BEIJING, October 28. /TASS/. Japan possesses more than 40 metric tons of plutonium, theoretically enough to manufacture several thousand nuclear warheads, Secretary General of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) Dai Huaicheng told TASS.
He noted that, according to Japanese authorities, the country held 44.4 tons of separated plutonium at the end of 2024, including 8.6 tons stored domestically and 35.8 tons kept overseas. In addition, Japan’s spent nuclear fuel stocks contain about 191 tons of unseparated plutonium.
"The latest report from the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, published in August 2026, says that the total amount of separated plutonium stood at about 44.4 tons at the end of 2025, with 9.9 tons stored in the country and about 34.5 tons held abroad, meaning the overall stockpile remained vast," Dai said.
"What does this mean? A basic nuclear warhead typically requires only a few kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium. According to open sources, Japan’s 44.4 tons of separated plutonium would be enough to make several thousand nuclear warheads," the expert pointed out.
