Japan's defense budget rises for 14th straight year, triggering public protests

The Japanese government on Friday approved its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, setting total spending at a record 122.3 trillion yen (about $781 billion), according to the Ministry of Finance. Defense spending rose for the 14th consecutive year, reaching 9.04 trillion yen and once again drawing public scrutiny.

Under the proposed 2026 defense budget, around 56 billion yen has been earmarked for the construction of new ammunition depots. The Ministry of Defense also plans to build approximately 130 ammunition storage facilities nationwide by around 2032. The continued expansion of defense spending, coupled with the widespread deployment of ammunition depots, has fueled growing concern and opposition across Japanese society.

Of the planned 130 depots, construction sites for 65 have already been identified, primarily in Hokkaido, Kyoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures. Local resistance has emerged in several areas.

In Satsuma Town in Kagoshima Prefecture, a local assembly member warned that the construction of ammunition depots could turn the area into a potential target in the event of an emergency.

According to the government, key priorities in the 2026 defense budget include building a coastal defense system centered on large numbers of unmanned aerial vehicles, described as a "shield," as well as procuring hypersonic missiles and upgraded Type-12 anti-ship missiles. Organizational restructuring is also planned: the Japan Air Self-Defense Force will be renamed the Japan Air and Space Self-Defense Force, a new Space Operations Group of about 880 personnel will be established, and the Ground Self-Defense Force's 15th Brigade based in Naha, Okinawa, will be upgraded to a division.

The budget proposal will be submitted to the Diet for deliberation during its regular session in January 2026.

Japan adopted revised national security policy documents at the end of 2022, which call for raising total defense spending to about 43 trillion yen between fiscal years 2023 and 2027. Since fiscal year 2023, Japan's annual defense budget has successively surpassed 6 trillion, 7 trillion, 8 trillion and now 9 trillion yen, repeatedly setting new records and intensifying public debate.

Makoto Konishi, a Japanese military commentator, said that by pushing military spending to three percent of GDP, Japan is advancing militarization at an alarming pace.

Masahiko Yamabe, a researcher on war history exhibitions at Japan's Peace Memorial Museum, said he does not believe the increase in defense spending is aimed at peace. Instead, he warned, it's intended to strengthen Japan's capacity for war, potentially leading the country step by step toward conflict.

Protesters have also questioned how the increased defense spending will be financed. Many fear the burden will fall on the public through government bond issuance, higher consumption taxes or increased income taxes.

"This completely undermines people's livelihoods," one protester told China Media Group. "More and more people can't even afford holiday necessities - some can't even buy rice anymore."