Development  of the fifth generation computer marks  Japan's

          first attempt to produce computer  products  based  on  original,

          creative  research.   The fifth generation will  have  artificial

          intelligence; a characteristic that  will  enable  the machine to

          produce results based on inference and deduction of knowledge  it

          already has stored.  A computer with artificial intelligence will

          be able to solve problems without any input from the operator.


               The development of the  fifth  generation  computer in Japan

          has been made  possible  because  of  the  advances  in  computer

          technology during the  1970's.  For  example, the microelectronic

          chips are composed of  denser  circuitry  which  make  them  more

          powerful; therefore,  the demand for fast circuitry in artificial

          intelligence has become less  constraining.(1)  Secondly,  Japan,

          depending on software developed in the United States, has entered

          a software crisis.  Because the cost of  computers  has  declined

          and the  usage  has become so varied, the demand for updating and

          creating new programs is ever present.  The number of programmers

          in Japan has not increased fast enough  to meet the demand, thus,

          interest in computers that require little special programming has

          increased.(2) This  problem  is  especilally  prominent  in Japan

          because  of  the  basic  structure  of  the  language  with  many

          different ideograms.  To write a program in a  computer  language

          already developed,  the Japanese have to transfer their syllables

          to English versions to  write  them.   This translation procudure



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          requires the programmer to know Japanese and English.  The  fifth

          generation computer will allow people who do not  know a computer

          language  to  use  it  because  the  translation  step  will   be

          eliminated.   A  computer  with  artificial   intelligence   will

          eliminate the "language barrier" and make the computer easier  to

          use.


               Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI),

          a government bureau  concerned  with  Japan's ecomomic prosperity

          supports the development of  the  fifth  generation computer.  In

          Japan,  this  computer  has   the   potential   to  increase  the

          productivity  of  the white collar business  sector  because  the

          language does not facilitate  mechanical reproduction in Japanese

          as the typewriter does in English.  This new  computer will offer

          a natural language processor making it accessible  to  a  greater

          number of people.  Seconly, it  could  also act as an intelligent

          assistant to decision makers in a  company  providing  them  with

          national  and international informational data bases.  The  fifth

          generation will also provide  information  on  the most efficient

          use of Japan's few natural  resources  and energy.  Finally, in a

          country where twelve percent  of  the  population  will  be  over

          sixty-five by 1990, the fifth  generation  computer  will  enable

          people to work at home and will streamline health  management.(3)

          Osamu Siki, director of the Electronic Policy  Division  of  MITI

          stated, "As a resource-poor country, we have no  alternative  but



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          to base our prosperity on technology."(4) The development of  the

          fifth generation computer is  important  for  Japan's economy for

          she no  longer  wants to play follow the leader and be criticized

          for capitalizing on  technology  discovered in the United States.

          For example, Japan manufactures seventy  percent  of  the  random