Attack submarines to amphibious planes: Japan's biggest companies bet big on exporting military hardware

Some of Japan's biggest companies, best known for motorcycles, washing machines and laptop computers, are pitching a new line of global products: military hardware.

Quiet-running attack submarines. Amphibious search-and-rescue planes. Ship-mounted radar systems that use lasers to help pinpoint approaching enemies.

After a ban on weapons exports that the Japanese government had maintained for nearly 50 years, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Hitachi, Toshiba and other military contractors in this semipacifist country are cautiously but unmistakably telling the world they are open for business.

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