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News & Current Events Apr 21, 2026 at 5:01 AM

Japan lifts ban on lethal weapons exports in major shift of pacifist policy

Posted by jiisow


Japan lifts ban on lethal weapons exports in major shift of pacifist policy
Al Jazeera
Japan lifts ban on lethal weapons exports in major shift of pacifist policy
Japan could soon sell weapons overseas, including fighter jets, in a shift from its decades-old pacifist policy.

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[deleted] 4 days ago +1175
[deleted]
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[deleted] 4 days ago +265
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Zapapala 4 days ago +90
So an early droideka prototype? 
90
no_terran 4 days ago +45
Rolls as on tracks or wheels unfortunately.
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Hikiko_Mori 4 days ago +24
No love for Gundams? I mean it is usually the one that comes to mind when it comes to Japanese mech wars lol.
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LordSoren 4 days ago +16
As long as they don't start rolling out Evangelions, I support our new mechanized overlords.
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brandnewbanana 4 days ago +6
No one has found a massive god alien for the DNA to make Evas. I think we’re safe for now.
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armabe 4 days ago +7
>No one has found a massive god alien for the DNA That we know of...
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d3n4l2 4 days ago +6
We'll have to settle for Armored Core
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ultimatt42 4 days ago +3
Scientology has one but they won't share
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DoctorJJWho 4 days ago +4
We’re already like 30% of the way to early Knightmare Frames from Code Geass with just normal tanks lol
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VallenValiant 4 days ago +6
> No love for Gundams? I mean it is usually the one that comes to mind when it comes to Japanese mech wars lol. The only way this can happen is if we start with power suits. And then power suits get bigger and bigger to counter each other. Basically the issue right now is that there is no real target for a giant robot. But if you have smaller robots or powersuits running around, you have the argument that you want slightly larger anti-humanoid suits that can take them on. And then just use tit for tat before we get decent sized humanoid mecha.
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OrSpeeder 4 days ago +3
A realistic-ish manga/anime about giant mecha is "Heavy Object", and in that one the whole point is although the giant mecha have crazy armour and is impervious to bombing and missiles, the protagonist was proving that boots on the ground was still important (1. If you destroy the mecha repair base they are screwed, and THAT part is perfectly vulnerable to conventional armies. 2. The protagonist wanted to be a engineer, but since he is on the frontlines he instead use his engineering skills to figure out the engineering flaws of enemies and how to destroy them without fancy weapons, for example by sneaking up to the enemy and putting C4 in critical parts).
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SKULL1138 4 days ago +8
They are no match for Droideka’s!
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TearsDontFall 4 days ago +3
It's a stalemate, let's go!
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Mindless_Ad5714 4 days ago +2
They look like the halo warthog, but smaller
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Charliefoxkit 4 days ago +1
More like Mobile Doll prototypes.
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loversama 4 days ago +4
While it’s great Japan is/was a pacifist country, it would be an injustice to not see a robot entry from them after all the media they’ve produced in the last 50 years 😅
4
v1kingfan 4 days ago +1
So, pops with guns?
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zoppaTheDim 4 days ago +3
The cynical argument for why we should support Ukraine is that the new tech is being developed there. Instead we have an actual war fought by people who don’t grasp they’re fighting the last war, not the next one.
3
Azuregore 4 days ago +1
Just watch out for a guy named Ted Faro....
1
Solokiller 4 days ago +1
IT'S A GUNDAM!
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RUBBLE_INC 4 days ago
Somebody get me a light saber !!! STAT!!!
0
CupEcstatic2721 4 days ago +258
It turned out quite interesting for them, first the Japanese company Mitsubishi prepared a contract with Australia and then they lifted this ban. It is probably futile for Ukraine to hope to use that loophole regarding the lifting of the ban on arms sales to a warring party in the event of a threat to Japan's national security.
