During this year’s annual training rotation in the Hawaii portion of the Joint Pacific Multinational Training Center — a series of Army training ranges in Hawaii and Alaska — the Japan Self-Defense Forces made its debut at the exercise with 320 troops and 80 vehicles, making it the largest foreign participant.
They shipped their hardware in advance on a chartered commercial freighter that brought them from Japan to Hawaii before navigating Oahu’s roads to make their way to Schofield Barracks as they joined troops from 10 countries for training in October. It was a significant show of force for the JSDF, Japan’s de facto military.
Japanese troops have increasingly had a presence at multinational training exercises around the Pacific, and this year Japan has signed new military cooperation agreements with the Philippines and Australia. Tokyo has also sought closer trilateral military cooperation with the U.S. and South Korea.
It’s a major shift for Japan, which after its devastating defeat in World War II had liked to think of itself as a pacifist nation that rejected the use of violence.
“The current security environment is completely different from a decade ago,” said Lt. Col. Kazuhisa Yoshio, commander of the Japanese troops who came to Oahu. They’re members of the Hokkaido-based 6th Rapid Deployment Regiment, a recently reorganized unit focused on a mixture of infantry and mechanized fighting. Members of the unit also trained in Indonesia this summer.
In recent years, moves by the Chinese military, North Korean missile tests and a much more aggressive Russia have led to major changes. Japan is now on track to double defense spending and seeks long-range missile technologies — along with other new weapon technologies.
“It was believed that it’s politically unthinkable that Japan could introduce the concept of a counterattack force,” said Matake Kamiya, a professor of international relations at the National Defense Academy of Japan. “But after several weeks into the Russian invasion (of Ukraine), we were very surprised to see that now almost 60%-70% of the Japanese public said it’s a good idea that Japan possess (these capabilities).”
An official at Japan’s Ministry of Defense told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that regardless, “Japan remains a pacifist country and always will be a pacifist country.”
But Ken Jimbo, a professor at Keio University and managing director at the International House of Japan, said, “It’s really a significant change that we are experiencing. And if you ask if that is a pacifist-oriented posture, I would say that it’s not.”
Rebuilding from history
In the years leading up to World War II, the Imperial Japanese military waged a series of small wars in China before launching a full-scale invasion in 1937. The invasion soured Japan’s relations with the United States and other Western powers with interests in the Pacific. The U.S. imposed severe trade restrictions on Japan and in 1940 repositioned the U. Doppelganger.
When the Japanese Imperial Navy launched its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the war expanded into battlefields across Asia and
What are the key factors driving Japan’s shift towards a more proactive security posture?
## Japan’s Growing Military Presence: A Conversation with Dr. Miyamoto
**Interviewer:** Today we’re joined by Dr. Miyamoto, an expert on Japanese security policy. Dr. Miyamoto, Japan recently took part in a major military exercise in Hawaii with unprecedented numbers, sending over 320 troops and 80 vehicles. Can you tell us about this and what it suggests about Japan’s changing security posture?
**Dr. Miyamoto:** You’re right, this was a significant event. The Joint Pacific Multinational Training Center saw Japan’s largest ever deployment for this exercise, even surpassing some long-standing U.S. allies. This reflects a clear shift in Japanese policy, moving away from its traditional pacifist stance after World War II.
**Interviewer:** What’s driving this change?
**Dr. Miyamoto:** Several factors are at play. The current security environment in the Asia-Pacific region has become increasingly complex and challenging.
**Interviewer:** Can you elaborate?
**Dr. Miyamoto:** The rise of China and its assertive actions in the region, coupled with North Korea’s nuclear program, have shaken long-held assumptions about regional stability. Japan is realizing that its economic prosperity and national security are inextricably linked to a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region, requiring a more proactive security policy.
Moreover, there’s a growing recognition that Japan needs to share the burden of regional security with its allies [ [[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces )
**Interviewer:** How is this shift being received domestically?
**Dr. Miyamoto:** There’s a complex mix of opinions within Japan. While there’s broad apprehension about the security landscape, there’s also a hesitancy to abandon the country’s pacifist identity. However, the government is actively engaging in public discourse to explain the necessity of this stronger security posture.
**Interviewer:** What are the implications of this for Japan’s relationships with its neighbors and the international community?
**Dr. Miyamoto:** Japan’s increased military presence is likely to be met with both support and concerns. Close allies like the United States and Australia are welcoming Japan’s greater role, while countries like China may view it with apprehension.
It’s important to note that Japan’s defense policy emphasizes self-defense and regional cooperation.
The JSDF’s growing participation in multinational military exercises, coupled with new defense partnerships, signals a more proactive and engaged Japan on the world stage.
**Interviewer:** Dr. Miyamoto, thank you for shedding light on this crucial shift in Japan’s security policy.
**
Dr. Miyamoto:** You’re welcome.
