Japan’s shipping firms are racing their vessels through the Strait of Hormuz

Japan’s top shipping firms, Nippon Yusen and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, are racing their vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, cutting the time spent in Gulf waters to avoid getting caught in the crossfire of Iran’s war with Israel and America, according to Reuters.

Both companies confirmed they’ve issued new safety instructions to all ships operating in the region, with orders to pass through the area as quickly as schedules allow. The goal: keep exposure in the Persian Gulf to a minimum amid rising military tension.

The change in policy follows direct US attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend. The US operation was carried out in coordination with Israel, escalating what has already become a dangerous conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Iran has threatened to respond, and its Supreme National Security Council is expected to decide whether the Strait of Hormuz, the most critical choke point for global oil, will be shut off completely after the Parliament already voted for temporary closure.

Shipping companies cut Gulf exposure and increase 24/7 surveillance

A spokesperson for Nippon Yusen said, “We are instructing our vessels to shorten their time in the Persian Gulf whenever possible, depending on their schedules.” He added that decisions on each vessel’s route through the strait would now be made flexibly, depending on current threats.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, also known as MOL, said their safety operations center in Tokyo has stepped up 24-hour surveillance and support for ships in the area. “We are advising vessels operating in the area to exercise maximum caution and providing them with latest information,” the MOL official said.

Japan is not just watching from the sidelines. On Monday, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya called for an end to the current cycle of violence between Iran and Israel. He described the situation as “extremely regrettable” and warned that further military actions would reduce the chances of restoring any form of diplomatic negotiation. Iwaya said, “Japan continues to strongly hope that the path to dialogue will be reopened by efforts toward a resolution of Iran’s nuclear issue through talks between the US and Iran.”

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had already voiced concern earlier in June, following Israel’s first round of airstrikes against Iranian targets. He said that although the strikes were military in nature, they “cannot be absolutely condemned,” signaling that Japan might be trying to walk a fine line diplomatically.

Japan calls for de-escalation while dealing with fragile economy

During a Monday press briefing in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi was asked about Trump’s latest airstrikes. He said that Japan sees the US position as separate from Israel’s, pointing out that “the US government has been seriously pursuing dialogue, and that even after the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran began, the US has continued to call for dialogue with Iran.”

The international crisis is hitting at a time when Japan’s economy is already shaky. A private-sector survey released the same day showed that manufacturing activity in the country finally returned to growth in June after almost a year of contraction.

But the numbers aren’t strong. Demand remains weak, especially with global economic uncertainty and lingering fears over US tariffs. The report said that orders from overseas buyers are still falling. And that’s not all.

On the other hand, Japan’s service sector showed better results. The same survey also showed that growth in services picked up speed, driving total business activity to a four-month high.

That improvement is being seen as a temporary cushion for the overall economy, especially since no Japan-US trade deal seems close. But even with that uptick, the manufacturing side is still under pressure.

The final part of the survey made clear that new orders for manufactured goods, including international orders, have kept declining. So while ships are rushing through the Gulf to avoid a conflict, back home Japan is still grinding through a fragile economy that’s barely finding its footing.

Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot