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Kochi school to launch SDF course

27 Comments

A private high school in Kochi Prefecture will offer a “Self Defense Force Course” from next academic year.

Kochi Chuo, a private high school located in Kochi City, announced that six hours of class time each week will be used for "jukendo" (Japanese martial art of bayonet fighting), studying for the civil service exam, as well as a lecture from former Self Defense Force officers, Sankei News reported.

A school official said: “Our goal is to have the students understand the international current affairs and the role of the Self Defense Forces, so that they can become young leaders of society.”

The official also said the school hopes the course will inspire students to join the SDF.

The school has an enrollment of 160 students each year for six courses but has not yet decided how many will be accepted for the SDF course, Sankei reported.

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27 Comments
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I hope these kids and parents realize that their kids will be officially registered as having 'received training' and will be open to a backdoor draft when the inevitable shortage of troops comes into play. The wording of laws is exploited enough due to vaguaries that it is very easy to see it happening.

Anyway, slowly but surely under Abe brining back the mandatory military training and the draft. These are the baby steps, people.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

This is pretty strange. I'm curious about which classes will be dropped to accommodate for the JSDF course. I'm also curious about what sort of credits they will obtain from this course. Is it just with the specific intention of joining the JSDF or are there other credits involved? This course reminds me of what used to happen to wayward boys that were sent to military schools. All high school students on South Korea do two years of service. Wayward boys and girls in North Korea get sent to military work camps. Will this be the start of something similar in Japan?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Its a private school in addition to the course/curriculum being one into which a student must be selected for admittance. If there is demand for it on the part of the parents of the children who seek to enroll their kids into this private school, then I see no problem what so ever with it.

@Disillusioned I think there was a law that dictated that highschools, whether Kougyou(tech), Shougyou (business), or otherwise, need to ensure that students who graduate receive credits that allow them to enroll into any post secondary institution they wish. So its not like the graduates are going to have their options limited by enrolling into this course. And given that its a private school, these kids will in all probability be from better off families rather than poor ones.

@ SmithinJapan

" very easy to see it happening. "

Just look at the backlash Abe is getting from the security bill. Any attempt to reinstate the draft will not only be political suicide (for both himself and the entire LDP) but also bound to fail. I think its insulting to the majority of voting age Japanese people when people like you say this kind of crap. Like enlightened ones like yourself can see things that the majority of dim witted Japanese voters can't, so its your "burden" to act the prophet. Sure many Japanese voting aged citizens don't give 2 craps about politics, but you don't think they would bite back at the government if they were faced with a government that tried to bring back the draft? Give me a break.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Farming the future toy soldiers for Abe and whoever becomes the next dictator.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's a Private School, let them do what they want. Let's be thankful that military schools are a rarity here

2 ( +4 / -2 )

F4HA604: "Just look at the backlash Abe is getting from the security bill."

And just look at him doing it anyway, and in fact saying it is "the mandate of the people" that is pushing him to do so.

"Any attempt to reinstate the draft will not only be political suicide (for both himself and the entire LDP) but also bound to fail"

They're not going to openly advertise it, my friend. They're going to do what they are doing here, with these 'special courses', and also with the wording of Abe's changes, and when the time comes say it's written in law, which it will be depending on how you 'interpret' it. This was already spoken about just the other day when it was admitted that the new legislation has in effect created a backdoor draft. You notice all the SDF headquarters popping up all over the place? the presence of SDF troops and vehicles being displayed at local festivals, popular shopping areas, and other special events? Don't sign anything while visiting! haha.

"Sure many Japanese voting aged citizens don't give 2 craps about politics, but you don't think they would bite back at the government if they were faced with a government that tried to bring back the draft? Give me a break."

Give me a break, eh? How much has their 'biting back' over the restart of NPPs gotten them? How much has this biting back over Abe's security bills gotten them? last I heard he was still creating new ways to circumvent popular opinion and avoid sending back any legislation that would need to be signed so that it can be passed directly after the Upper House vote. So again, when these laws pass, what are the people going to do, according to you?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

"Japanese martial art of bayonet fighting"

What? so useful in a modern war im sure... Its the added brainwashing i`d be more worried about.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

I don't object to the basic concept - one role of private institutions is to offer flavors other than what government is offering, and this is one direction. There are a number of military prep schools in the US, and this is nothing in comparison.

