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On June 4, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 19th meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on the priorities for the revision of the Implementation Plan of the Basic Plan on Space Policy, the future initiatives concerning space debris, and other matters.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“At the meeting today, we decided on the priorities for the revision of the Implementation Plan of the Basic Plan on Space Policy at the end of the year.
 
In recent years, we are seeing advances in the use of space across a wide range of areas, utilizing high-precision positioning satellites, such as the operations of unmanned agricultural tractors or delivery drones. At the same time, various countries are also strengthening their efforts in the field of national security.  
 
I ask you to accelerate Japan’s concrete efforts, such as the development of capabilities such as the establishment of a mission unit and human resources development, based on the new National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG).
 
In the area of space exploration, the domain of human activities has been expanding and the importance of the moon as a frontier has been increasing significantly.
 
To ensure Japan’s strategic participation in the US-led Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway project, I ask you to proceed coordination both domestically and overseas towards a swift decision to be made within this year over the specific policy to participate in the project.
 
As the situation surrounding space is developing at a dizzying pace, I ask you to commence reviews on the Basic Plan on Space Policy, which will reach the halfway stage of its fifth year next year, to revise it as one befitting the new era within this fiscal year.
 
I ask the relevant ministers, in particular Minister Hirai, to closely cooperate and advance your efforts with a sense of urgency.”