Japan considers setting five-year defense spending plan at ¥60 trillion

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi inspect am honor guard at the Self-Defense Forces Senior Commanders' Conference in Tokyo on Sept. 2. | POOL / VIA REUTERS

Jiji

Nov 14, 2026

Japan is considering setting its total defense spending for the next five years at around ¥60 trillion, as it revises its three key national security-related documents by the end of this year.

The Defense Ministry estimates that necessary defense expenditures for the five-year period will total ¥70 trillion to ¥80 trillion, while the Finance Ministry is arguing for spending below ¥60 trillion, sources said Friday.

With Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reportedly reluctant to raise taxes to fund defense spending, a battle between the Finance and Defense ministries over spending levels and how to secure the necessary funding is intensifying.

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