Abstract: The development of Japanese thinktank is later than that of Europe and America, but it grows rapidly. After three stages of beginning, development, and maturity, five types of thinktank have been formed which are named as official think tank, quasiofficial think tank, enterprise think tank, folk think tank and university think tank. They have remarkable developing features and unique operation mechanism. Therefore, a system of thinktank with Japanese characteristics has come into being, which provides a useful reference for the construction of think tank in other countries.

Key words: Japanese think-tank, development history, characteristics of types, realistic enlightenment