JAPAN / Explainer

Defense spending rise puts spotlight on redemption rule of JGBs

Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Koichi Hagiuda speaks to lawmakers about how to fund an increase in defense spending, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Tuesday. | KYODO

By Gabriele Ninivaggi
staff writer

Jan 27, 2023

After years of internal debate, Japan is now stepping up its defense capabilities.

But funding for the new outlays is less certain — and that has put focus on the redemption period of Japanese government bonds (JGBs).

In December, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a drastic revision of the country’s defense strategy, pledging to increase related spending by 50% to around ¥43 trillion ($331.6 billion) by the fiscal year beginning April 2027. The move will see Japan build counterstrike capabilities allowing the targeting of enemy bases and substantially bolster the domestic defense industry.

Defense spending rise puts spotlight on redemption rule of JGBs

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