Japan Defense Minister

Japan's defense minister has once again drawn attention to the 'nuclear taboo', the long-standing norm against using nuclear weapons. According to the Japan Times, this is a renewed comment rather than a first, putting the issue back into public debate. The remarks come amid ongoing global concern over nuclear rhetoric and deterrence, prompting discussion about Japan's security posture and regional tensions.

An adviser to Japan's prime minister says the planned expansion of defense spending will likely be spread over many years and should not become a source of significant market anxiety in any single year. The remarks come as Japan carries out a major, multiyear build-up of its military budget, raising questions among investors about how the costs will be absorbed.

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is calling for an open national debate on nuclear issues, including the possibility of nuclear-powered submarines. Any move to discuss nuclear options marks a highly sensitive shift in Japan, the only country to have suffered atomic bombings, where postwar policy has long adhered to the three non-nuclear principles. The proposal is drawing attention to how far Tokyo's security debate may go amid regional tensions.