Japan is considered a "paranuclear" state, with complete technical prowess to develop a nuclear weapon quickly, and is sometimes called being "one screwdriver's turn" from the bomb, as it is considered to have the materials and technical capacity to make a nuclear weapon at will.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-V#Potential_as_an_interconti...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epsilon_(rocket)#Vehicle_descr...
"The Epsilon is expected to have a shorter launch preparation time than its predecessors;[11][12][13] a function called "mobile launch control" greatly shortens the launch preparation time, and needs only eight people at the launch site,[14] compared with 150 people for earlier systems.[15]"
All this is just a coincidence. ^_-
The biggest threats to Japan are China and North Korea: you do not need ICBMs for them.
Cruise missiles have ranges of >1500km:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile_family)
And with that, a missile launched from the north of Japan (e.g., Sapporo) can hit NK:
* http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?R=1500km@RJCC
Southern Japan (e.g., Nagasaki) can reach Beijing and Shanghai:
* http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?R=1500km@RJFU
Japan doesn't currently have any, but perhaps Taiwan and/or SK would be willing to sell them some existing design:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyunmoo-3
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsiung_Feng_IIE
Though they seem to be working on updating their own design:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_12_surface-to-ship_missil...