TOKYO -- Japan's five-year, 43 trillion yen defense buildup risks being undermined by a weak yen that has cut roughly 30% off the dollar value of this spending in the past 18 months.
Loss of purchasing power may force changes to procurement levels

Japan's new Taigei class "great whale" submarine. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)
TOKYO -- Japan's five-year, 43 trillion yen defense buildup risks being undermined by a weak yen that has cut roughly 30% off the dollar value of this spending in the past 18 months.