Japan's defense minister Koizumi visits drone manufacturer in Los Angeles

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited a drone manufacturer in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, local time, January 13, 2026. The startup, headquartered in the city, provided executives' explanations on its drone production processes and functions. The company stated it manufactures drones without using any major parts made in China.

On Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles, corresponding to Wednesday morning Japan time on January 14, 2026, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Neros Technologies, a startup headquartered in the city. Company executives provided him with an explanation of the drone production process and its functions.

Neros Technologies manufactures drones without incorporating any major parts produced in China, as stated by the company. The report, written by Yomiuri Shimbun staff writer Takahito Higuchi, was published at 12:21 JST on January 14, 2026.

The visit highlights ongoing efforts in defense technology exploration, though no specific future plans were detailed in the coverage.

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