Minister for Economic Security, Minoru Kiuchi, giving an interview. Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Yoshinori Saito)
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On November 13, Minoru Kiuchi, Japan's Minister for Economic Security and Minister for Science and Technology, answered questions from The Sankei Shimbun and other media outlets. During the press conference, Minister Kiuchi shared his aspirations and policy priorities. He also updated the status of several key issues, as follows.
Economic Security Policy Challenges
Preparations to implement the Act on the Protection and Utilization of Critical Economic Security Information in May 2025 are underway. He verified that these include the formulation of operational standards for a security clearance (eligibility evaluation) system.
Ongoing discussions are also necessary for export controls on advanced technologies and measures to prevent technology leaks, he added.
Domestic Production of Advanced Semiconductors
Establishing a domestic production base holds great economic security significance for Japan and its allies. Minister Kiuchi said the Ishiba government aims to promote it.
Advances in Food Security
Kiuchi said that Japan is steadily advancing R&D on food security technologies. The country is also reducing fertilizer dependency for various reasons, including that most raw materials are currently imported.
Space Development
Space development is entering a transformative era, he noted. It's shifting from government-led projects to public-private collaboration. To facilitate this, he said the government is working to revise the Act on the Promotion of Business Activities for the Exploration and Development of Space Resources. According to Kiuchi, these revisions aim to support advancements such as reusable rocket technology.
The minister also discussed the historic achievement Japan is aiming for, In partnership with international allies. By the late 2020s, a Japanese astronaut is slated to become the first non-American to land on the moon.
Foreign Capital Land Acquisitions
Kiuchi acknowledged that concerns have been raised regarding land ownership in sensitive areas. He said efforts are underway to identify the actual ownership and use of land in designated areas based on the Land Use Regulation Act.
Going forward, the government will assess the evolving security situation both domestically and internationally. Further policy measures will be considered based on the outcome, he added.
Artificial Intelligence Policy
Minister Kiuchi pointed out that Japanese companies are beginning to make their mark in AI development. However, many of the leading players remain foreign. Japan is developing policy in this field. As that proceeds, Kiuchi emphasized the need to gain a deeper understanding of the activities of these companies and enhance communication with relevant stakeholders.
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Author: Shintaro Massaki
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