Core Viewpoint - Japan plans to establish a "National Intelligence Agency" by the fiscal year 2026 to enhance its intelligence collection and analysis capabilities, responding to increasing domestic calls for measures against foreign espionage [2][4]. Group 1: Establishment of the National Intelligence Agency - The National Intelligence Agency will consolidate intelligence collected by various ministries and serve as a command center under the Prime Minister's Office [2][5]. - The core components of the proposed legislation include upgrading the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office to the National Intelligence Agency, creating a new position for the agency's director, and establishing a National Intelligence Meeting involving the Prime Minister [2][4]. Group 2: Rationale and Objectives - The initiative to create the National Intelligence Agency is driven by rising domestic demands to address foreign espionage activities, including concerns over the spread of misinformation and election interference [4][5]. - The agency will work alongside the National Security Secretariat (NSS), which is responsible for foreign and security policy, to strengthen Japan's overall intelligence framework [5][7].