Since establishing the National Intelligence Council (NIC) this summer, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae acknowledged the threat caused by leaks of sensitive technology to foreign intelligence services. Counterintelligence also includes counterespionage, which are activities used to penetrate, defeat, and manipulate foreign intelligence services. What unites all of these activities and organizations is their ultimate objective being the defense of the state against foreign intelligence services. Counterintelligence has received less attention but is extremely important to the broader strengthening of Japanese intelligence. Its primary objective is protecting Japanese intelligence, whether it be through recruiting agents, hacking into secured systems, or old-fashioned break-ins.