Japan's return to militarism?

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Tokyo Trials, a historic moment that exposed the crimes of Japanese militarism and delivered justice to the world. But today, new developments are raising serious questions. In just a matter of days, Japan has signed a $7 billion warship deal with Australia, sent its largest-ever military contingent to US-led war games in the Philippines, and eased arms export restrictions, signaling a major policy shift. What do they reveal about Japan's strategic ambitions? Is this a return to militarism, or something more complex? And why is the region and the world watching closely?