Japan Plans to Build Dedicated Facilities for "Active Network Defense"

According to a report by Reference News Network on September 11, Kyodo News reported on September 8 that, according to multiple sources, the Japanese government has basically decided to construct an office building on a plot adjacent to the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, as a joint base for "active cyber defense" measures to prevent cyber attacks. In recent years, as cyber attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and complex, related losses have been on the rise. This initiative aims to bring together relevant cross-departmental units such as the Self-Defense Forces and the National Police Agency to enhance daily collaboration. The office building is planned to begin design in the fiscal year 2027, with a goal of completion around 2032.

The office building is expected to house the execution unit "Cyber Special Investigation Division of the National Police Agency," which is responsible for neutralizing the source servers of intrusion attacks, as well as the cyber-related units of the Self-Defense Forces and the Cabinet Secretariat's National Cyber Coordination Office, which is responsible for overall coordination.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the significance of this move lies in "the expectation of enhancing security and convenience through the establishment of dedicated facilities."

According to relevant sources, the planned site is the former office location of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's 5th Mobile Unit, adjacent to the Ministry of Defense.

According to government data, over 99% of the cyber attack-related communications observed in 2025 originated from overseas. The companies affected by cyber attacks in the fiscal year 2025 include large beverage manufacturers, telecommunications operators, major e-commerce platforms, and medical institutions across a wide range of sectors.

The legal provisions related to active cyber defense state that the police are primarily responsible for implementing neutralization measures against source servers of attacks. When an attack is deemed to be "particularly organized and planned," the Self-Defense Forces will respond based on the Prime Minister's order. The government decided at a Cabinet meeting in March this year that neutralization measures could be implemented starting October 1.