The global race to secure the digital world against quantum threats just took a definitive step forward in East Asia. PQShield has officially delivered the external evaluation of ML-KEM (as standardized in NIST FIPS 203) for CRYPTREC, Japan’s cryptographic standardization body.
This isn’t just a technical checkmark; it is the “starting gun” for the Japanese government, critical infrastructure, and technology supply chains to begin deploying quantum-safe encryption at scale.
Unlocking the “CRYPTREC Ciphers List”
In Japan, the CRYPTREC Ciphers List is the gold standard. It defines the cryptographic algorithms required for government procurement and is the blueprint for the nation’s industrial and export ecosystems.
By evaluating ML-KEM, PQShield has cleared the path for its inclusion in this list. This provides the first clear and official signal that the Japanese government is accelerating its move toward quantum-safe security—well ahead of the formal national roadmap expected in May 2027.
“The ML-KEM evaluation reflects a comprehensive analysis of both theoretical security and real-world implementation… providing a strong technical foundation to support Japan’s roadmap.” — Shuichi Katsumata, Lead Cryptography Researcher at PQShield
Why ML-KEM?
ML-KEM (Module-Lattice-Based Key-Encapsulation Mechanism) is the quantum-safe encryption standard approved by NIST. PQShield’s full-stack evaluation confirmed:
- Robust Security: All parameter sets meet or exceed NIST security levels against both classical and quantum attacks.
- General-Purpose Viability: The algorithm is ready for everything from high-speed data centers to the most constrained embedded devices.
- Implementation Resilience: The evaluation specifically tackled the primary challenge of PQC—ensuring protection against side-channel and physical attacks in real-world environments.
Alignment with Global Mandates
This milestone ensures Japan isn’t acting in a vacuum. The move aligns the country with global policy developments like the U.S. CNSA 2.0, which mandates PQC for government procurement. For Japanese manufacturers and exporters, this alignment is critical to remaining secure and competitive in international markets.
With the National Cyber Command Office (NCO) targeting a full transition to quantum-safe cryptography by 2035, the groundwork laid today ensures that Japan’s critical systems are protected long before a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC) emerges.
Local Expertise, Global Standards
PQShield’s involvement in Japan is deep-rooted. Through its local entity, PQShield G.K., the company continues to collaborate with AIST, participate in the Cyber Research Consortium (CRC), and support the Japanese market with its UltraPQ-Suite:
- Ultra Fast: For high-performance networking.
- Ultra Secure: Hardened against advanced physical threats.
- Ultra Small: Optimized for the IoT and embedded devices.
As co-authors of the initial NIST PQC standards, the PQShield team is uniquely positioned to help Japanese organizations turn these new requirements into operational reality.
Read the full Report on our Publications page.
Author Ben Packman, CSO – Ben leads PQShield’s global expansion through sales and partner growth across multiple vertical markets, alongside taking a lead role in briefing both government and the supply chain on the quantum threat. A strategic leader and natural problem solver with a proven track record of delivering innovative, creative and successful commercialisation across a diverse range of business areas, both domestically and internationally. 30yrs experience in Technology, Health, Media, and Telecoms, as well as advising multiple startups in the UK tech space with international investors.