Summary
The Japan Times reports (May 11, 2026) that Chief Cabinet Secretary minoru-kihara confirmed japan is analyzing “with great interest” the pursue Release 01 trove of 161 previously classified Pentagon files, including two UAP videos filmed near Japan. One is a nearly two-minute 2023 us-indo-pacific-command infrared clip showing three areas of contrast holding fixed formation; a second nine-second 2024 clip over the East China Sea depicts a “football-shaped body” with three radial projections. Kihara said any Japanese disclosure of similar files would require case-by-case assessment to avoid exposing intelligence-gathering capabilities. The article also notes the japan-uap-parliamentary-group’s 80 members and their March 2026 call for a dedicated UAP office under the deputy chief cabinet secretary for crisis management.
Key Claims
- Chief Cabinet Secretary minoru-kihara stated Tokyo is “constantly gathering and analyzing information with great interest” on UAP, in coordination with the U.S. and other countries
- Kihara confirmed he had personally viewed the pursue Release 01 footage
- Two of the released videos were filmed near japan: a ~2-minute 2023 INDOPACOM IR clip showing three areas of contrast in fixed formation, and a 9-second 2024 clip over the East China Sea of a “football-shaped body” with three radial projections
- Any Japanese disclosure of its own UAP files will be decided case-by-case, weighing the risk of exposing intelligence-gathering capabilities
- An 80-member bipartisan japan-uap-parliamentary-group formed in 2024 and in March 2026 urged Tokyo to create a specialized UAP department under the deputy chief cabinet secretary for crisis management
Notable Quotes
“Regarding incidents related to our national security — including UAPs — we are constantly gathering and analyzing information with great interest, while maintaining close coordination with the United States and other countries.” — Minoru Kihara
“[The government would] make specific, case-by-case decisions after comprehensively considering various factors, including the risk of our intelligence-gathering capabilities being exposed.” — Minoru Kihara