Takaichi administration announces emergency cyberdefense package

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday. | JIJI

Nov 6, 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government unveiled a package of emergency measures Friday to address Japan’s cybersecurity crisis, ranging from establishing a team of top-gun specialists later this month to cooperating with artificial intelligence companies to counter threats.

Japan has faced a barrage of high-profile cyberattacks this year that have been attributed to the rise of AI and security system vulnerabilities exacerbated by poor cyber hygiene.

In addition to the team of specialists, who will focus on penetration testing and strengthening security measures, a separate expert team — a mix of government officials and the private sector — will be dispatched to support companies dealing with an attack.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.