Japan is considering a major increase in defence spending for the next five-year period starting in April 2027, with government and its ruling coalition weighing a plan that could total about US$500 billion, according to sources cited by multiple outlets.

Across coverage, the proposed spending level is described as 70 trillion to 80 trillion yen for the five years from April 2027, which would be about 1.8 times the roughly 43 trillion yen allocated under the current plan. The reporting links the review to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to strengthen Japan’s military capabilities.

The differences between outlets are limited, as they broadly rest on the same account from sources. Some specify the timeline and comparison to the current five-year allocation, while others focus more directly on the headline figure of “US$500 billion” and the idea of nearly doubling spending, without adding further detail beyond the proposed range.