Japan concluded one of its largest-ever arms exhibitions on Friday, showcasing growing ambitions in the global defence market.
The DSEI Japan 2025 event, held at the Makuhari Messe convention centre near Tokyo, highlighted the nation’s shift from post-war pacifism towards deeper international defence cooperation and arms exports.
Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, speaking at the closing of the four-day exhibition, said the event marked a significant step in Japan’s strategy to promote security partnerships and defence innovation.
“I sincerely hope that this exhibition provides a new platform for cooperation among national delegations and industries, supports the growth of defence capabilities, drives innovation, and contributes to regional and global peace,” he said.
The biennial event, organised by Clarion Defence & Security, doubled in scale compared to the 2023 edition. It attracted 471 firms from 33 countries, including 169 Japanese companies — nearly twice the number that participated two years ago.
Japanese firms displayed an array of cutting-edge technologies, including missiles, naval vessels, and research into directed-energy weapons such as lasers and electromagnetic railguns.
Since lifting its decades-old ban on arms exports in 2014, Japan has increasingly participated in international defence ventures. Encouraged by allies such as the United States and European nations, the country is actively seeking to co-develop, co-produce, and co-sustain advanced military systems.
“Strength comes from expanding and elevating the alliance’s capabilities, which means leveraging our shared expertise in joint development,” said U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass during the opening of the American pavilion.
Major defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin, which supplies Japan with F-35 stealth fighters and advanced radar systems, reported growing interest from Japanese companies across the industrial spectrum.
“We’ve worked with Japan’s heavy industry for decades, but now we’re seeing interest across multiple tiers — from major firms to start-ups,” said William Blair, the company's regional chief for Asia and India.
Japan’s evolving partnerships include the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a next-generation fighter project with the United Kingdom and Italy. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which leads Japan’s role in GCAP, displayed a model of its Mogami-class warship, which it hopes to export to Australia.
“With today’s increasingly uncertain security environment, we must think beyond domestic needs and work with a wider international vision,” said Katsuyuki Nabeta, general manager of Mitsubishi’s defence and space division.
The show also featured a significant presence from Israel, with 20 defence companies participating under the official Israeli pavilion.
The delegation, led by the Defence Ministry’s International Defence Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) and Directorate of Defence Research and Development (MAFAT), presented a broad range of innovations.
Seven major firms showcased technology in key categories including weapons systems, security and protection, unmanned platforms, electronics, and communications.
Alongside them, eight start-ups under MAFAT’s banner introduced novel solutions to enhance operational effectiveness across modern battlefields.
The Israeli exhibits drew strong interest from visiting officials and defence professionals, reflecting growing strategic ties between Tokyo and Tel Aviv in the security and defence sectors.
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