Japanese lawmakers are urging the nation to take UFO sightings seriously, claiming these unidentified objects could be surveillance drones or weapons.
A newly formed nonpartisan group, which includes more than 80 members and former defense ministers, aims to boost Japan’s capabilities in detecting and analyzing Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), commonly referred to as UFOs.
Although UFOs often conjure up images of “little green men,” the issue has received significant political attention in the United States.
Last year, Washington announced it was investigating 510 UFO reports, a significant increase from the year before. In September, NASA emphasized the need to shift the discussion from sensationalism to scientific research.
Japanese lawmakers are aiming to align domestic perceptions of UAPs with those of the United States, especially after several security threats involving suspected surveillance operations.
Former Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada criticized the complacency towards unidentified phenomena. to emphasize the importance of addressing these mysteries rather than ignoring them.
Recently, Japan’s Ministry of Defense was embarrassed when unauthorized images of a docked helicopter destroyer circulated on Chinese social media, following an apparent drone intrusion into a military facility. In addition, the ministry strongly suspects that recent sightings of flying objects in Japanese airspace were surveillance balloons from China.
Yoshiharu Asakawa, an opposition lawmaker and a key member of the research group, noted that UFOs have historically been seen in Japan as an “occult issue” that had nothing to do with politics. However, he warned that if these objects are actually advanced weapons or disguised spy drones, they could pose a serious threat to national security.
In 2022, the US Department of Defense established the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to study UAPs. An AARO report identified the region from western Japan to China as a “hotspot” for UAP sightings between 1996 and 2023. Despite thorough investigation, the report found no evidence of alien technology or any government cover-up.
Japanese lawmakers are calling for the creation of a Japanese counterpart to AARO and strengthening intelligence cooperation with the United States to better address the potential security risks posed by UAPs.
