Achieving "carbon neutrality" in Japan is complicated by fragmented institutional responsibilities and the absence of municipal-scale energy data. Decarbonization is led by the Ministry of the Environment, reflecting a segmented administrative framework. Moreover, sectoral energy consumption data are not officially published at the municipal level, hindering evidence-based local policy development. To overcome these challenges, we have developed the Japan Energy Database, a comprehensive dataset of energy supply and demand estimates for all 1,741 municipalities. This open-access dataset enables: (1) locally grounded energy strategies and implementation, (2) assessment of regional renewable energy potential and utilization, and (3) evidence based support for resilient, sustainable social transitions. It integrates national statistics, spatial information, and engineering assumptions to estimate final energy consumption in transportation, industrial, residential, and commercial sectors. We detail the data-construction methodology and validate its internal consistency and policy relevance. The dataset provides a foundation for decentralized, data-driven energy planning and region-specific decarbonization pathways in Japan.
Kikuchi et al. (2025) studied this question.