Japan puts troops on display; says SDF role to grow

Oh man, I live near here and would have loved to have seen this. Is it just me, or is it really hard to find out about local events? :(

As a result of years of training with the US military, the Japanese military is well-versed in some of the best tactics and is good to go.

If this means that the US military is going to at last move out of Okinawa, I'm all for it!

Before criticizing Japan, China should introduce the Article 9 clause to their constitution.

@Bertie

If this means that the US military is going to at last move out of Okinawa, I'm all for it!

Sorry, don't get your high hopes up just yet, that won't happen for a very long time. You should be happy. Japan is being trained by the best military force on the planet. It's a very good thing.

@jay To get tickets you need to go into a lottery, I heard about 7x as many people apply as tickets available to the public. I went in 2010, it was awesome.

If you are nearby,you can often see the helicopters and planes flying around. I went to Fuji Safari park once and when leaving got to see two Apache Gunships practicing to hide behind hills and pop up etc.

Abe's dreams of destroying Japan are coming true.

smithinjapan

Abe's dreams of destroying Japan are coming true.

Another ignorant biased comment from you, every nation with a military or defense force needs to practise and train its forces, South korea held exercises recently but we didnt here negative ignorant comments from you then did we ?

Japanese Defense Force have been having this excercise at Fuji long before Abe came to power, so its hardly Abes dream of destroying Japan coming true is it.

smithinjapan Whats the problem with Japan holding military drills. Its an honor to be there.

Peace is something to be proud of, war isn't.

@OssanAmerica. CrazyJoe is right. Before critizing Japan and not rending forgiveness, China the big bully in the East needs to shut up and quit ruining the environment in the name of progress. The reason China is going to the sea for territorial matters is because they are depleting their natural resources. Did you notice the government isn't expanding in their backyard but trying to evolve in their front yard. You are right though about the atrocities of war that Japan engaged in. That was then though and life needs to move on. If you want to mention atrocities, what about what Iraq did to the Kurds？ About what Australia did to the Aborigines (true Aussies)？About what England and France did to the Africans？Hell what the Anglosaxons did to the American Indian？ To top it all off, about what Hitler and the Germans did to the Jews？In order to move on, forgiveness needs to be given. The first move has already been done to heal the war wounds through financial support by the Japanese. In my opinion, it is China's turn to move in a positive direction. Have you ever been to China？ Not the most relaxed place. The food is awesome! The people are kind! BUT the Communist Government sucks!

Japan's economy continues to FAIL, so the blame falls on countries that suffered or benefited from Japan's aggressive stance. And when I say benefited that is a bad joke as none of these countries would ever wish to be under Japanese control again. War is vile. An agressive Japan makes all of Asia worried for a good reason. Unit 731 was abominable but is still unknown by most Japonese. How many times, how much destruction does it take to open eyes?

@Ossanamerica You should nptice that when China and korea asks Japan for ANOTHER honest remorse, they just do it to hurt Japan, its been 70 years. New administration. New people. What Japan does. Well you can see it that nobody is free of sins. And those siners are dead.

I would assume that people that are against this never served themselves.

Many countries(like my own) still use compulsory service.

All readers back on topic please.

Yeah, good! How about sending a couple of hundred of them up to Fukushima and get that bloody mess cleaned up instead of just showboating and boasting about how good they are?

The army served nobly after the earth quake and tsumani, and were at the forefront of recovering victims and dong much much more. They are a fine service and to be greatly respected. Glad they are upgrading their range of options.

Bernie, go crawl back under your rock or move to "freedom loving" DPRK. The U.S. military is the reason that you get to say the ridiculous things you are famous for.

The sport is war, total WAR ----> When victory's a massacre!!!

Get a life! Japan could NEVER defend itself. If a war came it would be either carved up between Russia and China or become a vassal state of another country other than the US. It has no resources, and is reliant on being supplied by sea. It has to sell its' soul by having American marines in Okinawa. The Chinese miliary may be big now but wait see what would happen if it came down to a real fight. Germany found out at its' expense when they took on Russia. Japan would find out the same thing if they tried to take on China. The status quo, although it might not sound great and Abe may have to put away some of his pride, is the best. It doesn't mean that Marines have to be in Okinawa, however.

