/>iThe Act on Launching Artificial Satellite and Launch Vehicle and Control of Artificial Satellite (Act No. 76 of 2016) (Space Activities Act) serves as the basic law for Japan’s space industry.
Regarding the Space Activities Act, on May 21, 2025, at the 118th meeting of the Committee on National Space Policy, a committee member expressed, “Given that a wide range of space activities are expected to emerge in the future that cannot be addressed under the current Space Activities Act, I hope that the government will submit the bill to amend the Space Activities Act to the next ordinary session of the Diet without delay.”
In addition, at the 32nd meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development May 30, 2025, Prime Minister Ishiba stated, “In order to respond swiftly to the development of new forms of space transportation by private companies, we aim to submit the bill to amend the Space Activities Act to the next ordinary session of the Diet.”
Thus, the Basic Policy 2025 states the government’s intention to submit the bill to amend the Space Activities Act to the next ordinary session of the Diet, which is expected to convene Jan. 24, 2026, and last 150 days, with the goal of boosting a wide range of space activities, including new forms of space transportation by the private sector. See our GT Advisory on the Basic Policy 2025.
This GT Advisory provides an overview of the possible amendments to the Space Activities Act, which will contribute to the development of the Japanese space industry, and recent moves toward amendment.
