influences, its bid for a normal state, all these issues have made reform necessa..