East Asia: Facts and Analytics, 2026/3
DOI: 10.24412/2686-7702-2026-3-94-101
URL: PDF
Author
| Gorchakova Tatiana E. |
| Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences |
| ORCID: 0000-0002-1116-1200 |
| E-mail: tatiana.gorchakova@gmail.com |
Abstract
The chances of Japan acquiring nuclear weapons has recently become a major talking point. Some nuclear-armed countries accuse Japan not only of abandoning its post-war policy of pacifism, revising the “peace clause” of the Constitution, and “remilitarization”, but also of intending to reconsider the Three Non-Nuclear Principles (not to possess, manufacture, or import nuclear weapons). Currently, the Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s policy, while aimed at strengthening the country’s defense capability, also proclaims the goal of building a world without nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, widespread media discussion in Russia, China, North Korea, and other countries regarding the possibility of Japan acquiring nuclear weapons is shaping the public consciousness to believe that such a scenario is realistic. However, the pacifist-minded Japanese public – which is well aware of the tragic history of the 1945 US nuclear bombings – remains categorically opposed to the concept of nuclear deterrence as applied to their country.
Keywords
Japan, Russia, Russian-Japanese relations, security, defense, nuclear weapons, nuclear deterrence, public opinion
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Acknowledgments
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For citation
Gorchakova T.E. (2026). Will Japan become a nuclear power? Vostochnaya Aziya: fakty i analitika [East Asia: Facts and Analytics], 8 (3): 94–101. DOI 10.24412/2686-7702-2026-3-94-101
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Dates
| Received Date: | Sep 13, 2026 |
| Accepted Date: | Sep 21, 2026 |
| Publication Date: | Sep 30, 2026 |
International License: CC BY 4.0