China's Commerce Ministry banned dual-use exports to 20 Japanese defense entities including Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and JAXA, while adding 20 more firms like Subaru and TDK to a watch list. Seen as retaliation for PM Takaichi's Taiwan contingency remarks, the move threatens rare earth and semiconductor material supply chains. Japan demands withdrawal as US-China decoupling ripples through East Asian geopolitics.
A comprehensive breakdown of Japan PM Takaichi's 17 strategic investment fields from her landmark policy speech. Covering AI/semiconductors, fusion energy, content industries, defense and more — with key players, current challenges, and the $48B government investment plan.
President Trump has directed the Pentagon to release government files on UFOs and extraterrestrial life. As the world reacts to Obama's "aliens are real" remark and Trump's unprecedented disclosure order, Japan's legendary UFO researchers, including Junichi Yaoi and Junichiro Nirasawa, are back in the spotlight. Here's the full story and how Japan's unique UFO culture is responding.
Japan's Ministry of Defense has signed a landmark $1.8 billion contract for a satellite constellation project. A special purpose company "TriSat Constellation," formed by Mitsubishi Electric, SKY Perfect JSAT, and Mitsui, will lead the effort alongside domestic space startups like Synspective and iQPS. A deep dive into Japan's pivotal shift in space defense strategy.
Japan is executing its largest postwar industrial policy shift, committing over ¥10 trillion to semiconductors, achieving its 2% GDP defense target two years early (¥11T), and issuing ¥20 trillion in green transition bonds. From Rapidus's audacious 2nm chip bet to 29 niche companies with dominant global market shares, we break down the full picture — including fierce domestic debate and international reactions. What industries does your country treat as "national strategy"?
Japan Coast Guard's new 3,500-ton patrol ship "Suruga" launched on Feb 18, 2026. Built at $108M with twin 40mm guns and 25+ knot speed, this 8th Miyako-class vessel strengthens Japan's response to China's growing maritime assertiveness around the Senkaku Islands.
The Chinese vessel seized in Japan's EEZ used a "tiger net" — a devastating method with 1cm mesh that strips the ocean bare, including juvenile fish. Explore how this "sea vacuum cleaner" works and why IUU fishing by Chinese fleets threatens oceans from South America to Africa.
Japan's Fisheries Agency seized a Chinese fishing vessel and arrested its captain in the EEZ off Goto Islands, Nagasaki, on February 12, 2026—the first Chinese vessel seizure since 2022. We report on illegal fishing in Japanese waters and Sino-Japanese maritime tensions, with reactions from Japan and abroad.
Japan's Space Data Inc. and CYPHIC, the country's only electronic warfare startup, have launched a strategic partnership combining digital twin technology with anti-GPS spoofing capabilities. A deep look at how Japanese defense tech startups are tackling modern electronic warfare threats.
Aircraft carrier flight decks come in two main types: ski-jump ramps and catapult systems. Why did Japan's JS Kaga choose a flat deck instead of either? Explore the technical differences between CATOBAR and STOVL carriers, the reasoning behind Kaga's conversion for F-35B operations, and how each nation's carrier design reflects its defense strategy. What does your country think about aircraft carriers?
The US CCA program, China's loyal wingmen, and Japan's GCAP-linked combat drones. As nations race to develop AI-powered unmanned combat aircraft, we examine where Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries stand, and the structural challenges Japan's defense industry must overcome.
Japanese startup AirKamuy has developed a cardboard military drone priced at just $2,000—one-tenth the cost of conventional fixed-wing UAVs. The AirKamuy 150 assembles in 5 minutes, flies at 120 km/h for 2 hours, and is attracting attention from Japan's Ministry of Defense and Coast Guard. How is this disruptive innovation reshaping defense technology?
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force scrambles over 700 times annually at $38,000 per hour. With China's drones increasing and F-15s aging, can the UK-Italy-Japan GCAP sixth-gen fighter solve the crisis? An in-depth look at Japan's air defense challenges.
UK aerospace startup Aeralis is developing a modular jet trainer that could succeed Japan's aging T-4 aircraft. With interchangeable components enabling basic to advanced training in one platform, and potential ties to GCAP cooperation, this innovative British design may transform pilot training worldwide.
The JMSDF's oldest Aegis destroyers, the Kongō-class, are finally getting successors. As Japan weighs SPY-6 and SPY-7 radars, we examine what this means for ballistic missile defense and interoperability with the US Navy.
In January 2026, quadruped robot dogs made their debut at Japan's annual parachute training exercise, capturing public attention. Explore the capabilities of the Ghost Robotics Vision 60, its disaster relief applications during the Noto earthquake, and how Japan's Self-Defense Forces are modernizing amid personnel shortages. How does your country view military robotics?
