Japan seeks dual-use goods manufacturers for military growth.

Mitsufuji, originally a kimono belt maker, now explores high-tech fibers for Japan’s military amid rising security threats.

Mitsufuji, based in Kyoto, started nearly 70 years ago weaving decorative belts for kimonos. Now, this company is set to innovate by potentially spinning high-tech fibers that can protect fighter jets from electromagnetic interference.

With its core business centered on consumer-facing wearables, Mitsufuji is one of many small ventures catching the government's attention. Japan's defense strategy, launched in 2022 with a whopping ¥43 trillion budget, aims to ramp up military capabilities amid rising threats from China, Russia, and the nuclear threat from North Korea.

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