Since World War II, Japan has developed politically and economically to the point that it plays an important role on the global stage. However, we should not overlook the fact that this prosperity was built on the peace and security of Japan for over 50 years after the war.

Tasked with national defense, the Defense Agency has ultimate responsibility for the security of Japan, and has continuously worked, based on the policy of ensuring the security of the nation, from the perspectives of developing a defense force of appropriate scale and of improving adherence and trust in the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements.

In today's post-Cold War era, the prominence of new issues in Japanese defense continues to grow such as the issue of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and large-scale terrorism amidst significant changes in the security environment surrounding Japan. The Defense Agency and the Self-Defense Forces are expected to respond aptly to these new challenges.