However, it seems a little half-hearted. If you want to make this your edge, surely you can do better than jukendo. How about at least teaching the basics of shooting, first aid and vehicle driving? Maybe even get an old tank or two and let them drive it.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

@Smith 1 - You obviously overestimate the abilities of the LDP

2 - You talk like restarting NPP is on equal grounds as a draft, you may not like it but there are still enough folks who are understanding of it to allow Abe to do it, same goes for the current security law. (If this weren't the case Abe's ratings would go into single digits, giving legitimacy to a recall action, upon which the LDP will be kicked out)

A draft is something that is on a totally different level, which definitely requires a constitutional amendment so long as article 18 exists, and is still pretty much impossible with this generation of Japanese people even with the article 96 issue. And don't forget the international backlash for this as well, won't be anywhere near what the security law is facing. After all, Korea and China looks dumb criticizing collective self defense as being resurgence of imperial ambitions.

If they pass, which they won't, people will vote for the DPJ who will repeal the act, simple as that my old chap.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

F4HA604: "A draft is something that is on a totally different level, which definitely requires a constitutional amendment so long as article 18 exists, and is still pretty much impossible with this generation of Japanese people even with the article 96 issue."

You do realize, don't you, that with all this talk of what is 'impossible' based on the Constitution, that Japan is not legally allowed to have any military whatsoever, right? They got around that pretty easily, didn't they? Now Abe is once again "reinterpreting" the Constitution. I'm not overestimating the abilities of the LDP, if anything I'm pointing out the apathy of the voters in this nation to effectively do anything. The MAJORITY of people in Japan are against what Abe's doing, in this and many other things, including nuclear power (yes, there are more that support it than his security legislation, but still a majority opposed), and yet the man just won reelection to the head of the LDP without a vote cast. If there was serious pressure on him, someone would have run against him and the party voted that person in instead of risking it with Abe. Instead, DESPITE a majority being against Abe's plans, there's absolutely NO contest.

"If they pass, which they won't,"

I hope you're right. But as I said before he's already passed stuff that most are against, be it this, the NPP restarts, or the Secrets Law among others. If he wants it, he'll find a way to get it done, plain and simple, as he has been doing for a while now. After that, he'll retire.

"...people will vote for the DPJ who will repeal the act, simple as that my old chap."

Yeah, right. If that were the case the DPJ would now be in power. It's more likely that, as with the last election, just a record number of people will fail to show up at the polls and the LDP will get a 'majority' vote at about 10% of the voting public. It's a cycle that people here are unwilling to break, and the leaders unwilling to break themselves because they know the people cannot seriously oppose them.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Kobe bar owner

Are you hinting that the Japanese are incapable of learning how to fight?

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

@ peeping Tom

No not at all, i was just pointing out how useless bayonet training would be for a modern day war thats all.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

There are some high schools in Australia that have cadet camp + a once-a-week after-school training course + affiliation with the military BUT that doesn't mean that you're going to be drafted into the military. So it's pretty stupid to assume so just because they're going to introduce a military-related course. Plus the word "offer" is used which means it probably isn't going to be mandatory. Reading too much into things, mr. smith.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

My family have been Kochi residents for many years , Kochi Chuo is a prominent private school, however this announcement will not endear the local communities next generation who will not be enthralled by six hours of class time each week being devoted to “jukendo” (Japanese martial art of bayonet fighting). Masahisa Chikamori, chairman of the school’s board of directors should take note and consider his position.

http://www.kochi-chuo.ed.jp/index.htm

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kobe bar owner

Well, I'm pretty certain "jukendo" will not be all they'll teach.

Japan's got plenty of martial artists practitioners; this might just be an easier way to entice them into the army.

Do you think that the US marines (and others) do not train in bayonetting, knifing, garrotting, eye gauging and the like?

