Putting Autonomy in ‘Defensive Defence’: Media Discourse, Strategic Culture and the Normalisation of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Weapons Systems in Japan

This article examines the integration of artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons systems (AI/AWS) into Japan’s national security framework, exploring why a technologically advanced state facing severe regional threats has maintained a uniquely constrained development trajectory. While global military trends suggest a convergence towards AI-enabled capabilities, Japan’s adoption of these technologies is filtered through its strategic culture, which mediates how innovation is interpreted and legitimised. Drawing on a thematic analysis of Japanese print media (2015–2024) and recent strategic documents, the study identifies a shift in the role of AI/AWS from abstract ethical concerns to tangible defence priorities. Findings reveal that AI/AWS are increasingly framed as pragmatic solutions to critical domestic challenges, specifically the Self-defense Forces’ personnel shortages and the high financial costs of traditional military hardware. Furthermore, the study highlights how a ‘dual-use’ narrative— emphasising applications in disaster response and maritime surveillance—serves to ‘soften’ public resistance and align these ‘game-changing’ technologies with established ‘defensive defence’ (senshu boei) norms. Although the rapid expansion of Chinese AI/AWS capabilities acts as a primary catalyst for Japanese modernisation, the domestic discourse remains anchored in demands for strict human oversight and legal accountability. Ultimately, the article argues that the role of AI/AWS in Japan represents an incremental adaptation of pacifist principles rather than a rejection of them, demonstrating that strategic culture continues to dictate the boundaries of military innovation.