Abstract: Under the new context of COVID-19 outbreak and competition of countries around innovation, this paper, aiming to help deepen the discussion and reference on the scientific and technological innovation strategy, and enhance the insight of science and technology innovation trend, focuses on the general thinking and countermeasures of Japan promoting science and technology innovation. The paper also discusses the current situation of digitization, innovation vitality and scientific research of Japan. Combined with the Comprehensive Strategy on Science, Technology and Innovation 2020, and the implementation pathway of “Society 5.0”, Japan’s strategic focus and policy direction of coping with the COVID-19 outbreak, building sustainable and resilient socio-economic structures, accelerating the creation of innovation and enhancing the scientific research are summarized and analyzed. The strategic basic technology and the strategic application field are sorted out. This findings of paper may hopefully inspire China’s science and technology innovation strategy-making and research, provide reference for the top-level design for science and technology innovation, the goals and indictors setting, the overall arrangement of basic research and key core technologies, the open science vision and the integration of humanities and social sciences.

Key words: Japan, Science and Technology Innovation Strategy, Science and Technology Basic Plan