A country that can launch a satellite into space orbit, like Japan with its H-IIB rocket system, can deliver a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead anywhere in the world. There is no doubt that Japan secretly has nuclear weapons, just like Israel. I’m sure part of the launch of the satellite was to showcase Japan’s technological capabilities. Kudos to Japan.
Ah. I see you’ve read Debt of Honor...
Yep, on the shelf, some assembly required. “why no, we do not have nuclear weapons”. Not assembled, at least.
The postwar Japanese have concentrated on improving their engineering depth and manufacturing quality; as a consequence, they have an advantage over the Chinese in the latter, and probably will retain it even after the Chinese overtake them in engineering (probably inevitable, due to the sheer number of Chinese).