Piracy has increased dramatically in the Gulf of Aden on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and in the waters off Somalia, to the point of becoming an issue of urgency for international maritime safety. Japan is already lagging in its response, as more than ten states and bodies, including NATO, the EU, India, and Russia, have dispatched naval ships to the area. Based on existing law, the Japanese government should immediately order the Maritime Self-Defense Force to respond to piracy in the area but also decide on a clear policy towards creation of new legislation to address the piracy problem.