April 9, Tuesday, 2024 　

1. A senior Japanese national security adviser has emphasized that an “epic change” is underway in the country’s security strategy.　The Secretary General of Japan’s National Security Secretariat, Akiba Takeo, submitted an article to the Washington Post to coincide with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s visit to Washington this week.　It says: “Japan has refrained from promoting arms exports, regardless of the destination, since the 1970s. However, this policy has proved increasingly unsuitable as security challenges have intensified. Japan has opened a way to enable the transfer of a wider variety of defense equipment, including fighter jets co-developed with other countries.”　
2. US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will visit Japan and South Korea next week. She will first visit South Korea and then Japan. In Tokyo, Thomas-Greenfield will meet with the government’s senior officials and is expected to confirm strengthening collaboration between the three countries which are currently members of the UN Security Council. Issues to be discussed will include North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.　 3. Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will visit communities on Ishikawa Prefecture’s Noto Peninsula that were hit hard by the New Year’s Day earthquake later this week. The Imperial Household Agency said the couple will travel by plane from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Noto Airport on Friday morning. They will then board a Japan Self-Defense Forces helicopter in the afternoon and travel to Anamizu Town.