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Aban_Adeel 4 days ago +66
Got Mitsubishi weaponry back before the Evo wtf
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SeparateFun1288 4 days ago +23
Mitsubishi has been one of the largest arms producers in Japan since the 1800s. They stopped for almost a decade after WWII, but by 1954 they were already building warships again. They are the **23rd largest** company in the world by defense revenues (when considering both Heavy Industries and Electric companies together, which are technically independent) and the **5th largest company** (as a conglomerate) in the world that participates in the defense sector. This put Mitsubishi at the same level of Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Airbus. Of course, Lockheed Martin fully focuses on defense stuff, so is not comparable, while both Boeing and Airbus are aerospace manufacturers. In comparison, Mitsubishi makes everything; missiles, air conditioners, semiconductors, radars, destroyers, satellites, nuclear reactors and space rockets.
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Jebrowsejuste 4 days ago +5
23th
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ModPolSucks 4 days ago +3
>23th
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Canadian_Neckbeard 3 days ago +3
24rd
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VentilatorRaptor 3 days ago +1
You made me recall the joke about general electric "we like to make thing that spin"
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toad_historian 4 days ago +3
Move over Remington, Mitsubishi is coming.
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CupEcstatic2721 4 days ago +2
I guess demand creates supply, and it seems the demand for cars has dropped a bit /s
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DiabloAcosta 4 days ago +2
even more, demanda for evo, I don't know anyone who could afford one in this economy! Not even polycules with multiple incomes!
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un-hot 4 days ago +43
Maybe there's an argument to be made regarding the Kuril islands dispute, it really depends if Japan actually wants anymore involvement in a war their neighbour is prosecuting.
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de4cha 4 days ago -58
If Japan even speak right now about Kuril it be it's last days of its existence, Russian society in past had zero compromise about those islands, nowadays people are more militaristic due to war
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Skwalou 4 days ago +27
They technically already reiterated just 3 years ago ([sauce](https://web.archive.org/web/20230315012301/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230207/p2g/00m/0na/032000c)) and nothing happened. So I don't think Russia cares to start another war on the other side of their territory just because Japan said something they don't like since the already have control over the Kuril islands. Japan on the other hand can't start a war themselves without breaching or revising their constitution, both of which would not make many of their neighbors happy, most especially China.
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de4cha 4 days ago -21
They being saying something since 2000 , it's more seen as joke in Russia because it's mostly pr for some Japanese politicians, I was talking about something real
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Away-Log-7801 4 days ago +5
*If they speak right now it will be the last days of its existence* *Theyve been speaking for the last 20 years* Pick one
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Spare-Control-5233 4 days ago +29
That's pretty funny. Russia can be as militaristic as it likes, they are no threat to a wealthier nation with allies several orders of magnitude more powerful than Russia in a conventional war. If you are saying Russia would use Nukes on Japan over the Kuril islands it would mean the end of Russia as we know it more than Japan. Russia lost it's status as a first rate military power in years of fruitless struggle with Ukraine, and will never recover it.
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de4cha 4 days ago -38
This is what western media do to people brain...
-38
tourguide1337 4 days ago +19
If its just "western media" then why hasnt Russia taken Ukraine yet?
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Alfatic 4 days ago +13
Tell me why you're stuck in Ukraine for 5 years, buddy. You can't even handle one country that was a literal "who?" when you started the war, your soldiers are dying enmasse and your economy is in ruins, and you think you can attack Japan, one of the US' closest allies? LOL
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de4cha 4 days ago -9
One country that fully rely on 25 countries for money (because economy is dead) and weapons... Like I said Western media is dangerous for brain capacity
-9
Alfatic 4 days ago +11
Have fun going to war when your dear leader announces mobilization after running out of country hicks to send to their deaths. I'm sure you'll be thinking of how glorious mother Russia is when you're on the frontlines and you see a Ukrainian drone heading straight for your face.
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Spare-Control-5233 4 days ago +1
I think in fairness we both were kind of repeating the party line.
