Several weeks into the deepening Middle East energy crisis, Japan has formally announced it will begin its biggest-ever oil release from strategic national reserves, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi making the declaration on X. About 80 million barrels — enough to cover 45 days of domestic demand — will be deployed to domestic refiners starting Thursday. The decision reflects Japan’s growing alarm over disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.
Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90% of its crude oil imports, making it one of the world’s most exposed advanced economies to regional supply shocks. The government has responded in layers, first approving 15 days of private-sector reserve releases last week, before escalating to the historic state-level release now underway. The response is designed to keep Japan’s refiners operating smoothly and prevent domestic energy shortfalls.
The scale of this release — 1.8 times greater than the Fukushima disaster drawdown — marks it as historically significant. Japan currently holds total oil reserves of approximately 470 million barrels, sufficient for 254 days of domestic usage. The government’s strategy focuses on using these reserves as a buffer while diplomatic efforts work toward restoring stability.
Gasoline prices reached a record ¥190.8 per litre, prompting the government to introduce weekly fuel subsidies capping prices at roughly ¥170. Social media posts have unnecessarily alarmed consumers about shortages of essentials like toilet paper, drawing swift clarifications from the trade ministry and Japan Household Paper Industry Association. The association confirmed that 97% of Japan’s toilet paper is domestically produced and entirely unaffected by Middle East supply chain issues.
Japan has declined to respond militarily, with Takaichi rejecting Trump’s call to deploy naval forces to the Hormuz region during their Washington summit. Japan instead pledged continued, close diplomatic engagement with regional and international partners. The government has reaffirmed its belief that peace and stability in the Middle East are essential not only for Japan but for the global community.