Anton Kobyakov, an advisor to the Russian president, said in an interview with TASS that Japan could make its own nuclear weapon in just one year.
On the eve of the forum, Kobyakov, who also serves as the executive secretary of the organizing committee for the Eastern Economic Forum, pointed to the growing militaristic retaliation in Japan.
He added: "There is even talk of nuclear weapons, which Japan could assemble in about a year. Prime Minister [Sanae] Takaichi's aggressive rhetoric shows that the country's previous role in the complex plans of the American regional and global strategy has fundamentally changed towards direct involvement."
It should be noted that Japan officially adheres to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" (not possessing, not producing, and not allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons), but the Japanese political arena has recently witnessed conflicting statements and unprecedented leaks hinting at a review of this prohibition. For example, in late 2025, a high-ranking official and security advisor in the Prime Minister's Office, Sanae Takaichi, told the media that "Japan should possess nuclear weapons" as a deterrent against the deteriorating security environment and the growing threats from China, Russia, and North Korea.
A senior lawmaker close to the government told Reuters that Japan is technically capable of producing a nuclear weapon in just six months, utilizing its vast stockpile of separated civilian plutonium (approximately 44 tons) and advanced infrastructure. Prominent politicians, such as former Defense and Foreign Minister Taro Kono, have urged Japan not to shy away from a broad public debate on the pros and cons of acquiring nuclear weapons.
