Japan Press Weekly

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2012 July 25 - 31 [SDF]

SDF mobilizes local gov’ts for ‘emergency’ drills

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces from July 16 to 20 held drills under the name of disaster control, deploying its ground, air, and maritime forces in metropolitan area.

This drill was based on the SDF’s plan to deal with a major quake hitting the capital. However, the main aim of the training was supposedly to involve the central and local governments in coping with “emergencies”.

The drill included information gathering, lifesaving, getting footholds in stricken areas, securing means of communications, and dispatching units to the metropolitan region following a disaster. This was the first time for the SDF to simultaneously run drills throughout the capital area, including Tokyo, Saitama, and Kanagawa prefectures.

Besides the SDF and concerned authorities of the national and local governments, the U.S. Forces Japan also took part in the training drill for the first time. The number of participants reached 5,000.

The defense ministry in December 2010 introduced a new version of the National Defense Program Outline, which requires the government to deal with situations such as missile attacks, large-scale disasters, and invasion in cooperation with local public bodies.

This training exercise aims to strengthen coordination among national government authorities, local governments, and the USFJ in the event of an earthquake hitting the metropolitan area.

Kishimoto Masato, secretary general of the Tokyo Peace Committee, said, “This action may lead to establishing a system to force governmental organizations, including municipalities, to cooperate with the SDF not only in case of a disaster but in sending troops overseas, which would be in violation of the Japanese Constitution.”