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July 24, 2026
 

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MSDF

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a news conference at the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday. The U.S. leader's approach to alliances means American security guarantees can no longer be taken for granted.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 10, 2026
Trump just made Japan¡¯s security dilemma more urgent
Japan should respond to growing uncertainty over U.S. security commitments by taking greater responsibility for protecting its own maritime and strategic interests.
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.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
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.¡±
China's Liaoning aircraft carrier takes part in a military drill in the western Pacific in April 2018.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jun 23, 2026
China accuses Japan of ¡®harassment¡¯ during far-seas aircraft carrier training
Beijing said the Japanese side had conducted ¡°dangerous¡± close-in reconnaissance of the Chinese Navy¡¯s Liaoning aircraft carrier flotilla.
A security guard takes a selfie beside the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Amagiri, an Asagiri-class destroyer, upon its arrival for a goodwill visit in Metro Manila in February 2018.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / ANALYSIS
Jun 10, 2026
How Tokyo aims to turn retired military equipment into lasting strategic returns
Japan¡¯s export of used military gear to partner nations could deliver decades of strategic returns, analysts say.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force dispatched its Kongo destroyer and the South Korean Navy sent its Cheon Ja Bong landing ship for a joint search-and-rescue exercise in waters west of the Goto Islands on Sunday.
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Jun 8, 2026
Japanese and South Korean navies hold first joint drills in nine years
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi hailed the resumption of exercises as signaling ¡°a new chapter¡± in bilateral defense cooperation.
A model of an upgraded Mogami-class destroyer is displayed during the DSEI Japan exhibition at Makuhari Messe in Chiba last May.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / FOCUS
Jun 2, 2026
Australian Mogami ships to have ¡®core DNA¡¯ of Japan versions, ADF chief says
The move could prove a boon for Japan¡¯s defense industry, as it would allow domestic firms to play crucial roles in the vessels¡¯ maintenance and repair throughout their lifespan.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Mogami-class frigate Kumano is docked at Singapore's Changi Naval Base during a maritime defense exhibition in May 2023.
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May 29, 2026
New Zealand to decide on Japan¡¯s frigates by end of 2027, defense chief says
New Zealand Defence Minister Chris Penk highlighted interoperability with Australia as a key factor in the ongoing deliberations.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (left) and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on Jan. 15, near Washington
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
May 24, 2026
U.S. informs Japan of Tomahawk missile delivery delays: report
The Japanese government has signed a contract with the U.S. government to acquire up to 400 Tomahawk missiles between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2027.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's stealth frigate JS Mogami. Japan is trying to sell its Mogami-class warships to New Zealand.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
May 12, 2026
Japan faces U.K. rival in race to build warships for New Zealand
A deal with New Zealand would build on an agreement Tokyo recently signed with Canberra to build the first three of 11 Mogami-class ships planned for Australia.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Mogami-class stealth frigate JS Mikuma at Yokosuka naval base
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
May 7, 2026
New Zealand eyes Japan and U.K. warships as frigate replacements
New Zealand is weighing the purchase of advanced warships to modernize its aging fleet and bolster its defense capability.
A policeman stands guard at an entrance to the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on March 25. A man was apprehended in Tokyo March 24 after he trespassed onto the grounds of the embassy.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 6, 2026
Japan-China tensions have no visible off-ramp
Tokyo lodged a protest with Beijing over the installation of structures in the East China Sea, marking the latest in a series of incidents between the two Asian rivals.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to reporters on the island of Iwo Jima on March 28.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Apr 5, 2026
Japan to strengthen Pacific Ocean defense system
¡°A vast area on the Pacific side is a defense vacuum,¡± Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters during his visit to the island of Iwo Jima.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Chokai guided-missile destroyer sails during the Rim of the Pacific joint exercises in the Pacific Ocean in July 2016.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Mar 27, 2026
MSDF destroyer becomes Japan¡¯s first ship capable of firing Tomahawk missiles
With a range of 1,600 kilometers, the weapons will allow the vessels to put targets deep inside China and North Korea within striking distance.
Ships from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Minesweeper Division 51 make a port call in Manila in September 2015
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Mar 22, 2026
Japan could consider Hormuz minesweeping if ceasefire reached, minister says
Tokyo ?has no immediate ?plans to seek arrangements to allow passage through ?the Strait of Hormuz for stranded Japanese vessels, Motegi ?said
Claims by China that Japan is returning to militarism are misleading because legal and institutional constraints make such a shift unlikely and current defense reforms reflect practical responses to changing regional threats.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 20, 2026
Debunking the myth of Japanese militarism
It is necessary to be clear on this point: Japan in 2026 is not the Japan of 1936.
At the time of the joint Chinese-Russian bomber exercise on Dec. 9, the U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington was conducting drills with the Maritime Self-Defense Force in waters south of the Kanto region.
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Dec 28, 2025
China may have tested Japan and U.S. readiness in Pacific
The Liaoning and Chinese and Russian bombers turned back in the Pacific Ocean near the coasts of Shikoku and the Kii Peninsula.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Soryu submarine. According to the Defense Ministry, Kawasaki Heavy falsified data on the fuel efficiency of submarine engines it manufactured between 1988 and 2021 for the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 27, 2025
Defense Ministry suspends KHI from bidding over data falsifications
Kawasaki Heavy falsified data on the fuel efficiency of submarine engines it manufactured between 1988 and 2021 for the Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Defense Ministry said.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force¡¯s Aegis destroyer Chokai at its Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture in January
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 17, 2025
U.S. approves aid for upgrading MSDF¡¯s Aegis destroyers
The estimated total cost for the Japanese government is $100.2 million.
Philippine Navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta speaks during a recent interview with The Japan Times at navy headquarters in Manila.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Nov 26, 2025
Philippines seeks more retired MSDF patrol aircraft, navy chief says
The head of the Philippine Navy has said the service is interested in acquiring an additional five retired TC-90 aircraft from Japan to boost its surveillance capabilities.
(From left) Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Foreign Minister Sugiono, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi attend a joint press announcement after their meeting at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on Monday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 18, 2025
Japan and Indonesia zero in on maritime security as they agree to boost defense ties
The move could also open up opportunities for trilateral cooperation with Australia following Jakarta¡¯s announcement of plans to upgrade a key defense agreement with Canberra.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
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.

Podcast

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

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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