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Maureen_Johma 3 days ago +3
Mitsubishi! They built the planes that bombed Pearl Harbor!
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greatthebob38 4 days ago +123
Howa Type 20s about to enter the civilian market.
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MedicBuddy 4 days ago +11
As a gun enthusiast, I would like to see that but how willing are they going to sell for the actual civilian market and not just LE/MIL? Even the US has annoying things like import restriction laws that limit features or require a percentage of US made parts for civilian sales.
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Frozen_Thorn 4 days ago +6
The import ban is such protectionism bullshit.
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TheStig500 4 days ago +1
Type 64 parts kits would be cool ngl
1
[deleted] 4 days ago +464
[removed]
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leisurechef 4 days ago +155
Global depression incoming…
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-ImJustSaiyan- 4 days ago +94
Joke's on the globe, I'm already in depression.
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leisurechef 4 days ago +24
I hear you, it’s a daily struggle
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Lasagna_Lizard 4 days ago +12
Is it depression, or is it a rational response to our decaying, murdered world?
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Black_Moons 4 days ago +6
Rational response I say. who would wanna raise kids in this world with the ability to project how its gonna be in 50 years? And if your not reproducing, willingly... a billion years of biological hardwiring is screaming into the void, then going silent...
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UnexpectedAnomaly 4 days ago +1
Yeah I would wait until World war 3 is over then raise kids.
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Conan-Da-Barbarian 4 days ago +1
Global RoBo depression
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lnTheGrimDarkness 4 days ago +64
The world's just reacting to the recent revelation that just waking up one morning and invading a country is possible regardless of any UN, NATO, or international law which are absolutely useless in these scenarios like everybody knew for the last 80 years. The UN and NATO's actual objective for which they were created was just pinning the Soviet Union down. And International Law is basically only followed when it makes it easier to bully smaller countries. For the rest, like we all saw, anyone with enough influence will be perfectly able to just ignore it with no consequences. In all honesty countries all over the world rearming is a physiological consequence to the display the US, Russia and Israel and providing.
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Sylvan_Strix_Sequel 4 days ago +41
I mean peter thiel's palantir points straight up said we are done with soft power, we should just take what we want, and thiel is one of Trump's direct puppetmasters. 
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lnTheGrimDarkness 4 days ago +7
That's kinda clear even just by the overall demeanor of the nations involved. Anyhow it was just a matter of time before the US decided to elect a scapegoat and just go back to the old ways. I can assure you Trump is barely involved in all this, which is why he always looks like his geopolitical knowledge is "I barely read newspapers"-level. He's probably just enjoying whatever he has left as a very rich pig rolling into the trough, he couldn't care less what image everyone has of him. You'll see how nothing changes when he's removed or replaced by another president. And in any case, the US has always just taken what they wanted, but they've always gone through the long, complex route of hiding behind UN Peacekeeping missions or manipulated dossiers. Now they're just doing it openly.
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Haru1st 4 days ago +61
The elite is in an upward spiral, funny how these two trends tend to go in the opposite direction historically.
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Clairdelune17 4 days ago +83
Stop calling them elites and start addressing them as cold hearted scumbags they are.
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Haravikk 4 days ago +49
I prefer the term "parasites" - they don't do anything of real benefit for humanity (despite what their paid propaganda might say) all they do is take and hoard wealth that could be used for other things.
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Black_Moons 4 days ago +11
I prefer epstine class. The people who have no morals and would rather make life for everyone else hell on earth because they can feel no joy anymore as there is nothing left for them to strive for.
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RotalumisEht 4 days ago +6
We could be addressing climate change, providing clean water and healthcare to everyone, building affordable housing and strong communities, and educating the masses. Instead we are investing in an AI bubble, wars, more fossil fuels, and stock manipulation.  Clearly the wealthy are not the ones to be trusted with resource allocation.