By the way there are no winners for the general populations of either countries when war does happen. Just losses for everyone- human losses.

@only one ... Japan could NEVER defend itself.

On the contrary. In a conventional war Japan could well defend itself; the nation is mostly mountains ideal for resistance. Japanese are tough and can get by living on edible wild plants and mountain crabs. However, now we live in a nuclear weapon age, a conventional war like that is unlikely or impossible. Japan does not have nuclear weapons; so strictly speaking they would be unable to defend themselves against a nuclear threat, but I think what you meant was more condescending.

@CraigHicks, you're right that "edible wild plants" (sansai) are a delicacy, but I'm not familiar with mountain crabs. Do they climb all the way up to the mountaintops from the ocean? Are they freshwater crabs? Are you sure their supply isn't being depleted by the ravenous Yeti?

@Only one

Worst scenario, you are probably right.

overchan: "smithinjapan Whats the problem with Japan holding military drills. Its an honor to be there."

The point is there is a whole lot of bombast going along with the bomb blasts, and 'celebrating' war is not something to be proud of.

I have read with some interest about the doom and gloom comments about the foretelling of armed conflict with countries like China, and Russia if Japan stays vigilant, and prepared. What does that have to do with a military exercise? China has them, Russia has them, and South Korea has them. Every standing armed force has them. Perhaps you should revisit your thinking. There is no muscle flexing here, just sound military preparedness. I applaud the Japanese Self Defense Forces, I am humbled by anyone who puts on a uniform in order to stand and fight (if necessary) for their country. Those of you who take exception to this are the first ones to wet their pants, and cry for help, but never ever stand up for anyone else! They do, they have, and they will in the future! And any person who puts on a uniform loves his country, not its politics, you people should just relax wherever you live, that you have an armed forces, and thank them every day, you get a free ride because of them!

What does that have to do with a military exercise?

This is not a military exercise. Its a war show. It promotes war.

smithinjapan See it like this. I have lots of fishing poles and reels. But I dont go fishing to save my life. If im starving those poles could save me and my family

How long does it take to amend the constitution-- this can't be done in a matter of weeks? I'm tired of the hostile aggression towards Japan by its neighbors- its insane-- hurry up and change the constitution please!!!!

@Kenny Wopper

It's easy to say amend the constitution, but if you amends the constitution, and have less reliance on U.S., and U.S. saids pay for majority of the defense cost, can Japan afford spending ten percent more per year than now for many decades on their defense to catch up, especially with fragile economy? Your talking about changing from current 1 percent of GDP to 2 percent on defense, which means increase of $5 billion dollars per year for many decades. Maybe this is exactly want U.S. want Japan to do so they can absorb majority of the cost.

You know... it's kind of ludicrous for Japan to flex their military might claiming to defend the territory they hi-jacked from the Chinese in the first place during the First Sino Japan War. So how would you feel if a guy that literally ripped off your personal properties is now arming tooth and nail getting ready to fight you at all cost. Above all claims Daioyu Island belongs to Chinese people and it's time to return it back to the rightful owners.

@tokyodoumo

Wow!

smithinjapan

overchan: "smithinjapan Whats the problem with Japan holding military drills. Its an honor to be there."

The point is there is a whole lot of bombast going along with the bomb blasts, and 'celebrating' war is not something to be proud of.

They are not celebrating war by holding training exercises, they are training to defend the nation and its people from an invasion and the article even stated that, how can you construe a training exercise into being a celebration of war?

How would it be for you smith if japan had no defense force and the country where you live and work was invaded by a not so friendly neighbour who spoke a language you did not understand?

Every nation has the right to defence and to train for that defence.

They are not celebrating war by holding training exercises, they are training to defend the nation and its people from an invasion and the article even stated that, how can you construe a training exercise into being a celebration of war? >

The article also mentions that this is a display, not a training mission...

Designed more as a spectacle than a training opportunity>

All countries have a right to self defense, as does Japan currently under it's constitution... what no one wants to see is the return to the bad old days (revered by some Japanese rightists) experienced by Japans neighbours...