Security

The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly challenging. Key factors include a full-blown strategic competition between the US and China, an unstoppable maritime expansion by China, the opaque future of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, the deepening confrontation between China and Taiwan, and ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Domestic issues such as the US military base presence in Okinawa and Japan’s declining birthrate and aging population, as well as technological innovations that are changing the nature of warfare are also having a significant impact on Japan's security.

In response to these multifaceted challenges, JIIA is conducting cutting-edge research on the state of Japan's security and issues related to the Japan-US alliance. We are also actively promoting international cooperation and addressing sensitive challenges through dialogue with researchers from around the world.

Related Study Groups
Study Group on Traditional Security Risks
Study Group on Risks in New Domains (Space, Cyberspace, etc.)
Study Group on Economic Security and Japanese Diplomacy in an Era of International Competition

Event Reports

#Event Reports #Indo-Pacific#Security #The Center for Territory and History

JIIA Co-hosted the 8th Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference in Seoul

23.06.2026
#Event Reports #Middle East & Africa#Security #The Center for Territory and History

JIIA Lunchtime Webinar: “Understanding the Strait of Hormuz and International Law in One Hour”

22.06.2026
#Event Reports #Korean Peninsula#Security#Americas#China#Indo-Pacific

The JIIA-Sejong Conference

11.06.2026
#Event Reports #Korean Peninsula#Security#Americas#China#Indo-Pacific

The 41st JIIA-IFANS Conference

01.06.2026
#Event Reports #Security#Europe

“Securing Subsea Cables and Critical Infrastructure: Lessons from the Baltic Sea”

28.04.2026
#Event Reports #Japan#Indo-Pacific#Europe#Security

Report on an Event Featuring H.E. Radmila Shekerinska, NATO Deputy Secretary General

16.03.2026

Research Findings

#Japan#Americas#Security#Economic Security#Economy & Global Issues #JIIA Center for Global Outreach (CGO) #Japan's Voices

[Japan’s Voices No.13] How Should Japan Deal with Trump’s America?

Fumiaki KUBO (Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs)
24.06.2026
#Japan#Security #Japan's Voices #JIIA Center for Global Outreach (CGO)

[Japan’s Voices No.11] Japan's 2026 Intelligence Reform: Structure, Background, and Prospects

Yoshiki Kobayashi(Professor, Institute of Information Security (IISEC), Japan)
05.06.2026
#Security#Americas#Russia, Central Asia & the Caucasus#China#Korean Peninsula#Middle East & Africa #JIIA Strategic Comments #Strategic Outlook 2026

Chapter 8: The Future of the Nuclear Order

Nobumasa Akiyama (Director, Center for Disarmament, Science and Technology)
03.06.2026
#Russia, Central Asia & the Caucasus#Americas#Europe#Korean Peninsula#Security #JIIA Strategic Comments #Strategic Outlook 2026

Chapter 6: Will Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Ever End? The Path of Ceasefire Negotiations and the Deepening Russia-North Korea Relationship

Michihiro Tajima (Research Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs)
28.05.2026
#Japan#Economy & Global Issues#Security#Economic Security #JIIA Center for Global Outreach (CGO) #Japan's Voices

[Japan’s Voices No.10] Japan’s Winning Strategy in the Era of Physical AI: Transforming Frontline Excellence into AI-Ready Data to Reshape Industrial Structures for Global Leadership

Yousuke Okada  (Founder and CEO of ABEJA, Inc.)
27.05.2026
#Europe#Americas#Security #JIIA Strategic Comments #Strategic Outlook 2026

Chapter 5: Europe’s “Strategic Autonomy”: The Intersection of Long-Term and Short-Term Perspectives

Asako Takashima (Senior Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs)
25.05.2026