Police Launch Talks on Stricter Drone Rules in Japan
National Police Agency Forms Expert Panel to Address Terrorism Risks from Advanced Drones
By Japan News Desk | October 8, 2025
Expert Panel Convenes Amid Rising Security Concerns
TOKYO — Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) has initiated discussions on tightening drone regulations, convening the first meeting of an expert panel on Tuesday to counter the growing threat of illegal drone flights potentially used for terrorism and other malicious purposes. The panel aims to deliver a comprehensive report by the end of the year, recommending expansions to no-fly zones and harsher penalties, with an eye toward revising the nation's Drone Control Law to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology.
The move comes as drone capabilities have advanced dramatically since the law's inception in 2016, following a high-profile incident where an unauthorized drone crashed onto the roof of the Prime Minister's Office. Current restrictions prohibit flights within approximately 300 meters of critical sites such as the National Diet Building, the Imperial Palace, and nuclear power plants. Subsequent amendments in 2019 and 2020 extended these bans to Self-Defense Forces facilities and airports, reflecting an ongoing effort to safeguard vital infrastructure.
NPA officials highlighted that even consumer-grade drones now available at retail stores can fly several times faster and carry payloads several times heavier than in the law's early days, with some overseas models exceeding 100 kilometers per hour. This leap in performance raises alarms that police detection alone may not allow sufficient time for intervention, potentially enabling threats like surveillance or attacks on sensitive locations.
Under existing rules, flying drones over key facilities carries an immediate penalty of up to one year in prison or a ¥500,000 fine. However, penalties for drones lingering nearby apply only in limited scenarios, such as ignoring police warnings. All past enforcement cases involved drones breaching facility premises, prompting the panel to explore lowering the threshold for action on flights merely circling such areas.
The discussions also encompass designating temporary no-fly zones around accommodations for domestic dignitaries and restricting operations near international event venues in advance. As Japan balances innovation with security in an era of widespread drone adoption for delivery and recreation, these talks signal a proactive stance to prevent vulnerabilities from becoming exploitable risks.
Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Safeguards
The NPA's expert panel represents a critical response to the widening chasm between drone advancements and regulatory frameworks, where consumer devices' enhanced speed and capacity—now rivaling professional models—amplify terrorism potentials, demanding swift expansions to no-fly zones and penalties to ensure police can act decisively without waiting for breaches.
Since the 2016 law's birth from the Prime Minister's Office incident, revisions have layered protections over military and aviation sites, yet the panel's focus on temporary zones for dignitaries and events addresses fluid threats, while easing enforcement hurdles for "loitering" drones could deter would-be perpetrators before harm unfolds.
This initiative, culminating in a year-end report, underscores Japan's commitment to proactive security, transforming isolated incidents into a robust system that harmonizes technological progress with public safety in a drone-saturated society.
Evolution of Japan's Drone Control Law
Enacted in 2016 after a drone crashed onto the Prime Minister's Office roof, the law initially banned flights within 300 meters of sites like the National Diet Building and Imperial Palace; 2019 and 2020 updates added Self-Defense Forces bases and airports, reflecting incremental adaptations to emerging risks.
Current Penalties and Enforcement Gaps
Overflights of key facilities warrant up to one year in prison or a ¥500,000 fine, but lingering drones face penalties only for non-compliance with warnings; all prior cases involved physical breaches, highlighting the need to broaden criteria for quicker interventions.
Proposals for Temporary and Expanded Restrictions
The panel is eyeing temporary no-fly zones around dignitary lodgings and preemptive bans near event venues, aiming to cover dynamic scenarios while addressing how retail drones' superior speeds—over 100 km/h in some models—outpace response times.
Stakeholder Views on the Discussions
"The National Police Agency on Tuesday held the first meeting of an expert panel on measures against illegal drone flights, in light of the growing threat of drones being used for terrorism and other purposes, with the panel set to compile a report by the end of the year on expanding no-fly zones and penalties."
"The law was established in 2016 in the wake of an incident in which a drone fell on the roof of the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, and it currently bans drone flights within about 300 meters of important facilities such as the National Diet Building, the Imperial Palace, and nuclear power plants."
"The law was revised in 2019 and 2020 to increase the no-fly zone list to cover Self-Defense Forces facilities and airports, as drone performance has improved dramatically since the law was enacted, even drones available at retail stores now fly several times faster and carry objects several times heavier."
"Some overseas products can fly at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour, and the NPA has decided to consider tightening the regulations, out of concerns that police could not take time to respond even if drones are detected, prompting a review of enforcement thresholds."
"Flying drones over key facilities is currently subject to an immediate penalty of either up to one year in prison or a fine of up to ¥500,000, while penalties for drones remaining around such facilities are applied only in limited cases, such as failure to comply with a police warning."
Historical Milestones in Drone Regulation
Japan's Drone Control Law traces to 2016, spurred by the unauthorized landing on the Prime Minister's Office roof that exposed airspace vulnerabilities; initial bans targeted 300-meter radii around landmarks like the Diet Building and Imperial Palace, with 2019-2020 expansions to military and airport zones adapting to proliferation in commercial and hobbyist use.
The current push via the NPA's expert panel builds on this foundation, driven by post-2016 tech leaps that turned everyday devices into potential threats, marking a shift from reactive fixes to anticipatory measures amid global drone militarization trends.
Prospects for Revised Legislation
With the year-end report poised to influence law changes, proposals for temporary zones and eased penalty triggers could reshape enforcement, balancing innovation's benefits—like efficient deliveries—with safeguards against terrorism, fostering a secure yet accessible airspace.
As discussions unfold, Japan's evolving rules promise a model for harmonizing progress and protection, ensuring drones enhance rather than endanger the nation's dynamic future.
Categories, Keywords, and Sources
Categories: Japan Security, Drone Regulations, National Police Agency, Terrorism Prevention, Aviation Law
Keywords: Japan drone rules, NPA expert panel, no-fly zones expansion, drone terrorism threats, Drone Control Law revision
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