The aim of this paper is to analyse the actions of various actors involved in "global human resource development" and to clarify whether discussions on global human resources are based on local perspectives. The results of the analysis are as follows: 1) after the year 2000 began, industry started discussions on global human resources in the context of training employees to work overseas, 2) the discussion moved to universities by the late 2000s, 3) MEXT led the universities through competitive funding, 4) large universities put emphasis on study abroad programmes and English language education, and 5) smaller universities also reorganised their faculties and departments focusing on global as the key. These discussions are local and closed ones in terms of time and space. [This article was originally published, in Japanese, in "The Japanese Journal of Educational Research," v81 n2 2014 and was translated by Ai Ohmori.]