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Compared with, say, Washington DC, the sight of uniformed servicemen on the streets of Tokyo is rather uncommon. This, however, does not mean Japan's capital is without military protection.
As reported in Yukan Fuji (Dec 10), the responsibility for the defense and security of Tokyo and six neighboring or nearby prefectures (Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki Yamanashi and Shizuoka) is entrusted to the 1st Division of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), headquartered in Tokyo's Nerima Ward.
This division was established on Jan 18, 1962, but dates back to the 1st District Corps (Tokyo) of the-then National Police Reserve formed before the end of the allied occupation in 1950. It was reorganized as an infantry division 12 years later.
Not long after the end of the Cold War, world affairs shifted into the "war on terror," and in response, the 1st Division has been forced to adopt new tactics capable of responding to urban combat and terrorist attacks.
Only six months following 9/11 in the United States, the 1st D ivision underwent restructuring into a "Political and Economic Central Division." In addition to downsizing the conventional key field combat units, such as the Armored Division and Special Division (artillery), the Regular Division (infantry) made plans to boost its urban combat capabilities.
From next year, the 1st Division will undergo reorganization into a so-called "Regional Deployment Division. The Eastern Area Corps, the parent unit to which the 1st Division belongs, maintains another unit, the 12th Brigade, which will be reorganized into a motorized brigade with the aim of enabling rapid response.
As a result of this reorganization, the 1st Reconnaissance Combat Battalion will come into existence at the end of March 2022. The unit will be equipped with the Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicle, which features a wheeled undercarriage and a tank-like turret.
The new unit will not be created from scratch, but will integrate two existing units, the 1st Tank Battalion and 1st Reconnaissance Unit.
The 1st Tank Battalion is located at GSDF Camp Komakado in Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The battalion's symbol is an illustration of a centaur with a spear and shield in front of the unit's number "1", which resembles Mt. Fuji. The battalion has a long history as a tank unit, having been reorganized as the 1st Special Vehicle Battalion in 1954. In 2012, it became the first actual combat unit to deploy Japan's Type 10 tank.
As its name suggests, the 1st Reconnaissance Unit was tasked with reconnaissance.
The reorganization calls for elimination of tanks from the 1st Division. Since the metropolitan area protected by the 1st Division is served by highways and other arterial roads, the Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicle is much more suitable than the Type 10 tank, which many have pointed out is impractical for defense of the metropolis.
The overall strategy of the GSDF as a whole is to increase the readiness and mobility of each unit, and in line with this policy, tank units of each division and brigade are basically being abolished or reduced. Instead, the force will rely on reconnaissance combat battalions equipped with the Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicle.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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NCIS Reruns
I think the Chinese would find plenty of targets of opportunity without having to sail from past Yokosuka and Yokohama into Tokyo Bay.
smithinjapan
I'll believe it when I see it. It would take them a few days, first, to hanko and fax it all... well, unless Yasukuni or some right-wing politicians were being threatened.
RegBilk
Compared with, say, Washington DC, the sight of uniformed servicemen on the streets of Tokyo is rather uncommon.
Who sees uniformed servicemen on the streets of Washington D.C.? If anywhere, they would be on the grounds of federal buildings.
I would see uniformed policemen on the D.C. streets.
And come to think of it, it is quite common to see uniformed policemen on the streets of Japan.
Even in cities the US near military bases, it is not common to see uniformed servicemen on the streets.
Desert Tortoise
The PLA has a lot of armor in China but not much ability to transport large armored formations to an amphibious landing. What matters to Japan is how much of what kind of hardware the Chinese could conceivably land on a Japanese beach. I would be more concerned about islands south of Okinawa or maybe Okinawa itself facing amphibious assault. The home islands need to worry more about being bombarded by missiles and potentially aircraft carrier based air power. Consider the size landing force the US thought it needed to take Japan. China doesn't have that kind of amphibious sealift. Taking Okinawa would be a stretch for them even without the presence of US forces. In a few years though as the PLAN adds new amphibious ships it becomes easier for them to take Taiwan and Okinawa.
JeffLee
There are millions of cops in central Tokyo. On the streets around the Diet building, PM residence, and certain parts of Kasumiseki, there are more uniformed officers outside than regular people, including parked buses filled with riot officers, more than anywhere I've ever seen, with the exception of the government/embassy district of Hanoi.
When my Japanese girlfriend first visited Canada, she asked, "Where are all cops?"
nandakandamanda
When I first saw the headline I thought it must be defense against natural disaster.
A military scenario is still hard to envision, unless something like the fast boat Mumbai terrorist attack.
hattorikun
“Who sees uniformed servicemen on the streets of Washington D.C.? If anywhere, they would be on the grounds of federal buildings.
I would see uniformed policemen on the D.C. streets.
And come to think of it, it is quite common to see uniformed policemen on the streets of Japan.
Even in cities the US near military bases, it is not common to see uniformed servicemen on the streets.”
Not sure where you look at but to me armed to the teeth police and servicemen at major facilities are quite a common sight in the US. Not here in Japan.
nandakandamanda
The article is talking about uniformed servicemen, and since January this year they have been more frequent in Washington DC.
GdTokyo
The idea of Tokyo being subject to land attack seems remote. Much more likely are air and missile strikes.
GBR48
GdTokyo is correct. China and Russia have hypersonic weapons, most likely targeting nuclear power plants. You won't even see them coming. The only reason to have the Japanese military in Tokyo is to control Japanese citizens who are not obeying future lockdown rules.
Aly Rustom
LOL exactly!!!
One of my friends told me that Japan and Tokyo in particular has more cops per capita than any other country or city in the world.
RegBilk
hattorikunDec. 12 01:28 pm JST
Servicemen means someone in the military.
So, police are not servicemen.
Remember--police don't count. And what kind of facilities? Regardless, as I mentioned, Who sees uniformed servicemen on the streets , so I don't know where you are looking--wait, I do. You said facilities.
So you agree you won't see them in the streets.
Many US servicemen in Japan, and other worldwide installations, are not allowed to wear their uniforms off base, other than while commuting to a base.
So, for example, you won't see marines in their cammies walking into A&W on Route 58 in Okinawa.
Or on the streets.