Core Points - Japan's Ministry of Finance announced a record budget request of 122.4 trillion yen for the fiscal year 2025, driven by rising prices, increased defense spending, and higher debt financing costs [1][2] - The budget request marks the third consecutive year of record-high applications, with significant increases from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the Ministry of Defense [1] - The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare requested the largest share of the budget at 34.8 trillion yen, primarily due to rising medical and pension costs associated with an aging population [1] - The Ministry of Defense's budget request of 8.84 trillion yen exceeds the current fiscal year's 8.7 trillion yen, marking the largest defense budget request in Japan's history [2] - Japan is moving towards enhancing its "counterattack" capabilities, with military spending set to reach 2% of GDP, reflecting a shift from its long-standing pacifist stance [2] - The defense budget will fund the development of a defense system named "SHIELD," which includes deploying drones and producing hard-to-detect hypersonic missiles [2] - Concerns about Prime Minister Kishida's political stability may impact the government's control over fiscal spending, contributing to rising yields on Japanese government bonds [3] - Japan's current debt level is twice its economic output, ranking among the highest in developed economies [3]