Nikkei reports Tokyo intends to reorganize the Air Self‑Defense Force into an Air and Space Self‑Defense Force within FY2026, formally extending Japan’s security remit to include space. A bill is under review in the Diet; if passed it would be the first Self‑Defense Forces name change since their 1954 founding. The proposal has prompted public concern over military expansion.

2026-06-15

Nikkei reports Tokyo intends to reorganize the Air Self‑Defense Force into an Air and Space Self‑Defense Force within FY2026, formally extending Japan’s security remit to include space. A bill is under review in the Diet; if passed it would be the first Self‑Defense Forces name change since their 1954 founding. The proposal has prompted public concern over military expansion.