As Tokyo spins up its defense industry for the country¡¯s largest military expansion since World War II, it has run into a challenge: Some of Japan¡¯s best-known brands are reluctant to invest in the military side of their businesses.
Japan, which renounced war in 1947, last year unveiled a five-year $315 billion military expansion to deter Beijing from using force in the East China Sea amid growing concern that Russia¡¯s attack on Ukraine could embolden China to invade Taiwan.
But a key part of Tokyo¡¯s strategy hinges on persuading commercial firms such as Toshiba, Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin Industries, which for decades have quietly armed the country¡¯s Self Defense Forces (SDF), to ramp up production.
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