Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has ordered the release of approximately 80 million barrels of oil from the nation’s strategic stockpile — the country’s largest such action on record. The move, announced via X, is expected to begin this week and will provide refiners with the equivalent of 45 days of domestic oil demand. This follows a government decision last week to release 15 days of private-sector oil reserves. Both actions are direct responses to the risk posed to oil tanker routes by the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran.
Japan’s geographic distance from oil-producing regions and lack of domestic crude output make it acutely vulnerable to supply shocks. More than 90% of its oil imports transit the Strait of Hormuz, and any sustained blockage of the waterway would create immediate shortages. Takaichi informed US President Trump at a Washington summit that Japan would not dispatch its naval forces to the Strait, citing the postwar constitution’s constraints on military action abroad. Instead, Tokyo has relied on diplomatic engagement and domestic emergency preparedness.
The 80 million barrel release dwarfs the previous record set after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, which it exceeds by 1.8 times. Japan retains about 470 million barrels in total reserves, equivalent to around 254 days of consumption. Officials have been careful to stress that the drawdown is precautionary and that Japan’s reserve levels remain well above any danger threshold. The scale of the release nonetheless reflects the seriousness with which Tokyo views the current threat.
Consumer fuel prices rose to a historic high of ¥190.8 per litre before the government intervened with weekly-reviewed subsidies capping prices at ¥170. These price supports are designed to shield households and industries from the full impact of global oil market volatility. Energy market analysts have praised the timely and transparent nature of the government’s response. The combination of reserve drawdowns and direct subsidies represents a coherent and multi-layered approach to the crisis.
Concern over potential shortages of toilet paper and other household goods has spread on social media, leading to hoarding in some areas. The trade ministry issued a public advisory urging rational consumer behaviour and confirming that 97% of Japan’s toilet paper is manufactured domestically without reliance on oil imports. The paper industry’s national association issued similar assurances and confirmed robust supply. Authorities are working to prevent misinformation from compounding the impact of a genuine energy emergency.