You’d be surprised how useful that can be one day.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Rural, lower economic areas like Kochi, (where in-laws live) are the backbone of the military.(see many maps on Google).

US high schools offer ROTC programs, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. US News and World Report article says 3,000 USA high schools have this program which emphasizes its leadership training. JSDF needs a better PR program if bayonetting is the main skill offered.

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2014/11/10/3-things-to-know-about-high-school-jrotc-programs

Certain train stations like Higashi Oume in Tokyo have SDF recruiting posters and is near a large high school.

When I was in high school, we had recruiters visit the school or even call our homes, male or female to entice us to join the military.

Wonder how many schools in Japan do that?

I know of one rural private school where high school students are required to take the JSDF entrance exam (not required to go), in addition to the Center and other exams.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why would any parents want their child to learn 'bayonet skills'?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Why would any parent want his/her child to learn Iaido?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Why would any parents want their child to learn 'bayonet skills'?

To learn to fight or to become a soldier.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

why would any parent want to be a parent?

was there not a story yesterday inclusive of something regarding the 'tackling' of the birthrate? I at least am quite amused at the mixture of messages sliding off the desks of the powers that be.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Smith

Smith - You do realize, don't you, that with all this talk of what is 'impossible' based on the Constitution, that Japan is not legally allowed to have any military whatsoever, right?

Nope, they can't have military for the purpose of resolving international disputes. Self preservation is a natural right provided by natural law and no constitution can alienate that from nations. Your interpretation of the constitution is the one that is "stretching it".

Smith - The MAJORITY of people in Japan are against what Abe's doing, in this and many other things, including nuclear power (yes, there are more that support it than his security legislation, but still a majority opposed), and yet the man just won reelection to the head of the LDP without a vote cast.

Not true neither, the polls may seem to say so, but merely the fact that the opposition has not put forward a motion of non-confidence is proof enough of this. Renhou the other day clearly stated in an interview that if there were an election tmr, she is not confident that the DPJ can oust the LDP.

Smith - hope you're right. But as I said before he's already passed stuff that most are against, be it this, the NPP restarts, or the Secrets Law among others. 1 - No law bringing back the draft will pass, and even if it does, that will be the end of the LDP (unless of course theres an attack on Japan, whether legit or false flag, that riles up support. In which case, even if the consent was artificially manufactured, consent is consent hence not un-democratic)

2 - NPP and Security laws, like i mentioned in the previous msg and above, are not as unpopular as people like you would like to believe. NPP has a lot of support from industries and security laws has support from the growing right, both of which no less citizen than are the left who's opinions you only take into account.

3 - Everything you say is based on the assumption that the majority of the people share your views on things, nothing more than wishful thinking. Again, a lot more people than you're willing to accept is understanding of the said laws, much of your fear mongering about Abe would only make sense if he somehow got rid of the right of citizens to vote, which he hasn't and never will. I promise to stand corrected if you present me with good arguments, but none of your rebuttals were in any way effective my friend.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

that Japan is not legally allowed to have any military whatsoever

That is neither theoretically nor factually an accurate statement.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@ Peeping_Tom

You know a lot about man - man combat right?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Any attempt to reinstate the draft will not only be political suicide (for both himself and the entire LDP) but also bound to fail

Look at attempts thus far to oppose it........too little too late. I'm sure it will be the same with coscription. People will just shrug their shoulders and say: "shoganai"

3 ( +4 / -1 )

A school official said: “Our goal is to have the students understand the international current affairs and the role of the Self Defense Forces, so that they can become young leaders of society.”

ALL students (public hs too) should be learning about or made aware of international current affairs, sdf and usafj, global hot spots etc. No jukendo, that's a lame idea.

Most of these kids know crap about this stuff. And they want them to vote @18?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"You know a lot about man - man combat right?"

Not a lot; I'm just one of those non-drinking (alcohol of course), non-smoking, non-drug taking types that fell in love with Karate from a very young age.

Been practising since I was a kid and probably will continue until I die.

That's all.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

DON'T PANIC!!! That's it. It's started! Cold steel! Bayonet practice! They don't like it up them, you know! Those commie Chinks and Koreans!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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