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_Connor 4 days ago
Why are private parties responsible for “climate change?” Shouldn’t this be something you talk to your government about?
0
RotalumisEht 4 days ago +4
There are private individuals who have more wealth than nations which is the problem I am bringing up.  There is no reason for a single individual to have that much wealth. Those resources would be better allocated if they were owned by nations which are held accountable by their citizens rather than individuals held accountable by nobody. 
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_Connor 4 days ago -3
Are you suggesting that no nations ever have issues with how their governments are spending money? What makes you think simply giving them more money will change anything? FYI, Elon Musks net worth (on paper) is roughly 1% of the US GDP. So if we give all of Musk wealth to the US Government, they get a 1% bump for 1 year and then all that wealth is gone. Do you genuinely believe the actual difference maker here is the billionaires? Getting rid of all their wealth would give governments an incredibly modest budget bump for 1 year and then all that money is gone. Who would you turn to next as being the cause of your problems?
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Haravikk 4 days ago +2
Elon Musk isn't the only billionaire in the world, and the problem isn't just the wealth they have, it's the influence they buy with only a fraction of it, and how that makes them even more money. It doesn't take a lot of money to buy a politician, but the government contracts that that influence buys are worth enormous sums of money. And what you've failed to justify is why individuals should be allowed to have such obscene wealth while millions of others are barely scraping by while working multiple jobs, or being bankrupted by healthcare systems etc. etc. Wealth inequality is a symptom of a failing economy.
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_Connor 4 days ago -2
You’re putting words and positions into my mouth that I never said or exhibited. You’re more than welcome to think people shouldn’t be able to have that much money. It’s also pretty clear that confiscating all their money to give to the government to “do better with” wouldn’t change anything as exemplified with the Elon Musk example. Those two things aren’t irreconcilable.
-2
HumansMustBeCrazy 4 days ago +6
Pacifism is delusional as long as so many humans retain aggressive animalistic tendencies.
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Jozoz 4 days ago +27
Thank you random asshats in Pennsylvania et al. Now we all have to suffer. Just that fact alone means the world won't accept a single hegemon again. Your future can't be so reliant on what some propagandized gullible American guy decides to vote for.
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TheNewGildedAge 4 days ago +9
Eh, maybe not a single hegemon built on such an unstable, outdated electoral system as the US is.
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errorsniper 4 days ago +2
And its due to like a handful out of control nut jobs, vs 8 billion people. Its wild.
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Slaaneshdog 4 days ago +2
It's just returning to the status quo after a 40 year pause It was inevitable given that the rise of China threatens the western world order and the US's position as the world superpower. It's a shifting of the world order, and that's gonna lead to chaos and turmoil
2
tagillaslover 4 days ago -38
This isn’t a bad thing. 
-38
Myythy 4 days ago +8
Bro really wants that type 89
8
[deleted] 4 days ago -17
[deleted]
-17
tagillaslover 4 days ago +18
No one is getting nuked from this. Japan not selling stuff doesn’t do anything for them 
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PlanktonInitial7945 4 days ago -19
It's not about selling weapons specifically, it's about the current administration giving more and more signs that they want Japan's pacifist era to be over.
-19
PoonAU 4 days ago +16
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Japan very EU and West Allied these days? Its not a bad thing if our allies are strong, It's not like this is WW2 Japan Militarizing to join the axis powers. I don't think its a matter of wanting their pacifist era to be over, but really having no choice but to be concerned with Chinese aggression and militarisation in the region.
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Seeker-N7 4 days ago +11
Exactly. China's army is only growing both in numbers and tech. It's necessary for western aligned nations in the area to adapt as well. You can't rely on the US to be your only army anymore, even if they would support you. Arms export is just another income and incentive for the industry to grow as necessary. It's not like they're going to sell tanks to Russia.
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PlanktonInitial7945 4 days ago -2
I didn't say it's a bad thing. And being concerned with Chinese aggression and militarisation in the region means that their pacifist era has to come to an end.
