Japan forms its first postwar central intelligence agency to battle espionage and interference

Japan is establishing its first centralized intelligence apparatus since World War II, transforming the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office into a National Intelligence Council and a National Intelligence Bureau to coordinate gathering, analysis, and operations. The reform aims to counter threats from North Korea, China and Russia, improve interagency coordination, and close legal gaps for anti-espionage and influence campaigns, with Western allies reportedly advising on the setup. While it stops short of a U.S.-style CIA, the move signals a clear shift toward Japan taking greater control of its own intelligence while facing domestic debate over surveillance and defense spending.