Government ministers will start discussing as soon as this month a relaxation of weapons export rules in certain cases.
The policy change would pave the way for allowing arms exports in two cases — for humanitarian and peace-building purposes, and for joint development projects.
The decision to review Japan's three principles on weapons exports — a virtual national ban on arms exports — was made during a meeting Monday of senior vice ministers from the Foreign, Defense and other ministries.
A review proposal compiled by the government and the Democratic Party of Japan late last year has served as a springboard for discussions.
The government is trying to make it possible to provide nations with heavy equipment and other weapons used by Self-Defense Forces during U.N. peacekeeping operations, sources said.
The government is also considering an exception in cases of joint development and production of arms, a recent trend among advanced nations to cut costs and improve quality.
Some officials, however, are wary that eased restrictions could tarnish the nation's pacifist image. Doubts remain about Japan's ability to prevent exported arms from trickling into strife-torn countries and being used in future conflicts.
Japan bans weapons sales to communist states, those subject to an embargo under U.N. resolutions and parties involved in international conflicts.