Japan's cabinet approved a record 122.3 trillion yen ($781 billion) fiscal 2026 budget proposal on Friday, marking the 14th consecutive annual increase in defense spending to 9.04 trillion yen. The move has sparked nationwide debates about militarization priorities versus public welfare needs.
Military Infrastructure Expansion
The budget allocates 56 billion yen for new ammunition depots, with plans to construct 130 storage facilities by 2032. Identified sites span Hokkaido, Kyoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa, where local opposition grows over safety concerns. A Satsuma Town assembly member warned the installations could make communities 'targets in emergencies.'
Technological Upgrades and Reorganization
Key allocations include coastal defense drones, hypersonic missiles, and upgraded Type-12 anti-ship missiles. Structural changes feature renaming the Air Self-Defense Force to include space operations and upgrading Okinawa's 15th Brigade to a division. The budget will face Diet scrutiny in January 2026.
Historical Context and Public Backlash
Defense spending has quadrupled since 2023, aligning with 2022 security documents targeting 43 trillion yen through 2027. Military analyst Makoto Konishi noted the budget now equals 3% of GDP, signaling 'alarming militarization.' Peace researcher Masahiko Yamabe cautioned the spending 'strengthens war capacity, not peace.'
Citizens protest potential tax hikes to fund the budget, with one telling China Media Group: 'People can't afford rice – this destroys livelihoods.' The government maintains the spending is essential for national security.
