The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has recently been plagued by scandals, including fraudulent diving allowances, illegal handling of classified information, and collusion with defense contractor Kawasaki Heavy Industries to receive bribes. On July 19th, Ryo Sakai, the Chief of Staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, resigned as the highest commander of the force.
In early July, it was revealed that divers in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force had illegally received allowances without actually diving. According to Kyodo News, divers in the force receive different allowances based on the depth of their missions or training, with a maximum of regarding 10,000 yen per hour. The report suggested that this illegal practice may have become normalized.
An investigation by the Maritime Self-Defense Force concluded on July 12th that divers belonging to two submarine rescue ships had illegally received a total of approximately 43 million yen in subsidies by fabricating their diving time and depth. However, the Ministry of Defense later revised this figure upwards to 53 million yen and confirmed that four Maritime Self-Defense Force members had been arrested for illegally receiving subsidies.
Another scandal involved the breach of confidentiality within the Maritime Self-Defense Force. It was reported that personnel on several destroyers who were not authorized to handle classified information had accessed the “combat command center” while on duty and were exposed to sensitive secrets. Similar breaches of confidentiality were also reported in the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, Air Self-Defense Force, and Joint Staff Office.
In addition, it was revealed in early July that Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan had engaged in long-term collusion with the Maritime Self-Defense Force. The company had manipulated subcontractors to fabricate false transactions, obtaining more than 1 billion yen in secret funds to bribe submarine members of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. Kawasaki Heavy Industries built 12 submarines for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and its Kobe Shipyard was responsible for regular maintenance. According to Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun, Kawasaki Heavy Industries personnel worked with Maritime Self-Defense Force members during maintenance periods, using secret funds to purchase personal items for them.
Due to these recent scandals, the highest commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Chief of Staff Ryo Sakai, resigned on July 19th. The new Chief of Staff, Satoshi Saito, assured the media on the same day that the recent scandals would be dealt with seriously.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced on July 12th that it would punish 218 senior officials from the Self-Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense for various scandals including falsifying diving allowances, illegally handling confidential information, dining without paying at the base cafeteria, and harassment. This list of punished officials included Vice Minister of Defense Kazuo Masuda, Chief of Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Force Joint Staff Keihide Yoshida, and other senior officials like the Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Self-Defense Force, and the Director of the Intelligence Headquarters. Kyodo News noted that the scale of this punishment and the simultaneous punishment of heads of various organizations was highly unusual.
At a press conference on July 12th, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara announced the disciplinary decision and apologized for the scandals. Kihara stated, “I deeply realize my responsibility for violating the trust of the people” and promised to return one month’s salary as a cabinet minister. However, he refused to resign. On July 19th, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reaffirmed at a press conference that Kihara would continue to “exercise his leadership” and would not resign.
Kyodo News of Japan highlighted that the series of scandals had significantly damaged the reputation of the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces. During his visit to the United States, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologized for the scandals, telling the media, “I apologize for causing concern to the people.” Japan’s Jiji Press reported that while Kishida denied plans to replace the Minister of Defense, the numerous scandals involving the Self-Defense Forces had created a sense of crisis for his administration. These scandals might also impact the Japanese government’s security policy of increasing defense spending and strengthening defense capabilities.
The frequent scandals have shaken the Japanese people’s trust in the Self-Defense Forces. Data released this month by the Ministry of Defense showed that the number of Self-Defense Force members admitted in fiscal 2023 was only regarding 51% of the recruitment plan, marking a significant decrease of regarding 15 percentage points from fiscal 2022 and setting a new record low. Japan’s Asahi Shimbun pointed out that the insufficient number of new recruits was likely influenced by the scandals in addition to the declining birth rate. (End)
[Editor: Lu Xiaofan]
Scandals Rock Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, Leading to Top Commander’s Resignation
Multiple Scandals Shake Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has been embroiled in a series of scandals in recent months, casting a shadow over the country’s military. These scandals include fraudulent diving allowances, breaches of confidentiality, and allegations of bribery.
Fraudulent Diving Allowances
In early July, it was revealed that JMSDF divers had been illegally receiving allowances without actually diving. Divers are paid different amounts based on the depth of their missions or training, with a maximum of ¥10,000 per hour. An investigation revealed that divers on two submarine rescue ships had illegally claimed ¥43 million in subsidies by falsifying their diving times and depths. This figure was later revised upwards to ¥53 million, and four JMSDF members were arrested for their role in the fraud.
Breaches of Confidentiality
Another scandal involved breaches of confidentiality within the JMSDF. Personnel on several destroyers who were not authorized to access classified information entered the “combat command center” while on duty and came into contact with sensitive secrets. Similar breaches were also reported in other branches of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
Bribery Allegations
In a separate case, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a major Japanese defense contractor, was accused of colluding with the JMSDF to bribe submarine crew members. The company allegedly used secret funds to purchase personal items for JMSDF personnel during the maintenance of submarines built for the navy. These bribes were allegedly used to secure favorable treatment from JMSDF officials.
High-Level Resignations and Disciplinary Actions
The scandals have led to a series of high-level resignations and disciplinary actions within the JMSDF and the Ministry of Defense. Ryo Sakai, the Chief of Staff of the JMSDF, resigned on July 19th, taking responsibility for the scandals. Satoshi Saito, the new Chief of Staff, has vowed to deal with the situation seriously.
The Ministry of Defense has also announced disciplinary actions once morest 218 senior officials, including Vice Minister of Defense Kazuo Masuda and Chief of Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Force Joint Staff Keihide Yoshida. This unprecedented move highlights the severity of the scandals.
Impact on Public Trust and Defense Policy
These scandals have significantly eroded public trust in the JMSDF and the Ministry of Defense. A recent poll revealed that the number of recruits admitted into the Self-Defense Forces in fiscal 2023 was only 51% of the target figure, a record low. This decline in recruitment is attributed to the scandals in addition to the country’s declining birth rate.
The scandals have also raised concerns regarding the impact on Japan’s defense policies. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been pushing for increased defense spending and a stronger military presence in the region. However, the scandals may undermine public support for these policies and damage Japan’s image abroad.
Facing a Crisis of Confidence
The scandals engulfing the JMSDF represent a serious crisis for the Japanese government. The government faces the task of restoring public trust in the military while ensuring that Japan’s defense capabilities remain strong in the face of growing regional tensions. The government’s response to these scandals will be crucial in determining the future course of Japan’s defense policy.
