December 22, 2025

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Yamazoe Taku, on NHK’s “Sunday Debate” program aired on December 21, said, “Japan, as a pacifist country, must not become an arms supplier and not become a war profiteer,” while representatives of other political parties showed their eagerness for the fully lifting of the arms-export ban.

On the NHK program, Yamazoe stressed that the establishment of a total ban on weapons exports in 1976 was Japan’s announcement that it does not contribute to international conflicts through weapons exports. The total ban became national policy following unanimous Diet approval in 1981.

Yamazoe cited that the Abe government in 2014 decided on “three principles related to the transfer of defense equipment and technology” which essentially opened the door for arms exports. He said that even the Abe administration restricted the requirements for arms exports to five categories: “rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping,” and basically prohibited the export of lethal offensive weapons. However, the JCP Policy Commission Chair said that the Takaichi government, which regards the strengthening of Japan’s military capabilities as one of the pillars of its economic policy, seeks to remove Japan’s ban on weapons exports.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party on December 15 confirmed that they will begin discussions on the abolition of the “five-category” restrictions and submit a policy proposal to the government in February 2026.

On the NHK “Sunday Debate”, LDP lawmaker Onodera Itsunori appealed for the need to revise the current arms-export ban by saying that due to the limit to the five-category requirements, Japan cannot respond to other countries’ request for the purchase of Japan’s escort ships.

Maehara Seiji of the “Ishin” party said that the total ban on weapons exports which were established in the 1960s and the 1970s has been eased gradually, advocating going forward with arms exports.

Yamada Yoshihiko of the Democratic Party for the People said that it is inevitable to abolish the five categories of restrictions on arms exports.

“Sanseito” party member Matsuda Manabu said that the abolition of the five-category restrictions will have a positive impact on Japan’s national security.

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan representative Okada Katsuya called for the five-category restrictions to be maintained.

Past related article:
> Gov’t abandons Japan’s arms embargo principles [April 2, 2014]