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August 12, 2026
 

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DEFENSE MINISTRY

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has had a relatively successful run in the post, but with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi considering a Cabinet shake-up, his future remains uncertain.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Aug 12, 2026
Koizumi exceeded expectations as defense minister. Will he stay on?
The defense minister has enjoyed a relatively successful outing, maintaining public visibility, avoiding gaffes and representing Japan in security engagements globally.
A member of Japanese Self-Defense Force pilots a SOTEN drone during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture on June 28.
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2026
Japan mulls use of domestic AI in SDF command system
The government hopes the move will help SDF commanders make decisions, at a time when countries around the world are rushing to adapt to new ways of warfare.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang last month.
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 6, 2026
North Korea marks Hiroshima atomic bombing anniversary with missile test
The missile launch, which landed outside Â鶹´«Ã½ EEZ, came a day after the North vowed to pursue ¡°additional military options¡± in response to Tokyo¡¯s growing defense capabilities.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reacts as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, during a visit to U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, last October.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 5, 2026
Japan and U.S. begin working-level talks on host nation support
The U.S. government during preliminary talks indicated that it would ask Japan to increase its host nation support.
A Ground Self-Defense Force anti-aircraft gun fires ammunition during a live fire exercise at the GSDF's training grounds in the East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 5, 2026
North Korea warns of more military steps over Â鶹´«Ã½ rearmament
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said that Pyongyang would not remain a ¡°passive onlooker.¡±
Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers walk in front of a Type 88 surface-to-ship missile launcher, during the Balikatan annual joint military exercises at Culili Point Sand Dunes, in Paoay, Philippines, on May 6.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 4, 2026
Japan defense report says China challenge must be met with ¡®overall national strength¡¯
Tokyo¡¯s annual defense white paper says that cooperation with allies and like-minded nations is crucial to Â鶹´«Ã½ own security.
The Defense Ministry is set to earmark funds necessary for preparations to shift its management of confidential data to private-sector cloud services in its budget request for fiscal 2027.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 2026
Japan eyes use of cloud services to manage defense secrets
So far the highly classified information has been handled through its own systems.
U.S. Forces Japan commander Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost (left) speaks with The Japan Times and other media outlets in an interview at the Japanese Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 2026
U.S. Forces Japan boosts personnel as transformation takes shape, commander says
Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost said that some 215 personnel had been added to the headquarters since last year, as a shift to give the command more authority entered a second phase.
A Russian military IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flies in airspace over waters near Japan on Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2026
Russian warplane violates Japanese airspace over islets claimed by Tokyo
A Defense Ministry official said that Tokyo is currently in a situation where it is virtually unable to exercise jurisdiction over the Russian-controlled Northern Territories.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 24, 2026
Defense Ministry questioned over intelligence gathering on domestic experts
A Ground Self-Defense Force unit made assessments about patriotism, beliefs and sexual preferences, news reports alleged.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (left) and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at NATO's headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 23, 2026
Koizumi calls for breaking taboo on nuclear debate
¡°Unless discussions are held without any taboos, no country can any longer ensure its own security on its own,¡± the defense minister told reporters at NATO headquarters.
Canadian Minister of National Defense David McGuinty, British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and Japanese defense chief Shinjiro Koizumi pose for a family photo at the Global Combat Air Program news conference at Wellington Barracks in London on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2026
Canada to join Japan-Italy-U.K. fighter project as first observer nation
The move will not entail a financial commitment or contractual obligations, but could create a pathway to deepened future cooperation in the program.
A Chinese Navy destroyer (left) conducts live-fire training inside Japan's exclusive economic zone near Okinotorishima island as a Russian warship (right) observes in this image taken Sunday and released late Monday. Below: An enlarged section of the image shows machine-gun fire from the Chinese vessel.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2026
Chinese warship holds rare live-fire exercise inside Â鶹´«Ã½ EEZ
In a first, Tokyo publicized the drill, releasing images of the destroyer firing a machine-gun near Okinotorishima island over the weekend.
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 21, 2026
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The annual economic policy guidelines referenced goals announced by NATO and two U.S. allies and pledged to ¡°transform the country¡¯s defense capabilities within five years.¡±
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi attends an annual training session near Mount Fuji at Higashifuji Training Field in?Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan last month.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 19, 2026
Japan ¡®cannot avoid¡¯ nuclear weapons debate, defense chief Koizumi says
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi¡¯s remarks come as the government weighs revising the country¡¯s decades-old pledge not to produce, possess or host nuclear arms.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks during a news conference at parliament in Tokyo on July 3.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 15, 2026
As Â鶹´«Ã½ security ties grow, defense chief pushes for international bureau
As a key reason for the initiative, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi cited growing responsibilities as the ministry builds up defense ties with like-minded nations.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference at the conclusion of the Group of Seven summit in Evian, France, on June 17.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 13, 2026
Takaichi¡¯s first economic policy blueprint puts defense industry revival in focus
The government seeks to ¡°transform Â鶹´«Ã½ defense posture within five years¡± to achieve highly autonomous and resilient operational capabilities.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (second from right) and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (third from right) join other Indo-Pacific Four officials for a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 8, 2026
Japan and NATO share concerns about Chinese military activities
Tokyo has sought to keep NATO interested in the Indo-Pacific region even as the alliance focuses on beating back claims by the U.S. that it has outlived its usefulness.
The Philippines is looking to receive five Abukuma-class vessels from Japan in the next two to three years as part of broader efforts by Tokyo to boost the defense capabilities of like-minded neighbors amid growing Chinese military assertiveness in the region.
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2026
Japan set to deliver five retired MSDF warships to Philippines in ¡®two to three years¡¯
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. says administrative details are being finalized, but it¡¯s ¡°already a done deal.¡±
The Defense Ministry in Tokyo. The government is considering establishing a new bureau at the agency that would be in charge of dealing with international policies.
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2026
New bureau eyed for Defense Ministry as international coordination grows
In light of the increasingly severe security environment, the planned bureau is expected to handle tasks related to like-minded countries.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
Yasukuni Shrine introduces ban on military attire and cosplay
People gather in front of thousands of lanterns on display at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 15 during the Mitama Matsuri, one of the capital's largest summer o-Bon festivals.
Many Indonesians named after Japanese anime characters
Some people in Indonesia are named Doraemon, the name of a lead character of the blockbuster anime series with the same title.
Strong wind and heavy rain forecast as tropical storm approaches Japan
Tropical Storm Chan-hom is expected to make landfall in northern Kanto between late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
Severe tropical storm Chan-hom makes landfall near Tokyo
Severe Tropical Storm Chan-hom made landfall around Ibaraki Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Tuesday night.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
As Â鶹´«Ã½ concrete jungles sizzle, urban forestry offers an all-natural fix
People and birds find relief from the sun in Tokyo's Nakano Ward earlier this month. While experts agree that urban greening is crucial to mitigating the impact of climate change, trees are becoming even more scarce in Japanese cities.
Â鶹´«Ã½ brewers experiment with a secret ingredient: music
At Smoke Craft, a craft beer brewery in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, music isn't just a background to the brewing process ¡ª it's an ingredient.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
J. League enters new era as league kicks off first fall-spring campaign
Players from each J. League club pose during a kickoff event on Monday ahead of the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

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