On the Publication of Defense of Japan 2020 Minister of Defense KONO Taro Thank you very much for taking a look at the 2020 version of the Defense White Paper. The Defense White Paper was first published exactly 50 years ago, in 1970, based on then Defense Agency Director-General NAKASONE Yasuhiro’s strong conviction that “more than anything else, it is the understanding, active support, and cooperation of the people that is essential to the defense of the nation,” at a time when the general public still had a strong negative perception of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). Since then, as the international situation has changed dramatically and the uncertainty over the security environment surrounding Japan has grown rapidly, the role and the field of activities of the Ministry of Defense (MOD)/SDF have broadened to cover the space, cyberspace and electromagnetic domains. Although dramatic changes unimaginable half a century ago have occurred, widespread understanding and support from the Japanese people continue to be essential in any era in order to defend their peaceful lives and Japan’s territorial land, seas and airspace. We believe that Mr. Nakasone’s conviction lives on in the current Defense White Paper, which marks the 50th anniversary of publication. We are looking forward to your reading it. In compiling the 2020 version of the Defense White Paper, we pursued ease of understanding and user-friendliness. Below, let me explain the notable features of the white paper.