Japan to create cabinet-level post to lead national intelligence bureau

Japan plans to establish a ministerial post overseeing intelligence as part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s capacity to collect and analyse domestic and foreign information, government officials said on December 9.

The proposed minister would supervise a new national intelligence bureau, which would consolidate information from the intelligence divisions of multiple government agencies, Caliber.Az reports, citing Japanese media.

The bureau is expected to be operational by July 2026, following an upgrade of the existing Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.

The bureau’s administrative head will have authority to instruct other agencies, including the Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, National Police Agency, and Justice Ministry, to provide necessary intelligence.

The government intends to submit legislation to the Diet, Japan’s parliament, aiming for enactment during its ordinary session next month.

In parallel, the Cabinet Intelligence Committee, currently led by the chief cabinet secretary, will be transformed into a national intelligence council, comprising the prime minister and other senior ministers.

Officials said Tokyo is also considering new espionage prevention laws and the establishment of a foreign intelligence agency to further enhance national security capabilities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev