The current low number of personnel could cause significant problems for us. With the severe security environment in the region, securing new recruits is imperative.

Next step: Conscription.

Yep, and anyone with kids that have dual nationality, should get them out now.

Good luck, Japan's educational system has been designed to produce sheep for Japan Inc, not wolves for the military. The SDF is not highly regarded by the Japanese people, and being a soldier is considered much less respectable than being a salaryman.

With young Japanese men nowadays being made up more and more of the "grass-eating" type, who spend as much time plucking their eyebrows and teasing their hair as women do, the SDF is going to have a hard time filling positions.

Japan should do what France did, and create a "foreign legion". Ironically, in the French Foreign Legion's heyday, they received some recruits from Japan. The legion did not require recruits to understand French, but the recruits picked it up soon enough, and after 8 years of service, legionnaires could be granted French citizenship.

@sangetsu

although many of your points about young men have merit, I think in this case that isn't the exact reason. We have seem these kind of stories ever since the Abe administration started pushing changes to interpretations of article 9, hence making the SDF seem more likely to actually engage in military action.

Japan's low birthrate is a now a security risk. Conscription would be a good idea. Toughen up some of these pathetic grass eaters and turn them into real men.

They might pay the Philippines to do the heavy lifting for them, who knows?