The Japanese Government held the first meeting of the newly established National Intelligence Council, chaired by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. At the same time, the National Intelligence Bureau, tasked with coordinating the activities of the country’s intelligence services, began its work, according to a statement from the government’s press office.
Minoru Kihara, Secretary-General of the Cabinet, stated that the creation of these new bodies is “the first step in reforming Japanese intelligence”.
“They will enable the government to make informed decisions based on higher-quality and more timely intelligence,” he said.
The law establishing the National Intelligence Council and the National Intelligence Agency was passed in May. The authorities cite the need to strengthen the country’s capabilities in the face of increasingly complex external threats as the rationale for the reform.
The National Intelligence Council comprises the Prime Minister and nine other members of the government. At their first meeting, they agreed on the main principles of their work, in particular measures to protect classified information.
The council is expected to draw up Japan’s first National Intelligence Strategy and to set up an expert group to draft legislation to counter espionage.
The National Intelligence Service will coordinate information gathered by the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and other government bodies. It will also have the power to require departments to share intelligence.
Kazuyu Haru has been appointed head of the bureau; he has headed the Cabinet Office’s Intelligence and Research Bureau since 2023. He previously worked at the National Police Agency and also served as executive secretary to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The Japanese government plans to set up an expert council as early as this autumn to draft bills for submission to parliament next year. Possible changes include the registration of foreign agents engaged in lobbying activities, the creation of a dedicated foreign intelligence service, as well as increased accountability for foreign influence operations and expanded powers to intercept communications in the interests of national security.
At the same time, some opposition MPs have expressed concern that the new bodies may lose their political neutrality, and that future anti-espionage legislation could lead to excessive interference in citizens’ private lives.