Japan Institute for National Fundamentals
https://jinf.jp/

Speaking out

Takashi Arimoto

【#1389】Japan Should Completely Break Nuclear Taboo

Takashi Arimoto ／ 2026.07.29 (Wed)


July 27, 2026

　
Ahead of the planned revision of Japan’s three strategic documents including the National Security Strategy late this year, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stressed the need for a “national debate without taboos on nuclear policy” on the internet program “Genron TV,” hosted by Yoshiko Sakurai, president of the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals. This is in complete alignment with a JINF policy proposal in April, stating, “It should be clearly stipulated in the National Security Strategy that the government shall take the lead in initiating national discussion on what is essential to prevent Japan from being attacked with nuclear weapons again.” We highly commend this determination by the top national defense official.

Peace Complacency in Politics

In Europe, where Koizumi held talks with his counterparts last week, nuclear-armed France is moving to strengthen its nuclear arsenal, and even Finland, long committed to a non‑nuclear policy, has now allowed nuclear weapons to be introduced into its territory. Turning to Asia, China is on track to have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, according to a U.S. Department of Defense report in 2025.

The security environment surrounding Japan is more severe than in Europe. In the face of the overwhelming nuclear threat, Japan is no longer allowed to shy away from the debate over nuclear issues that determine the survival of the nation.

However, Japan’s political world still cannot break away from an outdated complacency with peace. Even the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Research Commission on Security has sealed off the word “nuclear” in its recommendation on the revision of the three strategic documents, fearing a backlash from opposition parties and liberal media. This represents political inaction and a grave betrayal of the people.

China was the first to snap back at Koizumi’s legitimate raising of the issue. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned his remarks as “extremely provocative and dangerous.” The condemnation amounted to a shameless intimidation ignoring China’s extraordinary nuclear buildup and was nothing more than a black joke. We must never yield to such interference in internal affairs by an autocratic country.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose political creed calls for revising, among Japan’s three non-nuclear principles, the principle of not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into its territory, Defense Minister Koizumi made clear his attitude that he would not shy away from the debate. Now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Japan to break its greatest postwar taboo.

The United States has announced its intention to develop a sea-launched nuclear cruise missile (SLCM‑N), with limited operational deployment to be pursued by 2032. We also call for it to be clearly stipulated in the National Security Strategy that the government shall examine the appropriate form of nuclear deterrence for Japan and take the necessary measures at the earliest possible time before that year.

Japan should swiftly build a robust deterrent to resolutely reject information warfare and intimidation by China and other hostile forces, and to protect the lives of the people and the nation’s territory. We strongly hope for resolute policy actions by the Takaichi administration to this effect.

Takashi Arimoto is a Planning Committee member at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals and a columnist at the Sankei Shimbun newspaper.