Japan looking at UAV laws to spur production, limit Operations

A notice posted at a park in Tokyo on Tuesday explains
that the use of radio-controlled aircraft and drones is banned.
KYODO

LDP to push for drone no-go zones | The Japan Times
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is seeking to ban drone flights over important facilities such as the prime minister’s office and impose penalties on violators, according to a draft bill on drone regulations.
Under the envisaged law, violators would face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to ¥500,000 if they fly drones over key facilities, including the Diet building, the Supreme Court and the Imperial Palace.
The foreign minister would designate such no-fly areas above foreign embassies, while the internal affairs minister would do so over the offices of the country’s political parties upon request, according to the draft overview.
Currently, there are no laws to regulate drone flights, and calls have grown for creating one since a drone with trace amounts of radioactive cesium was found on the roof of the prime minister’s office on April 22.

Japan drafting new law to compete with US drones — RT News
Tokyo is looking into fast-tracking an industry-friendly regulation for its unarmed aerial vehicles (UAV) sector in order to compete with the rapidly growing US drone market, according to a robot panel advising the Japanese prime minister.
“We want to keep an eye on the world’s drone market, starting with the United States, and consider Japan’s way of doing things,” said Tamotsu Nomakuchi, head of the advisory Robot Revolution Realization Committee to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as quoted by Reuters.