The Self-Defense Forces have come far. Their next decade will be defined by ongoing minesweeping and the rising burden of scrambles against Chinese threats.
Two China Coast Guard ships aggressively harassed an Ishigaki City environmental survey of the Senkaku Islands (Okinawa), disrupting its conservation efforts.
Despite following China in restricting Japanese seafood imports, three Russian trawlers were found to be operating in waters near the Fukushima nuclear plant.
A government move is underway to ensure a continued stable supply of safe and delicious tap water, even during disasters, from Japan's aging water supply pipes.
Disaster prevention, infrastructure inspections, construction site surveys, and critical supply deliveries are some of the drone applications being explored.
With unrivaled safety, quality, and reliability, Japan's rail technology is making a comeback in none other than the birthplace of railways: the United Kingdom.