Global Scans · Japan · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The latest sign of weakness in Japan's economy will likely add to mounting skepticism about the prime minister's expansionary policies. His coalition government has just achieved the supermajority it needs to amend the constitution which many are worried that Japan is about to remove the mask of pacificism and convert its "Self-Defense Force" into the military threat it really is.

• [New] JSAT is looking to the Indian space sector for launch to complete its recently announced 36-satellite SAR constellation, which will be part of a Japanese Ministry of Defense initiative to support persistent monitoring for national security and disaster management. Via Satellite
• [New] Local governments with a combined population of more than 100 million people have declared net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, set even more ambitious 2030 targets, and are introducing pioneering policies to achieve them. / Japan Japan Climate Initiative
• [New] The Japanese government needs to make policy changes that enable it to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Japan Climate Initiative
• [New] Japan's energy dependency created a paradox: its safe-haven status should strengthen the yen during crises, but energy vulnerabilities had the opposite effect. E8 Markets
• [New] As more individuals seek out the gold standard in advanced healthcare, the role of Japan as a global sanctuary for the sick will only be strengthened. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The joint investment comes from a $550 billion bilateral fund created as part of a trade agreement that will reduce tariffs on Japanese car exports. Leverage Shares
• [New] Japan is building institutional knowledge in autonomous systems at a pace that, if sustained, could yield operationally relevant capabilities within two to three years. Drone Warfare
• [New] Commercial development environments like Shield AI's Hivemind Enterprise are compressing timelines for sovereign UAV autonomy in ways that could accelerate Japan's indigenous defense-industrial capacity ahead of anticipated Indo-Pacific contingencies. Drone Warfare
• [New] Japan is building a low-cost autonomous UAV production capability that could be scaled or adapted for contested maritime and island-chain environments relevant to Taiwan Strait contingencies. Drone Warfare
• [New] Japan is positioning itself to field indigenous loyal wingman capabilities that could meaningfully extend the operational reach of Japan Air Self-Defense Force manned platforms across contested Indo-Pacific airspace. Drone Warfare
• [New] The 60-day integration cycle is the most concerning data point, as it suggests Japan could rapidly scale autonomous drone numbers in a crisis without lengthy procurement processes. Drone Warfare
• [New] Fielding multiple ASEVs equipped with advanced radar systems will enhance Japan's missile defence network against threats from the PRC and North Korea. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Diplomatic and trade disputes have escalated further since Takaichi's comment that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response. The Asahi Shimbun
• [New] Japan reportedly plans to propose a joint development of rare earths discovered in undersea soil around the remote Japanese island of Minamitorishima as part of the investment package. The Asahi Shimbun
• [New] Japan considers China a growing security threat and has pushed a military buildup on southwestern islands near the East China Sea. The Asahi Shimbun
• [New] Japan hopes to secure its traditional ties with Iran, where most of Japanese oil imports come from. The Asahi Shimbun
• [New] Japan hopes to see a de-escalation of the war, which has disrupted deliveries of oil and gas that Japan is highly dependent on. The Asahi Shimbun
• [New] Japan's population will fall below 100 million by around 2055, decline to 90.5 million by 2070, and stabilize at the end of the century with a modest rebound. Nature
• [New] Japan's RAPIDUS aims to begin producing 2 nm chips for AI workloads by 2027. Articsledge
• [New] Japan said it would release 80 million barrels from its oil reserves as the Strait of Hormuz crisis pushed up prices and threatened supply stability. Fault Lines
• [New] Japan's robotics ecosystem - from startups to semiconductor heavyweights - is targeting humanoid mass production by 2027. TechCrunch
• An unexpectedly hawkish Bank of Japan that pushes Japanese yields and the JPY sharply higher would pose a risk to equities and corporate bonds. WebWire

Last updated: 28 March 2026