Japan's Defense Budget Soars to Record High

Japan's Ministry of Defense is set to request a defense budget of approximately 8.9 trillion yen for fiscal 2027, which would be a record high and potentially reach as much as 10 trillion yen.

The increase has sparked alarm within Japan itself, with mainstream media outlets and senior officials expressing concern that it could trigger an arms race in East Asia.

Japan's defense budget has surged from approximately 5.4 trillion yen to nearly 10 trillion yen in just a few short years, representing an increase of over 80 percent.

The Japanese government is planning to fund the defense budget by raising corporate and personal income taxes, which is opposed by the majority of the public.