That as the report notes that preparations are now being made in anticipation of a prolonged de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

For some context, there are ten national oil stockpiles in Japan. And they are either managed by the Japan Energy and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and privately operated stockpiles. The government has now instructed these storage bases to prepare for release.

That as it would seem to line up with the reported joint release and coordinated effort with the IEA earlier here.

The full Nikkei report can be found here (may be gated).