At the end of WWII, the US helped Japan draft its new constitution, a constitution that was intended to prevent Japan from ever again becoming a military power. In the years that followed, Japan built one of the world’s most technologically advanced ground, air, and maritime military forces all in the name of self defense. To this day, that pacifist principle, expressed in Article 9 of Japan’s constitution, is deeply embedded in Japanese culture and its foreign policy.

In 2022, Russia’s attack on Ukraine, followed by increased cooperation between Russia and China, led Japan to adopt a new security strategy that named China as its biggest strategic challenge. This opened the door to the development and procurement of weapons that some have considered to be offensive versus defensive. In a significant move toward addressing this new strategy, on June 24, 2025, Japan for the first time conducted the test of a domestic surface-to-ship missile on its own territory.

Japan Tests a Type 88 Missile

The Japan Ground Self Defense Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade test-fired a Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido.

JGSDF officials said about 300 soldiers participated in the test using a training missile that targeted an unmanned boat about 24 miles off the southern coast of Hokkaido. Analysts were still examining the results of the test.

Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan previously conducted missile tests in the territories of the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a top Japanese defense partner where vast training grounds are available.

The military said that the test was successful, and there are plans for another test through Sunday. Tuesday’s first domestic missile test demonstrates Japan’s push toward a more self-sufficient military, and its acquisition of a counterstrike capability that can serve as a deterrence to China’s increasingly assertive naval activity near Japanese territorial waters.

Future Developments

Japan is also developing a Type 12 surface-to-ship missile that has a range of about 620 miles, ten times further than the 62 mile range of the Type 88.

To expand its testing capabilities, Japan is preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country’s easternmost island in the western Pacific. In early June, two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time in the vicinity of the island.

One of the more surprising developments, given Japan’s pacifist leanings, is the planned procurement of US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles. Japan is on contract to buy 400 of the missiles that have a range of around 1,000 miles.

The missiles would be deployed on Japanese destroyers, and would provide a significant counterstrike capability against North Korea and China.

Japanese Releases New Defense Strategy

In December 2022, Japan released its new National Security Strategy and a new National Defense Strategy.

The strategy calls for Japan to increase its defense spending from about 1.1% of its GDP to 2% by 2027. In addition, it highlights strengthening the US-Japanese military alliance and the procurement of long range standoff missiles.

The strategy reflects Japan's concern over China's rapid military expansion and assertive actions in the region as well as North Korea's continued development of ballistic and cruise missiles.

Public Opinion About the New Strategy

Given Japan’s strong pacifist convictions, many analysts have been surprised by the response of the Japanese people about the new defense strategy, and the planned weapons procurements. A 2024 poll conducted by the Yomiuri Shinbun, a Japanese newspaper, yielded some surprising results.

Seventy-one percent of the respondents were in favor of Japan strengthening its defense capabilities, while twenty-six percent were against the idea. Regarding the government’s revision to its defense strategy in December 2022, 50% of respondents were highly or somewhat supportive of measures to drastically strengthen defense capabilities.

The possession of “counterstrike capabilities” for defense purposes, like the Type 88, Type 12 and Tomahawks, to facilitate the targeting of enemy missile-launching sites was highly or somewhat supported by 57% of respondents.

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