The cover of the "Defense of Japan" white paper's 2021 edition is seen with an inkbrush design intended to appeal to younger readers, too. (Image courtesy of the Ministry of Defense)

       The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the Ministry of Defense's "Defense of Japan" white paper.

       Question: I heard the "Defense of Japan" white paper has been compiled. What is it?

       Answer: It is the Defense Ministry's report explaining the current state of Japan's defense, military situations in countries around the world, policy issues and so on. The first edition was published in 1970 under the direction of then-Defense Agency chief and later Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who did so, saying: "The public's understanding is essential for defense." The white paper has been issued annually since 1976.

       Q: It covers a wide range of topics; how long is it?

       A: The A4-sized 2021 edition runs a little over 500 pages, while the first edition was about 100 pages. The white paper's volume has increased because of an expansion of security-related fields -- such as space and cyber security -- in addition to China's military buildup and North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

       Q: Why does the defense white paper get so much attention?

       A: It reveals how the Japanese government views other countries' military situations. The 2019 edition was widely reported on for the inclusion of the first government acknowledgement that North Korea had achieved miniaturized nuclear device production. Still, the white paper's content is difficult for the general public to understand. Since the 2020 edition, the ministry has been trying to make the white paper easier to comprehend, including by adding supplementary QR codes that link to videos of Self-Defense Forces' drills.

       Q: There are other white papers, aren't there?

       A: The Japanese government alone publishes more than 40, including the Cabinet Office's white paper on the economy and public finance, the Ministry of Justice's white paper on crime, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's white paper on manufacturing. Sectoral reports began being called white papers after World War II, in reference to the British government's white-covered reports submitted to Parliament, called "White Papers."

       Q: Isn't the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' report called the "Diplomatic Bluebook," and not white paper?

       A: Despite being one of the white paper documents, it is called the bluebook as an exception. It apparently imitated the U.K. Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee report, which has a blue cover. Japan's Diplomatic Bluebook has been published with a blue cover almost every year.

       (Japanese original by Yusuke Kaite, Political News Department)

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