2 SDF planes leave for Middle East on intel-gathering mission

yabai!!!

the WW2 war flag is waved.

The flag is the Naval Ensign of the JMSDF. And the P-3 patrol planes and surface ship are JMSDF. Knew someone would make a stupid comment about the flag, right on cue.

May God bless you, MSDF crews.

the WW2 war flag is waved.

Yeah, at first glance I thought it might have been an anti-Korean demonstration in Okubo, but then I realized they must be Navy dependents. It's okay to wave the Rising Sun Flag at your own father if he's going off to an uncertain fate.

They are going into a war, what do the prime minister not understand,just trying to oil supply

Japan getting involved in body of water that does not belong to Japan and protect as indicated by the Constitution. Abe just did this action on his own and soon just change the Constitution the way he wants since no is bold enough to stop him anyway.

If you look at what they have actually been mandated to do rather than your own bias you will see it is hardly distinguishable from the anti-piracy patrols. Iran and the other states have been briefed and Iran has made nice comments, so this is as risk free as it could possibly be.

Have to ask why a Self Defence Force is going half way around the world? Guess constitutional interpretation has quite a broad interpretation.

The JSDF is going to the Gulf of Aden to help protect Japanese commercial shipping; people and property, specifically the oil tankers that deliver vital energy to Japan, some of which have already been attacked by unidentified parties. The depolyment does not contradict Article 9 of the constitution.

Looks like a nationalistic move.

That sound you hear is the teeth gnashing by Korean visitors to this website.

Good luck and godspeed gents!

Did Abe supply the nationalistic headgear and flags? Spending money on military ventures is a sure way to sap the remaining dregs of the Japan economy. Military money does not circulate in the local economy, outside of the war machine that Abe seems bent on building. Look at how this spending is debilitating the U.S.A.

May all positive forces on Earth and beyond protect you all!, Thank you PM Abe!, he should get Nobel Peace Prize.

May all positive forces on Earth and beyond protect you all!, Thank you PM Abe!, he should get Nobel Peace Prize.

A bit over the top there cobber.

Really nice scenes. Good luck and God Speed to the MSDF in their role. Hopefully also bringing peace to the Middle East by being respected friends of all warring parties.

I suspect the South Korean government will be livid seeing rhis photo! Too bad. They are official Japanese flags being waved.

Have to ask why a Self Defence Force is going half way around the world?

To defend Japan and Japanese. Its pretty straightforward, no?

Good luck.

It is mandatory to defend their commercial ships, even if the Constitution denies. They can't just set back and watch how some countries destroy their important ships during critical situations. It's an act of self-defense and is really effective to improve their ability to carry out long-distance operations.

To the uniformed comments posted on here.

Japan had oil ships be hit in the middle east, twice it happened in that region.

Japan will not be part of the U.S. coalition of ships being send to the Middle East.

Iran is a friend of Japan, their president visited the country a few weeks ago and supports Japan's move to send ships.

Trolls who dislike Japan will always find a reason to complain... about anything, even a positive story they cry wolf. Curing cancer and they still complain and cry.

Waste of tax payers money and to what end. Even surveillance of that area is not going to do squat. Instead of paying for middle eastern oil, why does Japan not buy oil from the USA, we have plenty to sell.

@AlexBecu wow Alex, that was far better than I could’ve ever phrased it. And thank you so much for clearing that up, and realize some of that stuff myself.

And this will be good for the area in general, not just with Japanese ships there. Because this will contribute two more sets of eyes against any would be pirates out there.

It is surely the right of any nation to protect its shipping wherever on the high seas it comes under threat, and Japan is no exception. What needs to be clarified here is whether it is in fact Iran that is attacking shipping passing through the Straits of Hormuz. While it is entirely understandable that it could be given the regime in that country, are we relying entirely on US intelligence (remember the "weopons of mass destruction" that didn't exist? ), or are others involved? The more countries have surveillance in the area the more likely we will find out. But followg the shooting down of the Ukrainian airliner by jumpy and incompetent Iranian military, and the resultant protests by its citizens, maybe a regime change is coming and the situation will be resolved.

Turboprops and a frigate to meet the rest of us.