Fact Check: Is Japan joining the US and Israel in the war against Iran?
TOKYO, JAPAN: A rumor has been making the rounds on social media platforms claiming that Japan will be joining the United States and Israel in the ongoing conflict against Iran. The claim surfaced as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, sparking speculations about the rumor. Let us analyze the viral claim and fact-check it.
Claim: Japan is joining the United States in the war against Iran
According to the viral claim, the Japanese Prime Minister gave a speech supporting the United States and Israel against Iran. The claim was accompanied by a video showing a man holding a press conference regarding the conflict involving the three nations.
"The Japanese Prime Minister openly stated that the war between Iran and the US and Israel will not lead to peace. The Japanese Prime Minister emphasized that he is ready to help the US and Israel to defeat Iran," the narration in the content reads.
The video has spread across various social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Fact Check: Japan expressed support for the US, but is not joining the war
However, the person in the video is not the Japanese Prime Minister, but rather the Minister of Defense, Shinjirō Koizumi, speaking during a press conference on February 28, 2026.
He was delivering a statement regarding the Israeli-US strikes on Iran, which was broadcast on the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s YouTube channel.
Though the official expressed support for Washington's position, he never stated that Japan would join an attack on Iran during his address.
Sanae Takaichi has been the Prime Minister of Japan since October, 2025, and has even met President Donald Trump at the White House recently.
Japanese Prime Minister signals shift on Iran conflict
In response to the attacks by Israel and the United States, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged Iran to pursue diplomatic channels on March 2.
According to a Kyodo News report, this move was specifically aimed at de-escalating regional hostilities.
According to a Japanese national media, Takaichi also expressed general support for the US during a meeting with Trump in Washington on March 19.
However, no detailed information was provided regarding Japan's support for the US in this context.
According to subsequent reports, Takaichi recently clarified her evolving stance on the war, stating that she was considering a high-level meeting with Iranian officials.
"I will judge the appropriate timing for holding talks based on the national interest from a comprehensive standpoint," she told the Budget Committee of the Japanese House of Representatives on March 30.
