Publication

This paper argues that despite Japan’s lifting of restrictions on defense exports in 2014, sales of Japanese defense products overseas have yet to see a significant rise. To provide an insight into why this is the case, the authors 1) focus on the contradiction created by Japan’s overall stance as a pacifist country and the recent change by the government to allow overseas military sales; and 2) highlight how bureaucracy in the country has acted as a particular barrier to increased defense exports. They also outline what the government must do to achieve its goal of increasing Japan's role in the international defense market.