Policy and regulatory responsibilities for the water and sanitation sector are shared among several ministries.

In the committee this matter had served as a pretext for wrangling among several ministries.

Experts say that with overseas pressures mounting for Japan to change its economic ways, only political leaders can reconcile differences among competing ministries, and do it fast.

The ministry's other main roles are collecting taxes and allocating the nation's budget among other ministries and agencies.

He had eight successors, until in 1969 the ministry was dissolved and its competences were distributed among other federal ministries.

Poor cooperation among ministries and provinces resulted in unnecessary duplication.

Agencies blame one another for delays, and critics complain of poor coordination among ministries.

The position was eliminated in 1999, and its responsibilities dispersed among other ministries.

Such administrative changes were important steps in eliminating the chronic rivalries that existed among economic ministries.

Communication lines among bureaucracies and ministries broke down, and many officials seemed reluctant to act decisively, scholars and critics say.