Tokyo startup

Japan's Defense Ministry is drawing up a new program to back startups developing unmanned aerial vehicles and related defense products. The initiative would help young companies enter the defense market, where barriers have traditionally been high. It reflects Tokyo's broader push to grow its defense industry base and expand domestic drone capabilities amid regional security concerns.

A Tokyo-based startup plans to begin brokering trades of Japanese unlisted shares to investors in the United States and Britain, according to Nikkei Asia. The move would give overseas investors access to Japan's private company market, a segment previously difficult to reach from abroad.

Japan's Defense Ministry has announced it will support startups working on unmanned aerial vehicle development, according to the Japan Times. The move aligns with Tokyo's broader push to strengthen its defense industrial base and tap private-sector innovation for military technology. Details on funding amounts and selected companies have not yet been reported.