The Ichigaya Brief

Japan buys a steel works: the ministry takes the Kure site for a defense-industrial hub — Week of August 22–28

Aug 28, 2026

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4 min read

Japan buys a steel works: the ministry takes the Kure site for a defense-industrial hub — Week of August 22–28

Japan's MoD press conferences and announcements this week, in English. Primary sources only.

The Ichigaya Brief

Test ranges in two countries, a first maritime pact with India, and what the Japanese version of the Canberra statement leaves out — Week of August 15–21

Aug 22, 2026

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4 min read

Test ranges in two countries, a first maritime pact with India, and what the Japanese version of the Canberra statement leaves out — Week of August 15–21

Japan's MoD press conferences and statements this week, in English. Primary sources only.

The Ichigaya Brief

The minister spells out what the SDF does not do, US aircraft fly into Kumamoto, and Koizumi leaves for Canberra and Delhi on Monday — Week of August 7–14

Aug 14, 2026

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4 min read

The minister spells out what the SDF does not do, US aircraft fly into Kumamoto, and Koizumi leaves for Canberra and Delhi on Monday — Week of August 7–14

Japan's MoD press conferences this week, in English. Primary sources only.

The Ichigaya Brief

A white paper that adds a chapter on how wars are now fought, a missile the day after the Tomahawk statement, and a review that met without a readout — Week of August 3–9

Aug 7, 2026

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6 min read

A white paper that adds a chapter on how wars are now fought, a missile the day after the Tomahawk statement, and a review that met without a readout — Week of August 3–9

Japan's MoD press conferences this week, in English. Primary sources only.

The Ichigaya Brief

Japan's first Tomahawk live-fire, 5,100 troops into Kumamoto, and a strategy review that starts Monday — Week of July 27–August 2

Jul 31, 2026

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4 min read

Japan's first Tomahawk live-fire, 5,100 troops into Kumamoto, and a strategy review that starts Monday — Week of July 27–August 2

Japan's MoD press conferences this week, in English. Primary sources only.

The Ichigaya Brief

Canada joins GCAP as observer, a Chinese live-fire drill in Japan's EEZ, and a 17-year first off Camp Schwab — Week of July 20–26

Jul 24, 2026

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3 min read

Canada joins GCAP as observer, a Chinese live-fire drill in Japan's EEZ, and a 17-year first off Camp Schwab — Week of July 20–26

Japan's MoD press conferences this week, in English. Primary sources only.

The Ichigaya Brief