Japan’s government has announced the start of its largest-ever strategic oil reserve release, with 80 million barrels to be provided to refiners beginning this Thursday. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made the announcement publicly, framing the move as essential to protecting Japan’s economy from the fallout of Middle East conflict. The sheer scale of the release — covering 45 days of domestic demand — marks an unprecedented peacetime energy intervention by the Japanese state.
Japan’s deep structural dependency on imported oil makes such decisions both consequential and urgent. More than nine-tenths of Japan’s crude oil originates from Middle Eastern suppliers, flowing through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz. With the US-Israel military campaign against Iran now threatening to choke off this maritime corridor, Tokyo has little choice but to activate its emergency reserves.
The release surpasses the previous record set during Japan’s response to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, when all domestic atomic plants were temporarily shut down. That earlier drawdown released a volume equivalent to about 25 days of demand; the current release is nearly twice as large. Japan’s total oil reserves stand at around 470 million barrels, providing a substantial foundation from which this release can be absorbed.
To further cushion consumers, the government has introduced subsidies holding gasoline prices to ¥170 per litre — well below the recent record of ¥190.8 per litre. The subsidies are subject to weekly review as global oil prices continue to fluctuate. Officials have signaled that further support measures are not off the table if conditions deteriorate.
On the international stage, Takaichi has firmly resisted calls to contribute Japanese military assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz, citing constitutional limitations. She has instead doubled down on diplomacy, pledging close coordination with allied nations to pursue peaceful resolution of the conflict. Japan’s approach reflects a careful balance between national interest, constitutional principle, and global responsibility.