【Japanese media reports: The Japanese prime minister's advisor who made nuclear possession remarks has a "close relationship" with Hayashi Asako】
Tokyo time December 25, 2025, the Japanese magazine "Bungei Spring" (Bunshun Gun) wrote in a press release:
According to sources, the author of the statement "Japan must possess nuclear weapons" is the Prime Minister's Advisor (Senior Advisor) Osugi Sadamasa, who is responsible for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation affairs. He was once an officer in the Air Self-Defense Force, and has served as a policy advisor to the Minister of Defense since 2023. After Hayashi Asako took office, he was immediately appointed as the Prime Minister's Advisor. He is from Nara, and he is a fellow townsman of the Prime Minister and has had a long and close relationship.
The informed source emphasized:
The appointment of someone with close ties and who privately admitted to supporting nuclear armament to a position related to nuclear disarmament has caused widespread dissatisfaction in the Japanese political arena. In fact, such statements should have led to resignation, but due to their close relationship, no resignation occurred.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852472719835144/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author only.