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The nine person Security Council (安全保障会議, Anzen-Hoshō-Kaigi?) advises the prime minister on national security and the military. However, the Security Council deals with a wide spectrum of issues which indirectly affect Japan’s broader interests including basic national defense policy, the National Defense Program Outline, the outline on coordinating industrial production and other matters related to the National Defense Program Outline including decisions on diplomatic initiatives and defense operations. It was created on July 1st, 1986 to replace its predecessor, the National Defense Council, which had acted as an advisory group on defense-related matters since 1956. The Security Council is presided over by the Prime Minister and includes the Ministers of State who are specified in advance under Article 9 of the Cabinet Law; the Foreign Minister, the Finance Minister, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, the Minister for defense, the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, and the Director General of the Economic Planning Agency. The Chairman of the Security Council may invite the Chairman of the Joint Staff Council or another relevant State Minister or Official to attend meetings.
