Japan Tightens Up Drone Rules

The increasing use of drones in Tokyo has led to Japan’s House of Representatives passing a bill prohibiting drone flights over defence-related institutions and surrounding areas as part of anticipatory safety measures against terrorism. The ‘no fly’ zones for drones are also applicable to facilities such as Japan’s Self-Defence Forces bases and the U.S. military bases in the country.

According to news reports this bill to revise the law regulating drone flights was approved at a plenary meeting of the lower chamber of parliament with a majority vote with support mainly from the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. The bill, which was sent to the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, is expected to be enacted during the ongoing parliamentary session through June.

The current law bans drone flights over the Imperial Palace, the prime minister’s office, and foreign diplomatic establishments in Japan and nuclear power facilities, among other locations of crucial importance. The revised law will include bans on drone flights over competition venues during this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan in September and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.