Japan Self-Defence Forces Establish Official UAP Reporting Procedures
In September 2020, Japan's Ministry of Defence announced the establishment of official UAP reporting procedures for pilots of the Self-Defence Forces (SDF / 自衛隊). The military was additionally tasked with investigating UAP sightings reported by the public. The topic had been addressed at a meeting in late August 2020 between Japanese officials and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper in Guam, where cooperation on UAP matters was also discussed.
On 9 November 2023, Defence Minister Minoru Kihara confirmed during a session of the Security Committee in the Japanese House of Representatives that UAP sightings occur frequently in a region in western Japan and that Japan conducts joint analyses with the United States on this matter.
Background
In September 2020, Japan's Ministry of Defense instructed the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) to establish official protocols for reporting and documenting encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena, following the U.S. Department of Defense's establishment of the UAP Task Force.
Background and Context
Defense Minister Tarō Kōno announced the new procedures as part of Japan's broader shift toward enhanced national security measures. The move came in response to growing international military acknowledgment of UAP as both an air safety and national security concern.
- The U.S. Navy had recently released declassified videos from 2004 and 2015 showing unexplained aerial phenomena
- The Pentagon established the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) in August 2020
- Japan sought to align its defense protocols with international standards
Official Procedures and Requirements
Defense Minister Kōno directed SDF members to record and photograph any unidentified aerial objects encountered or entering Japanese airspace. The protocols emphasized the importance of documentation and analysis.
- Record all sightings of unusual aerial phenomena
- Photograph objects when possible
- Conduct necessary analysis of encounters
- Include information provided by the public
- Assess potential threats to national security
Rationale and Strategic Importance
While no SDF personnel had confirmed UAP encounters at the time of the announcement, Kōno emphasized that proper reporting protocols were necessary for air defense readiness. A key concern was distinguishing between conventional military aircraft, advanced drone technology, and genuinely unexplained phenomena.
Japan became one of the first major Asian nations to formalize military UAP reporting procedures, establishing a framework for systematic documentation and analysis of aerial anomalies.
Evolution of Japan's UAP Policy
Following the February 2023 revelation that Chinese spy balloons had flown over Japan since 2019, the government's approach intensified. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada announced that SDF assets would be permitted to shoot down UAPs and foreign spy balloons based on potential threats to civilian air traffic.
In 2024, Japanese lawmakers launched an in-depth parliamentary investigation into UFO sightings, with senior politicians advocating for enhanced monitoring, government investigation of UAP data, and collaboration with the United States on the matter.