A member of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) team showcases some of their technology at their booth at the Sea Japan Maritime Exhibition and Conference in Tokyo on April 22, 2026. Japan will ease decades-old arms export curbs, the government said Tuesday, in a major policy shift that paves the way for the sale of lethal weapons overseas as Tokyo ramps up its defence ambitions. The new rules end Japan's self-imposed curb on sales of lethal arms as Tokyo seeks to enter the international arms market, hoping to bolster national defence as well as boost economic growth. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)