-2
TheNewGildedAge 4 days ago +1
Any country good at geopolitics should be reevaluating their reliance on a stable US.
1
ExESGO 4 days ago +93
Well good news for the Philippines. There were several items being eyed for quite some time IIRC (SHORADs and ships).
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db2999 4 days ago +40
Did Toyotas count as lethal weapons? Aren't most technicals for the past 30 years been Toyotas?
40
[deleted] 4 days ago +150
[deleted]
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calantheSG 4 days ago -5
This 6th gen fighter is the same YF-23 or they've pursued a new project?
-5
Papanowel123 4 days ago +35
The project is called [GCAP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Combat_Air_Programme) and include Italy, the UK and Japan. It's more than a plane but a whole system and has nothing to do with the YF-23.
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Llew19 4 days ago +6
GCAP, or in the UK it's Tempest. It's not as ambitious as YF23 was back in the 80s and probably not as ambitious as the F47, but it's the only 6th gen outside of China and the US that's making any progress
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kqlx 4 days ago +18
Gundams have been dispatched
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10_Eyes_8_Truths 4 days ago +9
Well i did expect this to eventually happen with Japan building Australian frigates. I did not think it would happen so soon
9
Iron_Eagl 4 days ago +5
With much of the world looking to cut ties with American weapons, it's the perfect time actually.
5
IMImegashill 4 days ago +32
If this means I can import Howa Type 64 parts kits, I will literally cream my pants right now
32
tagillaslover 4 days ago +8
I want a type 89 
8
CopainChevalier 4 days ago +1
I actually thought kits were already legal. TIL
1
TrainerNaGamer 4 days ago +5
Gundam is back in the market
5
WasThatInappropriate 4 days ago +12
Metal Gears?
12
TSgt_Yosh 4 days ago +4
From the headline, I picture racist Mel Gibson robots slurring at people before shooting them with machine precision.
4
Ash_Killem 4 days ago +27
Bad news: Japan and Germany allowed to arm as much as they want now. Good news: They are the good guys now?
27
william-isaac 4 days ago +27
uhhh.... germany has always been one of the largest arms exporters. this isn't something new.
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MichaCazar 4 days ago -1
Well yes, but nobody wanted Germany themselves to be armed.
-1
william-isaac 3 days ago +1
if nobody wanted germany themselves to be armed how did they ended up as the second strongest nato army by the end of the cold war?
1
Redditforgoit 4 days ago +1
Still bastards. But our bastards.
1
[deleted] 4 days ago -2
[deleted]
-2
PandaPatrolLetsRoll 4 days ago +5
Xenophobia: 😡🤬👎 Xenophobia Japan: 🤩🌈😍😙
5
SeparateFun1288 4 days ago +2
>Their current prime minister is **pretty far right** and most of their current political rhetoric is the same **anti-immigration** xenophobic stuff popping up alot of places. You defined Japan for the past 140 years Even after WWII, Japan was military more powerful than all of its neighbors combined, except for the USSR. But even the USSR was not really that much of a threat as most of the USSR's power was in the west. Besides, the article is about exports, Japan is already a military powerhouse, they are just going to sell lethal weapons to other countries, so is not exactly relevant to their war capabilities.
2
cryptamine 4 days ago -1
germany is brutally supressing support for palestine and criticism for israel.
-1
MutFox 4 days ago +3
The Naval Rail Cannon for sale?
3
macross1984 4 days ago +7
Japan finally join the rest of the world to export their military hardwares to generate foreign currency income.
7
XDynamite100 4 days ago +8
Its not japan anymore, its nippon...
8
SirMemesworthTheDank 4 days ago -1
🙌 BANZAI 🙌
-1
septianw 4 days ago +2
Japan is trying to be active.
