Industrial spies prey on chance encounters to turn targets into informants

International relationsCharm, fluent Japanese and patience are all it takes to extract trade secretsA senior officer from the Metropolitan Police Department speaks to researchers at an electronics parts maker in Tsukuba. "I was shocked to learn that spies straight out of a movie actually exist," one attendee said. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama)HIROTO OKURAAugust 15, 2026 16:50 JSTTOKYO -- As geopolitical tensions intensify, industrial espionage targeting advanced corporate technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated. In some cases, spies have used fluent Japanese and strong interpersonal skills to approach targets under seemingly innocent circumstances before extracting confidential information.