Japan's military test-fired a missile on Japanese territory for the first time Tuesday, as the country accelerates its military buildup to deter China.
The Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile was tested at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The Ground Self-Defense Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade used a training missile to target a boat with no crew about 40 kilometers off the island's southern coast.
Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan conducted past missile tests in the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a top Japanese defense partner where vast training grounds are available.
The military said the test was successful. It plans another through Sunday.
Dozens of protesters stood outside a neighboring army camp, saying missile tests only escalates tension in Asia and risks for Japan to be involved in possible conflicts.
Tuesday’s first domestic missile test underscores Japan’s push toward a more self-sufficient military and its acquisition of strike-back capabilities as a deterrence to China’s increasingly assertive naval activity in regional seas.
Japan is also concerned about growing joint military exercises around Japanese coasts between China and Russia.
Japan and Russia, a northern neighbor to Hokkaido, have territorial disputes.
Japan, under its post-World War II pacifist constitution, used to limit the use of force for self-defense only, but made a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted a five-year security strategy that names China as its biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance.
Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the U.S., beginning later this year.
Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers, 10 times that of a Type 88.
The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has a range of about 100 kilometers.
Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month.
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52 Comments
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JboneInTheZone
Good for Japan
TaiwanIsNotChina
A great move. Send some over Pyongyang the next time one of theirs gets too close.
Bret T
Are vasal states allowed to have their own missiles and decide when to fire them off? This seems out of bounds to me (8-).
deanzaZZR
Take a look at Google Maps and see where that "Japanese" island is located. lol
Be careful, fishies.
deanzaZZR
"The test-firing of the Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile was conducted Tuesday."
RIF
sakurasuki
Testing any weapon in Japan is almost impossible, just similar with practicing sword in Japan, is also impossible to do that in Japan. That just what happened to several tourist who want to give a try tameshigiri this years.
.
Japan just like to make things complicated.
JboneInTheZone
What part of the phrase “missile test” was hard for you to understand?
obladi
Thanks Dad, I love my Tomahawk.
Meiyouwenti
The next thing Japan needs is nukes. A nuclear-armed Japan would deter China and Russia’s military assertiveness and help stabilize the Asia-Pacific region.
GuruMick
Yeah....now Japan needs nukes,,,,and lots of them.
Sigh.
Japan has a history with WMD
Good luck getting "nukes " through the Diet.
I guess negotiation and treaties are dead now.....because....China ?
OssanAmerica
Japan does need them. But it doesn't want them.
Unlikely to see Japan go that way unless the US-JPN alliance falls apart (China's wet dream). If that happens, anything goes.
Fighto!
Good news. The less reliance on America for defence, the better.
browny1
The first thing I thought on seeing that photo, was those small swell lines on a calm sea indicates to me that it is highly likely the surf really pumps there at times.
Be nice to check out.
Garlic eater
The North Koreans are going to love this.
Toshihiro
This is good. While Japan is in the comfiest place under America's security umbrella in the western Pacific, it still needs its own tools should things really go south.
grc
Japan has no more need for nukes than Iran
JJE
Incorrect. A territorial dispute takes two whereas Moscow views it as 100% legally settled.
Tokyo not being able to accept the result of WWII is entirely their fault.
Peter14
Nice development for Japan. Being able to test these systems at home will save time and money.
Ben P. Dosanko
We should install these missiles on the Senkaku islands.
Yrral
Tokyo will have the same fate as Tele Aviv, Russian have missile on the Kuril, minutes away from Tokyo, the US did not complain
Yrral
Their is no law on the book say the US protect Japan,the military answer too the Congress
Peter14
So what? The JSDF will retaliate with missile barrages of their own and both sides will have been hit and had damages and deaths.
The point it to not be a soft target unable to pay back the pain.
Yrral
Russian have nukes,NK have Nukes,China have so many nukes they do not know what to do
deanzaZZR
@Ben P. Dosanko "We"? Are you a Japanese citizen?
Cephus
Brilliant move, the world understands only one language "peace through strength."
Wichi
Good for Japan, many people will not understand that is to keep "enemies" at distance, if you don't have a way to defend yourself or "fight back " in the case of an invasion, the life you know will not be the same.. NK, Russia or even China will take the opportunity to seize Japan if there is not defense at all.
John
That is great. Japan should develop its own defense system. I hope Japan can be independent one day.
DeeZee
Is this a joke? The DPRK has an arsenal of nukes. Japan's bottle rockets are no match for anyone. They rely on uncle Sam otherwise defence spending would have to dramatically go up and a shrinking population like Japan has fewer and fewer young men to send to war. Fewer are willing to risk their lives for imperialism
OssanAmerica
Spoken like a true Wumao. Total nonsense.
Nations and organizations that recognize the southern Kuriles (4 islands) dispute:
Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, EU, G7
Nations that do not recognize the dispute:
Russia, China (implicit), Belarus, North Korea, Kazakhstan, Syria.
Note that the WWII Allied powers which fought Imperial Japan recognize the dispute and dispute Russia's claim. China (PRC) did not exist until 4 years after WWII ended.
The "results of WWII" claim refers to the USSR/Russia taking advantage of a defeated Japan and invading and occupying Japanese territory that was established by a 1855 Treaty between Russia and Japan, after Japan surrendered to the Allies. Part of the Post WWII global Soviet land grab.
Yrral
The Kuril where given to Russia by the US and Allied in Crimea
JJE
Yes, he is right - Yalta 1945.
Also important to observe the Paris Peace Treaties of 1947 stripped land off all Axis collaborators post war.
