Constituency Highlights

Japan has been a member of the World Bank since 1952. A number of projects were implemented in Japan with World Bank loans for the development of the nation’s economic foundation, such as electric power generation, basic industries development, transportation, water, and infrastructure.

Japan graduated from borrower status in 1967 and has since strengthened its status at the World Bank. In 1984, Japan became the second largest shareholder of the World Bank, gaining a greater voice as one of its most important partners. In 2012, moving toward recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan again became the hosting nation for the Annual Meetings. As part of intellectual contributions from Japan to the world, topics of the Meetings include lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and Global Health based on Japan’s experience of universal health insurance for more than 50 years. 

The Executive Director and staff represent the interests of Japan for considering and deciding on IBRD loan and guarantee proposals and IDA credit, grant and guarantee proposals made by the President, and decisions on policies that guide the Bank's general operations.

In addition, this office has the responsibilities of presenting to the Board of Governors, presenting at the Annual Meetings, providing an audit of accounts, and creating an administrative budget and annual report of the Bank's operations and policies.

Allocation of Votes by Organization

Member countries are allocated votes at the time of membership and subsequently for additional subscriptions to capital. Votes are allocated differently in each organization.

IBRD: Each member receives votes consisting of share votes (one vote for each share of the Bank's capital stock held by the member) plus basic votes (calculated so that the sum of all basic votes is equal to 5.55 percent of the sum of basic votes and share votes for all members).

IFC: Each member receives votes consisting of share votes (one vote for each share of IFC's capital stock held by the member) plus basic votes (calculated so that the sum of all basic votes is equal to 5.55 percent of the sum of basic votes and share votes for all members).

IDA: Each member receives the votes it is allocated under IDA replenishments according to the rules established in each IDA replenishment resolution. Votes consist of subscription votes and membership votes.

MIGA: Each member receives votes consisting of share votes (one vote for each share of MIGA's capital stock held by the member) plus parity votes, calculated so that the aggregate number of votes of category 1 and category 2 members is the same. Members choose which category they want to join at the time of membership. Category 1 members were originally defined as developed countries and category 2 members as developing countries.

Voting Status by Executive Director:

• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) (pdf)
• International Development Association (IDA) (pdf)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC) (pdf)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) (pdf)

World Bank Group Projects

Information concerning current and past IBRD and IDA projects can be found using the World Bank’s Project Database. To visualize the Bank's operations, you can also take advantage of Mapping for Results, an innovative site that geocodes Bank's projects worldwide.

IFC projects can be found using the IFC Project Database. MIGA projects can be found using the MIGA Project Database.