Kōgenchō

The Kōgenchō (高研庁), formally the Ministry of War Special Advanced Research Agency (兵部省特別高度研究庁 Hyōbu-shō Toku Kōdogenku Chō) is a agency of the Chiseian Ministry of War responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.

Originally known as the New Research Projects Agency (新研究計画庁 Shin Genku Kewaku Chō), the agency was created on February 3, 1959, by Chancellor Shiba Amame in response to the Arshavati launching of Orzu-1 in 1959. By collaborating with academia, industry, and government partners, the Kōgenchō formulates and executes research and development projects to expand the frontiers of technology and science, often beyond immediate Chiseian military requirements.

The agency has been responsible for a number of important technological breakthroughs, and has been described by the Four Nation Times as "the agency that made the modern world";, , , , , the and the  are among the list of innovations for which the Kōgenchō can claim at least partial credit. Its track record of success has inspired governments around the world to launch similar research and development agencies.

The Kōgenchō is independent of other military research and development and reports directly to senior officials in the War Ministry. The agency comprises approximately 200 government employees in five technical offices, including nearly 100 program managers, who together oversee about 250 research and development programs.

The name of the organization changed from its founding name to its current one in 1972. The Kōgenchō abbreviation was coined in the press, after growing public interest in the agency's activities following the successful launch of the Amehiko 4 lunar mission.

The agency's current director, appointed in April 2021, is Yō Sumime.