End to the "Paradise for Spies": "Japan's Mossad" launched in Tokyo
For the first time since World War II, Japan has opened the "National Intelligence Bureau" to unify its scattered security branches. The move comes against the backdrop of a strengthening axis between China, Russia, and North Korea, and follows revelations that Japanese equipment was smuggled for Russia's war in Ukraine.
For the first time since its defeat in World War II, Japan is establishing a centralized and powerful intelligence body. This controversial move represents a sharp departure from Tokyo's pacifist ideals, yet experts warn it is necessary in a country suffering from security weaknesses so deep that it has earned the nickname "a paradise for spies."
The new "National Intelligence Bureau" was officially launched on Friday. It will replace previous organizational structures criticized for being disconnected and ineffective, laying the groundwork for broader changes. Experts suggest this step may lead to the enactment of an anti-espionage law and the establishment of a foreign intelligence agency similar to the American CIA, the Israeli Mossad, or the British MI6. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed these ambitions earlier this week: "These steps are only the first phase of intelligence reform. As we observe a global situation becoming increasingly unstable, we are obligated to address new methods of warfare."
"A post-war anomaly"
Until now, Japan's central intelligence body was the CIRO (Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office), which employed about 700 staff but lacked real authority. Intelligence information was collected by the ministries of foreign affairs, justice, defense, and the police, but was often not shared in a strategic or uniform manner. The new bureau will change this: it will serve as an operational and administrative body centralizing information from all government ministries, which will now be required by law to cooperate. Takaichi herself will head the oversight council.
Philip Shetler-Jones, a senior fellow at the RUSI institute, explained on CNN that Japan lacks two critical components: a foreign intelligence agency and an anti-espionage law. This means foreign spies can collect information inside Japan "without breaking the law."
"This is an anomaly that stemmed from the post-war situation," explains Shetler-Jones. "The occupation of Japan, and subsequently the security alliance with America, meant the Japanese government did not really need to do this work because it was protected by the United States." This weakness took a toll: a New York Times investigation revealed last July how Moscow exploited these loopholes to smuggle Japanese components to Russia, which were used in missiles and UAVs against Ukraine.
The triple threat
The timing is not coincidental. The Japanese public, which until now feared any sign of militarism, understands that threats have changed. Across the sea stand China, Russia, and North Korea, which are cooperating more closely than ever. This alliance was clearly illustrated when North Korean forces were sent to fight in Ukraine and at the military parade in Beijing where the leaders of the three countries marched together. Japan, which hosts about 55,000 American soldiers, is an especially attractive intelligence target for them.
Prime Minister Takaichi, who won the snap elections last February and gained a huge majority in parliament, is using the political momentum to pass the reform. However, the move is sparking fierce opposition at home. In Japan, the fearsome security mechanisms of the imperial days at the beginning of the 20th century, used for the brutal suppression of citizens and regime opponents, are well remembered.
"A state's intelligence mechanism is one of its most powerful institutions, and if allowed to run wild, it could seriously and unjustly harm the human rights of its citizens," warned opposition MP Makoto Oniki. "This is a bill with serious flaws – it strengthens powers without any checks and balances or democratic oversight."
