Takaichi Convenes First Cybersecurity Ministerial Meeting

The meeting discussed information leaks and other harm caused by cyberattacks. The Prime Minister said that attacks on companies and others had caused numerous large-scale information leaks, increasing concern about secondary harm from misuse of the leaked information, and that countermeasures needed to be strengthened urgently.

On October 26, 2026, the first Ministerial Meeting on Cybersecurity was held at the Prime Minister’s Office.

To support affected companies and others, the government will strengthen consultation services provided by the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) and the police, work with private organizations and local governments, and establish a system through which people can obtain necessary support wherever they seek advice. With the cooperation of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the National Cybersecurity Office will build a framework that draws on advanced private-sector expertise from initial response through recovery. The Prime Minister instructed Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa to promptly expand the structure and support measures of the “Cybersecurity Help Squad” for small and medium-sized enterprises and small businesses, fundamentally expand consultation services, and provide information proactively.

Minister for Cybersecurity Furukawa will encourage security vendors and other companies to join the Cybersecurity Council, strengthening its information-gathering capacity. Each minister will promptly collect information from affected companies in their respective industries, not only from critical infrastructure sectors, and consolidate it at the National Cybersecurity Office. The Office will analyze threats and risks and tailor its communications to clearly identified audiences, including business leaders, experts, and the public.

For attacks whose actual circumstances have been established, the government will strategically select and implement response options, including access and neutralization measures. Under Minister Furukawa’s coordination, it will work with allies, like-minded countries, and relevant overseas organizations to identify the attackers and advance efforts in concert with the international community.

Minister Akazawa will accelerate efforts to use the IPA’s expertise and personnel, together with advanced AI, to identify and address system vulnerabilities through simulated attack tests conducted by top-tier experts. He will also accelerate development of an attack monitoring network covering the entire supply chain, enabling swift countermeasures, including for small and medium-sized enterprises. Minister Furukawa will consider ways to extend these efforts more broadly.

Each minister, with Minister Furukawa at the center, will step up efforts to secure systems under their ministries’ jurisdiction by accelerating vulnerability checks using advanced AI and the expertise of the AI Safety Institute (AISI). Necessary measures, including budgetary steps, will be considered and coordinated promptly.