Money (gold) mobilized by the government Poster Collection contributed by Okada Akio, #4-6

In October 1937 (Showa 12), the Planning Bureau (Kikakuin) was established by the 1st KONOE Cabinet through a merger of the Resource Agency (Shigenkyoku) and the Planning Agency (Kikakucho). During the war, it served as the part of the government responsible for the promotion of the controlled economy, drawing up productivity enhancement plans and national mobilization plans in order to harness material and human resources. The 2nd Bureau of the Kikakuin, led by Bureau chief KASHIWABARA Hyotaro, was particularly responsible for formulating resource mobilization plans about the time the war begun. The worsening of the war situation caused Japan's marine transport capacity to decline, forcing a gradual retrenchment of the original plans.

In November 1943 (Showa 18), immediately after the 1944 (Showa 19) Revised Outline of Resource Mobilization Plan was drawn up, a reorganization of the government bureaucracy resulted in the absorption most of the Kikakuin's operations by the newly established Munitions Ministry, while the administration functions that had undertaken for important national policies were inherited by the Cabinet Counselor Office. In November 1944 (Showa 19), the General Planning Bureau was established, and placed directly under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister.