- Prime Minister Takaichi Continues To Receive High Approval Ratings
Nikkei Inc. and TV Tokyo conducted a public opinion poll from the 28th to the 30th.
Approval rating of the Sanae Takaichi Cabinet stood at 75%, remaining virtually unchanged from 74% in the previous survey conducted in October.
The share of respondents who said they “do not approve” the Cabinet was limited to 18%.
Since its inauguration in October, the Cabinet has maintained approval ratings in the 70% range for two consecutive months.
Support for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was 41%, up five points from the previous survey.
In a question asked simultaneously, 58% of respondents said that they believe the restart of nuclear power plants across the country “should be promoted,” while 38% said it “should not be promoted.”
Regarding whether Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks in the Diet about a possible Taiwan emergency were appropriate, 55% responded that they were “appropriate,” while 30% said they were “not appropriate.”
Additionally, when asked about discussions within the government and ruling party on revising the “no introduction” component of Japan’s Three Non-Nuclear Principles (“not possessing, not producing, and not permitting the introduction [of nuclear weapons]”), 46% said the principles should be maintained without revision, exceeding the 39% who said the “no introduction” principle should be reconsidered.
2. Japanese Government To Consider Allowing More Defense Exports To Allies And Like-Minded Nations
The government and the ruling parties have begun coordinating efforts to abolish, as early as next spring, the “five categories” of defense equipment that are currently allowed for export under the operational guidelines of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology.
If realized, the move would enable the export of a wide range of equipment, including items with high lethality, and is expected to strengthen Japan’s defense industry and expand cooperation with like-minded nations.
To ensure that exports do not fuel conflicts, the government also plans to consider strict export controls and other “safeguard measures.”
The abolition of the five categories is stipulated in the coalition agreement between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), and the government has already begun preparing for the shift.
Next year, Japan is scheduled to revise its three key national security documents, including the National Security Strategy.
The government and ruling parties aim to implement the abolition of the five categories ahead of the revisions and reflect the new policy in these security documents.
On the December 1st, the LDP began full-fledged discussions at its National Security Research Commission to review defense equipment transfer policy.
A majority of voices support abolishing the five categories, and the party intends to compile policy recommendations by February next year.
The government is expected to complete its own review around April.
Under the current system, equipment that can be exported as finished products is limited to the five categories: rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and minesweeping.
High-lethality assets such as destroyers may not be exported unless certain conditions—such as being part of an “international joint development” project—are met.
Even after abolishing the five categories, the government intends to establish rules to prevent highly lethal equipment from being transferred to parties involved in ongoing conflicts, which could otherwise lead to an escalation of hostilities.
3. Five Japanese Companies Were Ranked In The 2024 Sales Of The World’s Top 100 Defense Companies
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released a report on December 1st detailing the 2024 sales of the world’s top 100 defense companies.
Japanese firms, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, ranked among the top companies, with total sales reaching USD 13.3 billion—an increase of 40% from 2023.
Driven by heightened tensions with neighboring countries and efforts to strengthen national defense capabilities, Japan recorded the largest growth among major nations.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ defense-related sales reached USD 5.03 billion, placing it 32nd worldwide—a 37% increase, up from 39th place in 2023.
In addition to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which ranked 55th, four other Japanese companies made the global top 100: Fujitsu (64th), Mitsubishi Electric (76th), and NEC (83rd).
- Japan To Export A Military Command & Control System To Philippines
It has come to light that the governments of Japan and the Philippines are coordinating toward the export of a Japan-made system to the Philippine military, one that handles intelligence gathering and command-and-control functions.
If realized, it would be Japan’s first export of a command-and-control system.
The aim is to facilitate smoother information-sharing between the Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military, and to strengthen their ability to respond to China, which has been continuing its assertive maritime expansion in the East and South China Seas.
The system to be exported is manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric.
It aggregates and processes radar-detected information on foreign aircraft and vessels, and then issues response instructions to individual units.
The company is expected to conclude a contract with the Philippine government in the near future.
The Philippines faces territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea and has experienced obstructive actions such as Philippine authorities’ vessels being rammed by Chinese Coast Guard ships.
Through the introduction of this system, the Philippine government aims to improve the speed and effectiveness of detecting and responding to such activities.
Japan is also facing coercive maritime expansion by China in the East China Sea.
If the Philippine military uses the Japan-made system, radar information shared with Japan is expected to become more seamless.
Enhanced information-sharing between Japan, located northeast of Taiwan, and the Philippines, located to the south, would also strengthen their ability to monitor China’s air and naval power as it seeks to expand around Taiwan and into the Pacific.
Japan and the Philippines, both confronting the threat posed by China, have been deepening security cooperation as “quasi-allies.”
At the defense ministers’ meeting in February of this year, the two sides agreed to establish a high-level framework between their defense equipment authorities to discuss the export of defense equipment from Japan.
- Japan To Catch Up China In Humanoid Robots Development
Japanese companies in sectors such as electronic components and semiconductors are joining forces to begin mass production of humanoid robots.
A collaborative robot-development organization founded by Waseda University and Murata Manufacturing is gaining new participants, including Renesas Electronics.
A total of 13 entities will work together on development, aiming for mass production by 2027.
Although Chinese companies currently lead the humanoid robot field, Japanese firms aim to regain ground by pooling their technological strengths.
Renesas, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Sumitomo Electric Industries, and Japan Aviation Electronics Industry have newly joined the humanoid-development consortium “Kyoto Humanoid Association (KyoHA).”
The group plans to complete prototypes by March 2026 and proceed with implementation and mass production within 2027.
By the end of 2026, they will develop two types of humanoids: one for disaster-response purposes and one for research.
The disaster-response humanoid is envisioned to be around 250 cm tall and designed to lift objects weighing over 50 kilograms.
The research-focused model will be 160–180 cm tall—closer to human height—with enhanced agility and will eventually be offered for RoboCup, an international robotics competition.