The government on Tuesday released the details of seven bills that would govern the legal procedures Japan must follow to respond to an armed attack.
The government plans to submit the bills to the Diet in early March following approval by the Cabinet.
Public aversion to the military, a legacy of Japan's aggression overseas before and during World War II, had made the use of force, even in self-defense, a political taboo and blocked the nation from preparing any legal measures to counter a foreign attack.