Japanese government plans to launch new intelligence bureau in July

The Japanese government plans to establish a national intelligence bureau as early as July 2026, sources said Friday.

The government will submit related legislation to the ordinary session of parliament to be convened in January, as the first step of the intelligence reform initiative of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to several government and ruling party sources.

The envisaged bureau will be formed by upgrading the existing Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office. It will consolidate information obtained by the intelligence divisions of government bodies such as the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the National Police Agency and the Public Security Intelligence Agency.