#Japan #Tokyo #Cyber Defense #MIJXDR #Japan Cybersecurity

Japan Cyber Defense Raises 1 Billion Yen in Seed Funding

On October 2, 2025, Japan Cyber Defense, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, announced the launch of the nation's first sovereign cybersecurity platform, MIJXDR. This launch comes on the heels of a successful seed funding round, which raised a total of 1 billion yen, led by prominent investors such as Incubate Fund, MPower Partners, and DBJ Capital. This initiative aligns with the Japanese government's goal of fostering domestic products and services in the cybersecurity sector, as outlined in its strategy for promoting the national cyber industry.

The funding will allow Japan Cyber Defense to expedite the development of MIJXDR, designed specifically to conform to Japan's economic security policies and the protection of national infrastructure. This sovereign cybersecurity platform will be developed, constructed, and operated independently within Japan, ensuring that it upholds the principles of 'Privacy by Design.' The MIJXDR platform aims to deliver a unique solution capable of real-time active defense and compliance with domestic regulations, while achieving responsiveness and sovereignty in its operations.

Background and Business Overview

Currently, about 95% of cybersecurity solutions utilized within Japan are sourced from overseas. This highlights the critical gap in domestic cybersecurity capabilities that MIJXDR is poised to address. In 2024 alone, over 686 billion cyber attack packets were recorded in Japan, amplifying the urgency for an enhanced domestic cybersecurity infrastructure. Government agencies, including the Ministry of Defense (JMOD) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), have underscored the strategic importance of sovereign cyber defense. METI, in particular, aims to triple the domestic cybersecurity market by 2035.

The MIJXDR platform boasts several key features:

• - Government-Approved Defense Functions: Compliance with security requirements for critical national infrastructure (CNI) and the public sector.
• - Advanced Threat Detection: Real-time monitoring against advanced persistent threats (APT) and ransomware attacks.
• - Automated SOC Operations: Utilizing AI to enhance security team effectiveness with 24/7 automated responses.
• - Public-Private Partnerships: Designed to integrate with ISACs, CSIRTs, and various regulatory agencies.
• - Privacy-Conscious Compliance: Adhering to domestic laws and independent oversight standards.
• - Fully Sovereign Architecture: All development, hosting, and operations are conducted within Japan.

This platform can serve a multitude of sectors, including finance, manufacturing, national infrastructure, and small businesses, offering capabilities such as jump server detection, APT mitigation, ransomware reduction, and correlation analysis for supply chain attacks, thereby addressing geopolitical threats.

Future Outlook

Through the official launch of MIJXDR in 2025, Japan Cyber Defense aims to significantly influence the future of cybersecurity in Japan. Beyond technological development, the company seeks to establish a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem. Efforts will include organizing industry seminars and workshops to raise awareness of emerging threats, promoting collaboration, and fostering the development of next-generation cybersecurity talent. Japan Cyber Defense aspires to establish Made-in-Japan cybersecurity technology as a trusted international standard.

Collaborating with top-tier advisors, the company is committed to driving innovation within Japan, striving to position itself as the leading cybersecurity provider in the country. Continued partnerships with enterprises and government agencies will bolster efforts to create a robust digital infrastructure.

Investor Comments

Paul McNani, Partner at Incubate Fund

Having met Cartan at the beginning of last year, I was deeply impressed by his vision for building a robust sovereign cybersecurity foundation for Japan and its allies, along with his passion for addressing the shortage of cybersecurity talent in Japan. He has assembled a strong team of top cybersecurity experts and engineers to realize this vision, and I greatly look forward to working with this team.

Yumiko Murakami, Representative at MPower Partners

Japan Cyber Defense possesses an exceptional network of experts within the global intelligence community, positioning them perfectly to establish a world-class cybersecurity framework in Japan. We take pride in being trustworthy investors in NCD, supporting its mission to develop a cutting-edge cybersecurity industry in Japan.

Susumu Kurabayashi, CEO of DBJ Capital

As cyber threats become increasingly complex and sophisticated, it is urgent that we establish an independent defense system. NCD is enhancing its presence as a key player in safeguarding public and private sector security through accumulated expertise and advanced technology. This investment is seen as a significant step in effectively bolstering Japan's cyber defense capabilities alongside strengthening international cooperation.

Company Overview

Company Name: Japan Cyber Defense, Inc.
Founder and CEO: Cartan McCluckin
Founded: October 11, 2017
Overview: Cybersecurity advisory services, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Incident response, Cyber threat intelligence.
Location: 3-10-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
Website: nihoncyberdefence.co.jp
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nihon-cyber-defence

With this seed funding, Japan Cyber Defense is set to accelerate its growth and technological development. For details regarding recruitment, please contact: [email protected].