This move takes place in the context of the increasingly tense security environment in Northeast Asia. According to the South China Morning Post, the Japanese government has confirmed 1,489 new facilities, including subway stations and underground parking lots, eligible to serve as temporary shelters for people.
The review program was launched in 2024 to expand the list of existing shelters.
When completed, the new facilities will be integrated into a network of more than 61,000 shelters nationwide, capable of protecting about 10.8 million people, equivalent to nearly 9% of the population.
Tokyo's efforts to strengthen civil defense are taking place in the context of constantly increasing regional security threats. North Korea continuously conducts ballistic missile tests.
Xinhua News Agency commented that Japan is stepping up civil defense measures in parallel with strengthening military capabilities, including expanding early warning systems and upgrading emergency infrastructure.
Mr. Stephen Nagy, professor of international relations at Tokyo International Christian University (Japan), said that the level of concern is uneven between regions.
People in Tokyo or Osaka may not be too worried, but that is different from areas near the "front line" in recent years," he said.
The "front lines" mentioned by the expert include remote islands in Okinawa Prefecture, typically Yonaguni Island, which is only about 111km from Taiwan (China).
Facing complex geopolitical risks, the expansion of civil defense tunnels is becoming an essential part of Tokyo's overall defense strategy.
According to analysts, the expansion of the shelter system shows that Japan is preparing for conflict scenarios that could directly affect its territory, in the context of the regional security environment continuing to be complex.