2
likeawp 3 days ago +2
when can I get a catalog of Gundam Wings
2
EnsilZah 4 days ago +4
"The Imperial war machine has been unleashed. Do not struggle against what is inevitable. All who stand in the way of our divine destiny will be swept away by the march of history. You will bow before us or you will cease to exist."
4
Suzumebachi14 4 days ago +3
About time.
3
warbastard 4 days ago +2
I, for one, welcome our new Gundam overlords.
2
kqlx 4 days ago +1
Im guessing this is to replace the Australian diesel powered fleet ships/subs
1
keker0t 4 days ago +1
So Japan 2 soon
1
mysteriousmaxiemus 4 days ago +1
So by when can we expect the Gundams?
1
Total_Language3629 4 days ago +6
Just get in the f****** robot
6
Fearless_Ad_5470 4 days ago +1
Considering the actual level of Japan's defense industry and the time required for expansion, the real impact of Japanese arms exports may not be apparent for several years. This is especially true given that some core components of Japanese military equipment are still supplied by the United States. 
1
Mynameisbebopp 4 days ago +1
To be honest, this was bound to happen if the world lets Russia keep going at it on Ukraine. Japan and Russia DO NOT GET ALONG, and they dispute lands all the time, if japan sees one of their "enemy" nations being given a free pass towards war in one side and for some reason they win, what makes them stop looking for other places to extend their reach. I'm actually surprised it took so long for the Tokyo Axis to comeback given the current state of affairs.
1
Goshawk5 4 days ago +1
I'd like 1 Gundam please. I'd also settle for a VF-1 Valkyrie.
1
abstract_cake 3 days ago +1
Great, I always wanted to see Mel Gibson speaking japanese.
1
zhezhou 4 days ago +1
F*** Arasaka!
1
Shoddy-Tooth-8882 4 days ago +1
Does this mean I can mail order throwing stars?
1
CornerAgreeable4894 4 days ago +1
Tfr ass decision tree
1
ChatamKay 4 days ago +1
The world, she is a changing.
1
VlRGIN_4ever 4 days ago +2
Say hi to foreigner massacres? Like I could genuinely see that happening 
2
xacorn 4 days ago
Anime sex pillows and tengus already destroyed American men, so you’re just gonna start sending out holographic pop stars and gundams to finish the job?
0
snaykz1692 4 days ago -4
Japan is so f****** back baby let’s gooo
-4
RadFour 4 days ago
So under US logic, China should be allowed to intervene because this poses an imminent threat to China (and other Asian countries in the area).
0
AdPure5645 4 days ago -7
Rather have the goodies in the game tbh. A responsible move.
-7
Forest_Orc 4 days ago -11
So martial artists will be able to bring their Katana to Japan and/or buy one from there without hassle? 
-11
quequotion 4 days ago +4
>bring to Japan Not likely. Regulations on *carrying* deadly weapons remain some of the tightest in the world. >buy one Need to read the law in detail, but maybe. The restrictions on katanas are not just about safety however: after WWII, countless weapons (including family heirlooms) were confiscated by the United States and haphazardly stuffed away in San Francisco. Most people alive today probably don't remember it, but the few who do are likely to see it as a cultural offense. Those swords had stories.
4
CAJMusic 3 days ago -1
With 6 you get egg roll
-1
Sorry2mecha2 4 days ago -2
At least they’re not upgrading bicycles
-2
blackreagan 4 days ago -2
Did anybody really expect Japan to remain passive and have no agency in it's future? What's interesting historically is the comeback of Germany and Japan. Especially Germany who has been put down twice. If the Left ever succeeds in pacifying the US, you'll see Germany go back to it's old ways. That country will never accept a Russian threat to it's borders.
-2
xavandetjer 3 days ago +1
It's not the left that's causing Germany and Japan to worry about the status quo, they feel like they may need a strong military industrial complex because of the maga movement.
1
Mr_Hotshot 4 days ago -9
So can I buy a Japanese katana now?
-9
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