High-profile hacks in recent years, including breaches at the government’s own cybersecurity center, have raised newfound doubts about Tokyo’s ability to fully support its security partners. Japan has struggled to create the necessary systems to recruit cybersecurity personnel, amid fierce competition for qualified workers in the private sector. While cyber recruits can make upwards of $150k USD per year, this is only half of what a senior industry expert can earn in the private sector. In addition to recruiting issues, historical pacifist constitutional constraints dating back to the second world war hamstring efforts to pre-emptively hunt down and neutralise potential cyber threats. These security apparatus issues pose significant hurdles for Japan to integrate into western security projects such as AUKUS.
