The National Security Council (NSCJ, Japanese: 国家安全保障会議; Hepburn: Kokka anzen hoshō kaigi) is the principal forum used by the Prime Minister and Cabinet of Japan to coordinate and deliberate on security and defense policies for Japan.

It was formed in 2013 on the initiative of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to replace the ineffective Security Council and to centralize information management. The NSCJ was officially established on 4 December 2013, following the passing of the law establishing the National Security Council on 27 November 2013.

The council is supported by the National Security Secretariat, a department within the Cabinet Secretariat. The National Security Advisor serves as the Secretary-General of the Secretariat.

The immediate predecessor to the National Security Council was the Security Council, which itself had superseded the Defense Council in 1986. The old Security Council had been beset by bureaucratic inefficiencies and lack of coordination. During the Koizumi cabinet there were several calls for the creation of a "Japan-style National Security Council" similar to the United States National Security Council.

After Shinzo Abe was appointed prime minister for the first time in 2006 he initiated preparations for a new National Security Council, but the effort stalled after he stepped down from office in January 2007.

The effort was renewed after Abe was reappointed as prime minister in December 2012. Key features of the proposed new National Security Council was the four-minister meeting which would allow for more flexible and regular deliberation and the creation of a robust staff, the National Security Secretariat.

The House of Representatives passed a bill to establish the council on 7 November 2013 and the House of Councillors followed suit on 27 November.

The Council met for the first time on 4 December 2013 to discuss the adoption of the National Security Strategy and China's Air Defense Identification Zone.