🛸 Did you know Japan is one of the world's UFO "hotspots"?
According to U.S. Department of Defense data, Japan ranks alongside the Middle East and the U.S. East Coast as one of the top three UFO sighting locations globally. In 2025, mysterious lights over nuclear plants and bipartisan parliamentary action are accelerating the UFO conversation. No longer relegated to the realm of the occult, UFOs have become a matter of national security in Japan. Here's everything you need to know.
What's Happening in Japan in 2025
The Mystery Lights Over Genkai Nuclear Plant
On the night of July 26, 2025, something strange happened above the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant in Kyushu. Four security guards and a stationed police officer witnessed "three lights resembling drones" hovering for over two hours in the sky above the facility.
By the early hours of the following morning, the lights had vanished, but no drone was recovered and no source was identified. Taking the matter seriously, members of parliament held a closed-door meeting at the House of Representatives on August 7, conducting hearings with the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The connection between UFOs and nuclear facilities has been documented worldwide, from sightings at Fukushima Daiichi during the 2011 disaster to UAP appearances over U.S. nuclear missile sites. The Genkai incident adds another data point to this intriguing pattern.
Fukushima's "UFO Village" Thrives
The town of Iino in Fukushima City has been reporting UFO sightings since the 1970s. Mount Senganmori, a 462.5-meter conical mountain, has long been speculated to serve as a UFO base due to its distinctive pyramid-like shape.
The International Unidentified Flying Object Research Institute, established in 2021, has received over 1,000 sighting reports since opening. In June 2025, the annual "UFO Day Senganmori Festival" drew crowds with events including public releases of UFO footage and UFO-calling rituals.
Interestingly, Mount Senganmori is said to have such a strong magnetic field that compasses malfunction there—leading some to theorize that this magnetism attracts UFOs to the area.
Kochi Prefecture: Another Hotspot
The Shikoku region's Kochi Prefecture is another area known for frequent UFO sightings. In Shimanto City, UFO-like objects have been repeatedly spotted since 2024, with some witnesses capturing what they believe to be definitive footage.
Japan's Bipartisan UFO Caucus Takes Action
The Birth of the "UFO Caucus"
On June 6, 2024, the "Parliamentary League for Clarifying Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena from a National Security Perspective" (commonly known as the "UFO Caucus") was established within the Japanese Diet. Former Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada serves as chairman, while former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is secretary-general. With Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as supreme advisor, approximately 90 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties have joined.
At the founding meeting, Chairman Hamada stated: "There are many things in this world we don't understand. What's important is how we handle information and discussions to clarify these unknowns." He also pointed out that insufficient budget has been allocated to investigating unexplained phenomena.
Recommendations to the Ministry of Defense
On May 16, 2025, the caucus submitted a proposal to Defense Minister Gen Nakatani calling for the establishment of a dedicated department within the Ministry of Defense for collecting, investigating, and analyzing UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) information.
Key recommendations included:
- Establishing a dedicated department equivalent to the U.S. Pentagon's AARO
- Public disclosure of information to citizens
- Regular progress reports to the Diet
Defense Minister Nakatani responded that the ministry is "maintaining vigilant information gathering and surveillance, including for unidentifiable objects," and committed to promptly disclosing any new findings.
The Global UAP Disclosure Movement
Developments in the United States
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) as a specialized agency for UAP investigations. AARO has launched a dedicated website publishing declassified information in an effort to increase transparency.
In 2025, the documentary film "The Age of Disclosure" premiered, featuring interviews with 34 senior U.S. government officials exposing an alleged 80-year cover-up of UAP information. The film received Oscar eligibility and garnered significant attention.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in the documentary: "We've had repeated instances of something operating in the airspace over restricted nuclear facilities, and it's not ours."
International Responses
Countries around the world are advancing their UAP responses:
- France: GEIPAN (under the National Space Research Center) continues UAP investigations
- Chile: CEFAA promotes UAP research in cooperation with international organizations
- Canada: The Sky Canada Project studies how UAP reports are managed
- Japan: Momentum builds for establishing a dedicated department in the Ministry of Defense
Why UFOs Are Now a "National Security Issue"
Once treated as science fiction or occult topics, UFOs are now discussed in a very different context. Reconnaissance balloons and stealth drones represent unidentified flying objects that pose genuine security concerns.
Some UFOs reported in the United States since the 1940s may have actually been secret military developments such as stealth aircraft or drone technology. In other words, some "UFOs" we observe could potentially be adversarial nations' cutting-edge technology.
The Curious Connection Between UFOs and Nuclear Sites
A mysterious correlation between UFOs and nuclear facilities has been reported worldwide. In Japan, numerous videos of lights and UAPs moving over Fukushima Prefecture have been posted online since the 2011 nuclear disaster.
The world map published by AARO also indicates high sighting frequency around Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Whether this is coincidence or evidence of something more remains unclear, but it represents an intriguing pattern worthy of study.
The Importance of Scientific Approach
What's crucial in UFO research is maintaining a scientific approach. Many sightings can be explained by balloons, birds, drones, or weather phenomena. According to the 2024 Pentagon report, approximately half of new sighting reports were determined to be ordinary objects.
