JAPON PERSPECTIVE

Japan is experiencing the Strait of Hormuz crisis as an energy nightmare of unprecedented intensity since the 1973 oil shock. The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that the government has announced the largest-ever release of strategic petroleum reserves in the country's history, an exceptional measure reflecting the urgency. The Nikkei analyzes consequences for Japanese industry: automakers Toyota and Honda are considering production cuts, while transportation costs are exploding.

NHK covers the energy austerity measures requested of citizens with characteristic sobriety, recalling the spirit of 'setsuden' (power saving) that marked the post-Fukushima era. Japanese media emphasize that the country imports 90% of its oil from the Middle East, a dependency successive governments have failed to reduce despite investments in nuclear and renewables.

The Asahi Shimbun, more critical, questions the reliability of the American alliance: the United States launched the war causing this crisis, and Asian allies are paying the price. The debate on Japanese remilitarization takes on a new dimension, with some commentators arguing Japan must develop its own capacity to protect maritime routes.

The diplomatic dimension is treated with characteristic Japanese media caution: Tokyo maintains a discreet communication channel with Tehran, a legacy of historical Japanese-Iranian relations, while remaining firmly anchored in the American alliance.