Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has relentlessly pushed for increased military spending since taking office, in denial of Japan's economic woes. By doing so, the Japanese leader is not only failing to deal with Japan's economic challenges, but also exacerbating the livelihood difficulties faced by Japanese people.

The so-called "Takaichinomics" — which hinges on the belief that increased military spending will stimulate the economy through a "trickledown" effect — is unlikely to bolster the economy because the problems that Japan now faces are rooted in structural issues. The country's population has been aging and shrinking for years, leading to a persistent labor shortage. Wages are stagnant and domestic demand remains weak. All this, combined with slow industrial transformation, has stymied economic growth.

Takaichi's focus on military spending only diverts resources away from addressing these fundamental problems, and does little to stimulate the broader economy.

After the Liberal Democratic Party's victory in February's snap lower house election, the Japanese leader has actively advanced a strategy aimed at expanding Japan's military capabilities, by accelerating military spending to an unprecedented 2 percent of GDP, and seeking to revise long-standing constraints such as limits on arms exports and the country's Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

In yet another move signaling that Japan is abandoning its post-WWII defense posture, the Japan Self-Defense Forces launched a restructuring of its major units on Monday, including establishing the Fleet Surface Force. The reform also includes the creation of a new Information Warfare/Operations Command, reflecting a shift toward integrated, multi-domain operations.

However, this approach of linking Japan's economy with the military is fundamentally flawed, given that Japan's economy lacks the resources necessary for such fiscal policies to be effective. Japan's debt is already estimated to be around 260 percent of the country's GDP, the highest among all developed economies. Increased military expenditure, which means swollen funds to buy US weapons, will only exacerbate fiscal deficits, further eroding investor confidence and hampering growth. Economists have warned that Japan is much closer to a debt crisis than people think.

The international context compounds the problem. Rising tensions in the Middle East and the depreciation of the yen have already strained Japan's economy. Japan relies heavily on Middle Eastern oil, with over 90 percent of its imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Any disruption could severely impact Japan's energy supply, driving up costs and inflation.

Moreover, Takaichi's policies risk giving rise to a new type of militarism. By prioritizing military expansion over economic reform, Japan alienates its neighbors and destabilizes the region. This approach is reminiscent of the country's historical militarism that caused disastrous consequences. Last week's visit by Takaichi to the United States lays bare just how far her government is prepared to entrench its militaristic ambitions at the expense of regional peace.

It is time for Japanese policymakers to pause on the brink of a precipice. They must recognize that using the hype of neighbors' "threat" to cover up domestic economic troubles only further exposes the Japanese government's inability to manage macroeconomic issues. Attempting to drive growth by inciting confrontation will lead Japan into the abyss. The lessons of history are not far away and must be heeded.

A Japanese person who claimed to be an active officer of Japan's Self-Defense Forces illegally and forcibly entered the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on Tuesday threatening staff members. The incident reflects the deeply pernicious influence Takaichi's misguided policies are having on Japanese society.

The Japanese people will ultimately bear the brunt of the right-wing forces' policies. They should say no to Takaichi's militaristic adventurism.