Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's defense minister, said that while it is a difficult issue for Japan to discuss, "one of the things we cannot avoid mentioning is nuclear weapons," arguing that debate over nuclear arms is necessary.
According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 19th, Koizumi said on the internet program "Genron TV," released the previous day, that following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, France's move to strengthen its nuclear forces and Finland's issue of bringing in nuclear weapons highlight the need for Japan to "feel a sense of crisis and discuss and advance all policies without taboos."
The Asahi Shimbun reported, "This is effectively taken as a remark suggesting the need to review the three non-nuclear principles," and "it is assessed as a notably proactive comment for a sitting cabinet minister to speak so directly about the nuclear issue."
Japan's three non-nuclear principles are "not possessing, not producing, and not bringing in nuclear weapons," and with revisions to the "three key security documents" due within the year, calls are spreading to review the long-tabooed three non-nuclear principles.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has also signaled that the principle of "not bringing in" nuclear weapons needs to be reviewed, with the intent of allowing the import of U.S. nuclear forces in contingencies.
The Japan Innovation Party, a junior coalition partner, also directly urged in recommendations submitted to the government last month on revising the three key security documents that Japan pursue a "realistic review," with a view to reconsidering the ban on bringing in nuclear weapons, while emphasizing extended deterrence under the U.S. nuclear umbrella.