Japan has confirmed it will release additional oil reserves early next month, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Friday, as escalating concerns over energy shortages intensify due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. This decision marks the second time Japan has tapped into its strategic reserves since the US-Israel war on Iran commenced in February, highlighting the nation's vulnerability as it heavily depends on Middle Eastern oil imports.
Strategic Reserve Releases to Stabilise Supply
In March, Takaichi authorised the release of 50 days' worth of oil, the largest such action in the government's history, in an effort to preempt a sharp spike in prices. Now, she has declared that starting in early May, Japan will release roughly 20 days' worth of oil from its national reserves. "To ensure the stable supply of crude oil, we will release starting in early May the equivalent of roughly 20 days' worth [of oil] from the national reserves," Takaichi stated during a ministerial meeting focused on the conflict.
Japan's Oil Dependency and Reserve Capacity
Japan maintains substantial oil reserves, sufficient to last approximately 230 days, yet it imports a staggering 95% of its crude oil from the Middle East. Most of these imports are transported through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that has been affected by regional tensions. Of Japan's total reserves, 143 days' worth are state-owned, with the remainder held by the private sector and oil-producing nations in the Gulf region.
Amid uncertainty over whether the Strait of Hormuz will fully reopen following a two-week conditional ceasefire announced by Donald Trump this week, Japan is actively seeking to diversify its oil sources. The government aims to secure more than half of its oil imports via alternative routes by May, though Takaichi did not provide specific details. Potential new import sources include Yanbu on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast and the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, with additional outreach to suppliers in the US, Malaysia, and countries across Central Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Domestic Priorities and Political Pressures
The government has instructed domestic suppliers to prioritise sales of stockpiled fuel to key economic sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and agriculture, as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of potential shortages. This move comes amid growing pressure on Japan's government to resist US demands for military involvement in the Middle East conflict.
Public Protests and Constitutional Concerns
More than 100 demonstrations were held across Japan on Wednesday, with protesters urging Prime Minister Takaichi, a conservative leader, to uphold the postwar constitution, which prohibits Japan from using force to settle international disputes. An estimated 30,000 demonstrators gathered outside the National Diet building, many waving light sticks and carrying banners in support of Article 9, the war-renouncing clause of the constitution.
Fears have heightened that Takaichi might leverage her party's significant majority in the lower house of parliament to pursue constitutional reforms, particularly since the war's onset. Last month, she declined a request from Donald Trump to deploy Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces to the Strait of Hormuz, citing potential constitutional violations. Trump has since criticised Japan and South Korea for not participating in the conflict, remarking, "You know who else didn't help us? Japan. We've got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea."
Setsuko Sasaki, a first-time protester in Tokyo, expressed her concerns: "It is always ordinary civilians who suffer in wars, so I decided to come here to make my voice heard. I knew I would regret it if I did nothing." This sentiment underscores the domestic unease as Japan navigates both energy security challenges and international diplomatic pressures.
