Japan is overhauling its national security apparatus to counter a surge in foreign espionage, specifically from Russian operatives. According to reports from Nikkei Business and The New York Times, Tokyo has become a hub for Russian intelligence officers procuring technology for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, prompting the government to establish a new National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and plan a dedicated foreign intelligence agency by 2028.
Russian Intelligence Influx and the ‘Den of Spies’
Japan has historically been viewed as a soft target for international intelligence. This vulnerability spiked after the invasion of Ukraine, as Russian operatives were expelled from other Western nations and relocated to Tokyo. Nikkei Business reported in August 2022 that approximately 120 Russian intelligence officers were operating within Japan.
The scale of this presence is evidenced by the Russian trade representation in Tokyo, where sources cited by Nikkei and Jiji Press state that a senior post is consistently held by an officer of the SVR, the successor to the KGB’s overseas division.
Real-world breaches have already occurred. In January, the Tokyo police public security bureau reported that an employee at a Japanese machine-tool company disclosed trade secrets to a suspected SVR operative. Additionally, a July 12 New York Times report described Japan as a “den of spies,” detailing a Russian technology procurement operation run through the Tokyo office of Aeroflot, the state-owned airline.
Did you know? Japan’s lack of comprehensive anti-espionage laws meant that the January case involving a machine-tool engineer was referred to prosecutors as a case of “unfair competition” rather than espionage.
Why Japan’s Anti-Espionage Laws Remained Weak
The absence of strict spying laws is rooted in the trauma of pre- and intra-World War II suppression of dissent. Japan’s postwar constitution prioritizes the privacy of communications and freedom of expression, creating a civil society consensus that restricted official surveillance.
For decades, laws against espionage only applied to military personnel and contractors. A 1985 attempt to pass an anti-spy act—which included the potential for the death penalty—collapsed due to public backlash. While the Diet eventually passed the Specially Designated Secrets Act in 2013, which allows for 10 years’ imprisonment for leaking state secrets, the law has proven insufficient for handling foreign intelligence operatives.
Minoru Kihara, Japan’s chief government spokesperson, acknowledged on Monday that the “need to deal with foreign information activities that threaten our national security, such as theft of important information, is growing.”
The Secret History of the DFS and NSA Cooperation
While Japan appeared to lack spying capabilities, leaked documents from Edward Snowden revealed a clandestine partnership. The Directorate for Signals Intelligence (DFS) has operated since the 1950s in close coordination with the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).
Investigations by NHK and the Intercept in 2017 and 2018 detailed a massive operation consisting of at least six facilities and 1,700 staff members eavesdropping on digital communications and phone calls. These operations are reported only to the prime minister and their inner circle. The agency is based in building “C1” within the defense ministry’s compound in Ichigaya, Tokyo.
The partnership is high-cost and high-tech. Japan contributed roughly $500 million toward a surveillance station in Okinawa. In exchange, the NSA provided the XKeyscore mass internet surveillance system and trained Japanese operatives, according to the Snowden documents.
Future Trends: The 2028 Intelligence Overhaul
The government under Sanae Takaichi is leveraging a large parliamentary majority to implement the first significant postwar intelligence overhaul. The goal is to move from passive reliance on the U.S. to active, independent capabilities.
The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB)
Passed in May, the National Intelligence Council Establishment Act creates a 700-strong National Intelligence Bureau. Chaired by the Prime Minister, the NIB integrates previously fragmented operations and is mandated to lead counterintelligence efforts. New legislation targeting foreign operatives is expected by the end of 2026.
A New Foreign Intelligence Agency
By early 2028, Japan intends to launch a dedicated foreign intelligence agency, serving as a direct equivalent to the CIA or MI6. While the DFS will share intelligence with the NIB, it will continue to operate as a separate entity.
| Old Framework | New Framework (2026-2028) |
|---|---|
| Fragmented agencies; reliance on NSA | Unified National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) |
| Espionage cases filed as “unfair competition” | New anti-operative legislation (expected 2026) |
| No dedicated foreign spy agency | Full foreign intelligence agency by 2028 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is spying illegal in Japan?
Technically, espionage is not illegal in many cases for civilians. Laws primarily target military personnel and contractors, though the 2013 Specially Designated Secrets Act criminalizes the leak of specific state secrets.
Who is the NIB?
The National Intelligence Bureau is a 700-person organization established by the National Intelligence Council Establishment Act in May to oversee counterintelligence and unify security operations under the Prime Minister.
Why is Russia using Japan for procurement?
According to The New York Times and Nikkei, Japan’s historically weak anti-espionage laws and the expulsion of Russian spies from other Western nations made it an ideal hub for acquiring technology for the war in Ukraine.
What do you think about Japan’s shift toward a more aggressive intelligence posture? Does the need for security outweigh the postwar commitment to privacy? Let us know in the comments or subscribe to our newsletter for more deep dives into global security.
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