However, many cases remain unexplained due to insufficient analyzable data. How to handle these "unresolved cases" represents a key challenge for future UAP research.
Conclusion: What About in Your Country?
In Japan today, UFOs are transforming from occult curiosity into subjects of national security and scientific research. A bipartisan parliamentary caucus is in motion, and calls for establishing a dedicated department in the Ministry of Defense are growing stronger.
Globally, the UAP disclosure movement led by the United States is accelerating, and Japan is poised to join this wave.
So, how are UFOs and UAPs viewed in your country? What's your government's stance? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
References
- https://www.esquire.com/jp/news/science/a62091525/japan-ufo-sightings-hotspot/
- https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA165760W5A510C2000000/
- https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2025051600858&g=pol
- https://hicbc.com/magazine/article/?id=radichubu-59872
- https://ufo-laboratory.com/
- https://ufonosato.com
- https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/the-age-of-disclosure-documentary-oscar-eligible-screening-uap-aliens-rcna245109
- https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2025/07/31/how-other-countries-handle-uaps-a-global-survey/
Reactions in Japan
The Genkai nuclear plant incident is concerning. Whether it's a drone or UFO, it's scary that unidentified lights hovered for 2 hours without any explanation. The Ministry of Defense should disclose more information.
I think it's good that the UFO caucus was formed. Whether aliens exist or not is beside the point - if unidentified objects are flying in Japanese airspace, they should be properly investigated.
99% of UFOs can be explained by misidentification, drones, or weather phenomena. If politicians are spending time on this, there are better things they should be doing. Waste of taxpayer money.
I've been to the UFO Research Institute at Mount Senganmori - it was fun! UFO stories have always been normal around here. Glad to see more tourists coming.
During my time in the Self-Defense Forces, I heard about unexplainable objects on radar. Can't officially say anything, but establishing an investigation department is a natural progression. It's necessary for national security.
Had no idea Japan was one of the world's top three UFO hotspots! Hope the disclosure movement from America comes to Japan too. If there's something being hidden, I want to know!
Scientific approach is crucial for UFO research. Most sightings are explainable, but the question is how to handle unexplainable cases. I welcome data accumulation and disclosure.
Too many people don't understand that UFO doesn't equal aliens. It literally means 'unidentified flying object.' Could be foreign drones - investigation is necessary.
It's problematic that Japan doesn't have an organization equivalent to America's AARO. As allies sharing information, we need a receiving body. This is long overdue.
UFO sightings being common in Kochi is real. I know several people who've seen strange lights above the Shimanto River. Maybe because it's rural and the sky is darker, things are more visible.
Seeing UFO topics being seriously covered on TV shows how times have changed. It used to be variety show material, but now it's reported on news programs.
So UFOs appearing over nuclear plants is a global pattern. Can't be coincidence. There must be a reason. Looking forward to more research.
Honestly, I wasn't interested in UFOs, but seeing politicians taking this so seriously makes me wonder if there's something to it. I support information disclosure.
Prime Minister Ishiba is an advisor to the UFO caucus? There are more important policy issues like the economy and declining birth rate. Are priorities wrong here?
About the Genkai plant - as a drone operator, let me say that drones that can fly for 2 hours aren't common. Either military-grade or truly something unexplainable.
Had no idea Japan was a UFO hotspot! Would be great if they coordinate with the U.S. disclosure movement. It's fantastic that Japanese politicians are taking this seriously.
The UFO-nuclear connection is fascinating. The fact that there are many sightings around Fukushima and Hiroshima/Nagasaki might mean something. More research is needed.
We have UFO sightings in Germany too, but there's no movement to form a parliamentary caucus like in Japan. Japan's proactive approach is worth emulating.
France's GEIPAN has been conducting UAP research for years. If Japan creates a dedicated agency, I hope they'll cooperate internationally. UFOs are a cross-border issue.
UFO sightings over nuclear plants are reported worldwide. We have cases near nuclear facilities in the UK too. I don't think this is coincidence.
UFO sightings aren't rare in South America either. If every country had an organization like Chile's CEFAA, information sharing would advance more. Looking forward to Japan's developments.
South Korea has UFO sightings too, but the government doesn't take them seriously. Japan's bipartisan caucus might set a precedent in Asia.
Watched 'The Age of Disclosure.' If the U.S. government cover-up is real, doesn't Japan have similar information? Transparency is needed.
Italy has UFO sightings too, but government response is passive. It's unusual to see politicians acting like in Japan. Maybe the global trend is changing.
I want to visit Fukushima's 'UFO Village'! Sounds fun as a tourist spot. Japan is attractive with both traditional culture and unique spots like this.
Treating UFOs as a security issue is the right approach. Whether aliens or not, unidentified flying objects can be threats.
I agree with Japan's emphasis on scientific approach. It's important to collect and analyze sightings, distinguishing between explainable and unexplainable cases.
It's interesting that the Middle East is also a UFO hotspot. If there are as many sightings as Japan, there might be something in common.
UAP sightings have increased in Australia recently too. Countries are paying attention due to U.S. disclosure influence. Want to watch Japan's developments.
Honestly, I'm skeptical about UFO equals aliens, but I think investigating unidentified objects is necessary. Could be other countries' military tech.