Also important to observe the so-called parties that now oppose it actually didn't post war - more of a Cold War and/or recent thing (with the EU and G7 not existing then either).
nandakandamanda
Sadly, Ossan is correct here.
(Obviously from Moscow's one-sided POV there is no dispute!)
Sven Asai
The real enemies are longtime inside and already well anchored, fast aging, lowest birthrates, nearly complete loss of innovation and technology leadership. And now they come up there with a short range missile that probably cannot even sink a larger fish trawler. In addition, although this test in Hokkaido might also be a little bit addressed to Russia , but potential invaders in a mid term future will much more probably come from South, where the nearest located big and resource hungry and densed population is.
deanzaZZR
Note that the Communist Party of China established its first Soviet Government in 1931. Following battles against the Nationalist Army its most famous Soviet Government was established after the Long March in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province in 1935 led by Mao Zedong.
The more you know ...
Five Families
Seeing a lot of "military experts" weighing in—can someone explain what qualifies you to speak on Japan’s missile capabilities and strategic intent?
As the article outlines, I might have some perspective from the Japanese side of the table. As I am other side for the U.S.
On June 24, 2025, Japan conducted its first-ever missile test on home soil—a major shift. Congrats, Japan.
Why now?
Strategic Shift: Since 2022, Japan’s defense strategy has pivoted, naming China a primary threat and deepening U.S. ties.
Self-Reliance: Tests were previously held abroad; this marks a move toward autonomous defense capability.
Regional Deterrence: Firing a Type 88 missile near Hokkaido sends a clear signal amid rising Chinese and Russian military activity.
Why it matters:
Expanded Strike Capacity: Complements planned Tomahawk deployments and Japan’s own long-range missile programs.
Domestic Testing Infrastructure: New facilities like the one on Minamitorishima Island will reduce reliance on foreign ranges.
Public Reaction: Some pacifist concern, but limited pushback.
Bottom line:
Japan is transitioning from a purely defensive stance to a more proactive deterrence model—timing and location of this test make that shift unmistakably clear.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Iran is not located right next to hostile countries that have already stolen its territory.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Settling a war takes two parties. russia should sit down with its pear competitor Japan.
An unequal treaty.
Japan is not a signatory. Also the territory lost with that treaty was minimal except for what was stolen from Finland.
TaiwanIsNotChina
*peer competitor
Ishikawa
fed up with war-mongers.
Desert Tortoise
The Type 88 missile is a turbojet anti-ship cruise missile with a range of around 100 km. It is comparable to RGM-84 Harpoon. The Japanese use these from truck mounted launchers for coastal defense. It was developed from the Type 80 air launched anti ship cruise missile and further developed into the Type 90 which is mounted on ships.
In the past, going back decades, the JGSDF would come to the US and conduct training and test shots on the Pacific Missile Test Range out of Point Mugu California where there is a fully instrumented test and training range used by the US and allied navies on a daily basis.
HopeSpringsEternal
Peace thru strength, Japan better quickly up its drone game as well, underwater, surface and air based as manned equipment quickly going the way of the dodo bird
nandakandamanda
Sadly we are fed-up with warmongers as said above.
Japan needs to show some kind of muscle in return, or the three chief warmongers in the vicinity will feel free to expand some more.
Typically diplomatic of Japan to do these tests in Hokkaido, though. Nuff said.
pOcketMonster
Well, Putin did his moves and attacked Ukraine, Xi too is doing his moves around Taiwan and every other country he wants to play with, to win on a chess game you cannot just pretend to attack with your pawns, do that and they will come and check mate! Show more strength, surprise them and they will think twice before attacking you.
Peter14
Yes and none of them has ever used one in a fight. Nor would they unless being invaded. The chances of Japan attempting to invade any of them, or anyone else, at this point is zero.
Tony W.
I can't see why Japan should not have these weapons given the behaviour of China, because it sends a message to that country's arrogance.
quercetum
Looks like the elementary school version of what's going on elsewhere in the world.
In the grand theatre of geopolitics, vassal states are meant to play the supporting role, not go full James Bond with the launch codes. They’ve got to ring up Big Daddy first, probably with a cup of macha tea in hand, and say, “Excuse me, sir, missile launch this fine afternoon okay?”
quercetum
It stands to reason because they were invaded by Japan. Try and refute that one. Not taking any chances.
The Communists did not exist until 4 years after WWII ended, that is in 1949. The fetuses amazingly fought and defeated the Japanese and the Republic of China while they were still in their mothers' womb.
Garlic eater
Next Japan will be testing ICBMs, just like North Korea. And probably assembling a nuke (if they haven't done that yet).
quercetum
Nuclear weapons. Only to be permmisible by those nations deemed ‘responsible’—which, coincidentally, are the ones who already have them. Everyone else? Kindly stick to slingshots and sternly worded statements such to 'urge'.”
The US does not think Japan is responsible enough to be allowed to possess nuclear missiles. They might avenge Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Is that what you're thinking?
Agent_Neo
Responsible? lol
Are Iran, North Korea, and Israel responsible countries that do not accept IAEA inspections?
Nice joke!
The National Interest, a traditional conservative monthly magazine in Washington, published an article titled "The Right Time: Why Japan and South Korea Should Possess Nuclear Bombs" in its latest issue, released on July 13, 2022.
There seem to be various opinions in the United States as well.
Aoi Azuuri
Okinawa seems to be treated as "sacrificial stone" for central government again as same as 80 years before.
windspiel
The Type 88 surface-to-ship missile (88式地対艦誘導弾, SSM-1) is a truck-mounted anti-ship missile developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in the late 1980s.
(Quoted Wikipedia)
So... 45 years old?