Takahashi Kosuke
Japan is accelerating its defense buildup amid rising geopolitical tensions, driven by mounting military pressure from three nuclear-armed neighbors — China, North Korea, and Russia — and calls from the United States for higher defense spending.
On December 26, the cabinet of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae approved a draft defense budget for fiscal year 2026 totaling 9.04 trillion yen ($58 billion), including expenditures related to the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. The nation’s fiscal year begins in April.
The budget represents a 3.8 percent increase from the previous year, marking the first time Japan’s defense spending has exceeded 9 trillion yen and extending its record-high trajectory to a 12th consecutive year. Compared with the initial budget request submitted in August, which stood at 8.85 trillion yen, the total was increased by about 190 billion yen. The move underscores the Takaichi administration’s policy emphasis on accelerating Japan’s defense buildup.
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