Japan has launched the biggest-ever release of oil from its strategic national reserves, with some 80 million barrels set to flow to domestic refiners starting this Thursday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed. The action comes in response to escalating concern over disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz caused by the US-Israel conflict with Iran. With record-high gasoline prices already biting into household budgets, the government is pulling every available lever to ease the energy squeeze.
The 80 million barrels being released covers 45 days of national consumption and surpasses the previous record release by a factor of nearly two. Japan’s total strategic petroleum reserves stood at approximately 470 million barrels at the end of last year, giving the government a robust supply cushion even after this substantial drawdown. The combination of state and private sector reserve releases represents a coordinated and comprehensive energy policy response.
Japan’s near-total dependence on Middle Eastern crude has long been a structural weakness in its economic architecture. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a large portion of global oil supply flows, has become a flashpoint in the current conflict, raising fears of extended supply disruptions. The government’s swift and large-scale response reflects the seriousness with which officials view the potential economic damage of a prolonged shortage.
A package of fuel subsidies will cap gasoline at around ¥170 per litre, having been introduced after the average retail price soared to a record ¥190.8. These subsidies will be recalibrated each week in response to oil price movements. The trade ministry has also been actively managing public messaging to prevent panic buying from amplifying the real-world effects of the crisis.
Prime Minister Takaichi has positioned Japan as a diplomatic actor seeking peace in the Middle East rather than a military partner in the conflict. She declined Trump’s call for naval deployment to the Hormuz region, citing constitutional barriers, and has pledged intensive diplomatic coordination with partner nations. Japan’s combination of reserve releases, price controls, and diplomatic engagement represents a coherent and multi-dimensional response to a complex crisis.