By Kenji Sato

Some 50 Japanese companies will have booths at the comprehensive trade fair for defense equipment to be held in Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City in November, sources revealed yesterday. To date, the event, the world’s largest such trade fair, has been held biennially in London, and this is the first time for the fair to be held in Japan. The U.K. suggested that Japan hold the event to strengthen relations between Japanese defense companies and major foreign defense equipment makers looking to capitalize on Japan’s technology. Japan accepted the proposal, thinking that holding the event will lead to the revitalization of the domestic defense industry.

Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), which has been held biennially in London, will be held in Japan for the first time at Makuhari Messe for three days from Nov. 18. About 150 companies in the field of defense and risk management from around the world will participate in the event, with roughly 50 of them being Japanese. The event is expected to attract more Japanese exhibitors than past defense equipment fairs, far exceeding “Eurosatory” held in the French capital of Paris in June 2014, in which 12 Japanese firms participated.

The event will be co-hosted by U.K.’s Clarion Events, an event operator based in London, and Crisis Intelligence of Japan, an event operator headquartered in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward. The U.K.’s Department for International Trade, which is responsible for promoting exports of U.K.-made defense equipment, will set up a booth at the Japanese venue. The British Ministry of Defense and Foreign Office will provide support. Japan has set up an event executive committee, whose members include former Administrative Vice Minister of Defense Masanori Nishi. Japan’s defense, economy, and foreign ministries are also sponsoring the event. (Abridged)