Robert Ward hosts Dr Chijiwa Yasuaki, Chief, International Conflict Division, National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS), Ministry of Defence, Dr Jennifer Lind, Associate Professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth, and Dr Sayuri Romei, Senior Fellow in the German Marshall Fund, GMF, Indo-Pacific Program. They discuss the evolution of Japan's post-war defence policy in light of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Robert, Yasuaki, Jennifer and Sayuri discuss: 

• Evolution of Japan’s defence policy — shift from post-war defensive defence doctrine to recent adoption of counter-strike capability, expanded defence budget and multi-domain defence force
• Role of external environment and alliances — China’s rise, North Korea’s threat, Russia’s actions and shifting US commitments shaping Japan’s security trajectory
• Domestic politics and public opinion — gradual change in attitudes, reduced resistance to defence reforms and evolving consensus on stronger defence posture
• US-Japan alliance deepening — institutional developments, interoperability improvements, establishment of joint command structures, people-to-people ties strengthening alliance foundations

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Date recorded: 6 August 2025

Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. 

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