The Self-Defense Forces’ activities incorporate with the best interests of the public to an extremely high degree. The Supreme Court was quite right to broadly recognize the discretion of the defense minister.   The Atsugi base is jointly used by the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy. In the fourth lawsuit filed over noise from the base, the Supreme….Read more

The Supreme Court has scrapped lower court ruling that banned nighttime and early morning flights by Self-Defense Forces (SDF) planes around Atsugi base in Kanagawa Prefecture in a lawsuit filed by local residents. Moreover, the top court dismissed their demand for compensation for future noise pollution, which a high court ordered the government to pay to the plaintiffs. The ruling….Read more

The Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a high court ruling that ordered the state to suspend nighttime and early morning flights by the Self-Defense Forces at Atsugi air base near Tokyo due to noise pollution.   The top court also denied state compensation for future noise pollution at the air base in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is shared by the SDF….Read more

The Atsugi Air Base is home to the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s headquarters for “Fleet Air Force” and is a location of prime importance that is responsible for the surveillance and monitoring of Japan’s entire territorial waters from Hokkaido to Okinawa. It deploys about 30 “P1” cutting-edge patrol aircraft to detect foreign vessels and submarines approaching the Japanese waters around the….Read more

On Dec. 8, the Ministry of Defense announced that Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) personnel will engage in their first full-fledged drills in the “rescue of Japanese nationals overseas” on Dec. 14–16 at the GSDF Somagahara Maneuver Area (Shinto Village, Gunma Prefecture). The “rescue of Japanese nationals overseas” is one of the new missions permitted under Japan’s security legislation. The drills….Read more

TOKYO, Dec. 8, Kyodo — The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a high court ruling that ordered the state to suspend nighttime and early morning flights by the Self-Defense Forces at Atsugi air base near Tokyo due to noise, overturning a lower court ruling.   The top court also denied state compensation for future noise pollution at the air base….Read more

TOKYO, Dec. 6, Kyodo — Visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Tuesday inspected Japan’s largest naval vessel since World War II, the Izumo helicopter carrier, at a Maritime Self-Defense Force base southwest of Tokyo.   Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada told a press conference in Tokyo that she will meet Carter on Wednesday to reaffirm the strength of the….Read more

TOKYO, Dec. 6, Kyodo — The Japanese government said Tuesday it will give extra pay to Self-Defense Forces members involved in a U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan who engage in new duties under recent security legislation, as well as raise compensation paid to families for any such members killed.   The government will pay an additional 8,000 yen ($70)….Read more

Nikkei reported that Japan’s defense budget for FY2017 will be about 5.1 trillion yen, the largest amount ever and marking an increase for the fifth consecutive year. The Defense Ministry is anxious to procure the necessary defense equipment to counter China’s maritime advancement and North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations. The additional funds are expected to be used for deploying….Read more

Each Ground Self-Defense Force soldier tasked with the unprecedented kaketsuke keigo (rescue mission) duties in South Sudan will be paid an additional daily allowance of ¥8,000, informed sources said.   The government also plans to pay up to ¥90 million in condolence money for any troops killed or injured in the U.N. peacekeeping operation, which could see Japan asked to….Read more