December 11, 2025

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The far-right, xenophobic “Sanseito” party last month submitted to the House of Councillors two bills to prevent espionage and penalize spying activities. Subsequently, the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) submitted to the House of Representatives a bill aimed at strengthening spy-prevention measures and enhancing Japan’s intelligence capabilities (information collection, analysis, and utilization).

The Liberal Democratic Party and the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party explicitly state in their coalition agreement that they will “begin deliberations on an espionage prevention law in 2025 and promptly work to have the bill enacted”.

Regarding an espionage act, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae says, “I am thinking of getting deliberations on this matter started this year in order to quickly draft a bill.”

The anti-espionage laws these political parties are promoting are integral to the government’s attempt to turn Japan into a “war-capable nation”. They are unnecessarily inflating threats from foreign powers. If enacted, the anti-espionage legislation will use crackdowns on alleged spies as an excuse to monitor all citizens, restrict freedom of the press, and trample upon human rights and democracy.

In the 1980s, a similar bill was once introduced to the Diet but ultimately scrapped after facing severe criticism from the general public for being “reminiscent of the notorious Japanese prewar Public Order Maintenance Law”.

Opposition to the anti-spy bills is growing as seen in editorials in the Mainichi Shimbun and Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, both of which express concerns that a surveillance network by police authorities on the general public may expand out of control and that the foundation of democracy could be undermined.

Past related article:
> Far-right ‘Sanseito’ intends to submit espionage prevention law that violates people’s human rights [August 21, 2025]