Japan has activated an emergency energy plan, announcing it will begin its biggest-ever oil release from national strategic reserves starting this Thursday. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed that roughly 80 million barrels of stockpiled oil — equivalent to 45 days of domestic demand — will be provided to refiners. The decision comes as the US-Israel conflict with Iran creates serious uncertainty over oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan imports more than 90% of its crude oil from the Middle East, leaving it highly vulnerable to any sustained disruption of the Hormuz shipping corridor. The government’s latest move follows the approval last week of a release from private-sector reserves covering 15 days of supply. Together, these actions represent Japan’s most comprehensive emergency energy response to date.
The current release is 1.8 times the volume released after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, setting a new record for Japanese emergency oil deployment. Japan’s total strategic reserves currently stand at approximately 470 million barrels — enough to cover 254 days of normal domestic consumption. The government is prioritizing getting oil into the hands of refiners to prevent downstream supply disruptions.
Retail gasoline prices had climbed to a record ¥190.8 per litre before the government introduced subsidies to bring them back down to around ¥170. On social media, unfounded fears about toilet paper shortages have been spreading, but the trade ministry and industry association have urged calm. Officials confirmed that Japan manufactures 97% of its toilet paper domestically and that no supply disruption is anticipated.
Internationally, Japan has maintained a non-military posture, with Takaichi declining Trump’s request to send Japanese naval forces to the Strait of Hormuz. The prime minister cited Japan’s constitutional pacifism and committed to pursuing diplomatic solutions in collaboration with regional and global partners. Tokyo remains steady in its approach: protect domestic supply, keep prices stable, and promote peace.