EARTH, Laniakea Supercluster—A group of Japanese lawmakers from different political parties has formally asked the Defense Ministry to set up a special office to look into unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), what many people call UFOs. The request, made on May 16, 2025, highlights growing worries about national security and the need to seriously study these strange aerial sightings.

The group is headed by Yasukazu Hamada, a former Defense Minister from the leading Liberal Democratic Party. They pointed out that Japan is behind when it comes to dealing with UAPs.

The lawmakers wrote that Japan has “fallen behind in responding to UAP, while securing safety in territorial airspace and waters is an urgent matter,” according to Kyodo News.

They want Japan to create something similar to the U.S. Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which was created in 2022 to study UAPs using science and data. The proposed office would be in charge of gathering and studying information about UAPs, sharing what they find with Japan's parliament, and keeping the public informed. The goal is to be more open and make sure any possible dangers are fully investigated. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara responded that the government would consider the request.

The group of lawmakers, which was formed in 2024 and includes members from various political parties, shows that there's agreement across party lines that this issue needs attention.

This move is in line with what's happening in other countries. Several have been putting more effort into studying UAPs because of concerns about airspace security and where these phenomena come from, like Chile, Brazil, and the U.K. Setting up a dedicated office in Japan would be a big step forward in how the country approaches and deals with these unidentified aerial events.

Japan's intrigue with UFOs spans centuries, intertwining folklore with contemporary reports.

One of the earliest stories is the legend of the Utsuro-bune from 1803. According to old writings, fishermen in Hitachi Province found a strange, hollow, round vessel drifting to shore. Inside was a young woman with red hair who spoke an unknown language and held onto a mysterious box that she wouldn't let go of. The vessel had glass windows and metallic plates, leading some to wonder if it came from another world.

More recently, the town of Iino in Fukushima Prefecture has become a hub for UFO enthusiasts. Since the 1970s, people living there have reported seeing UFOs often near Senganmori Mountain, believing it's due to the area's unique magnetic fields. Iino is also home to the International UFO Laboratory, highlighting its reputation as Japan's "UFO town."

After the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, there were more reports of UFO sightings with numerous videos, including footage of a large, white object hovering over the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The object was visible for a few seconds before disappearing, leading to continued speculation about a possible connection between nuclear sites and UFO activity.