As the conflict in Israel and Iran continues to intensify, Japan has said it is deploying Self-Defense Forces aircraft to Djibouti to be on standby for a possible air evacuation of Japanese nationals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/19/japan/sdf-plane-japanese-evacuation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #selfdefenseforces #defenseministry #gennakatani #israel #iran #djibouti

https://www.alojapan.com/1294042/okinawa-explosion-injures-four-soldiers/ Okinawa Explosion Injures Four Soldiers #explosion #Japan #KadenaAirBase #MilitaryAccident #news #Okinawa #OkinawaNews #OkinawaPrefecture #SelfDefenseForces #UnexplodedOrdnance #USAirBase #WartimeOrdnance #沖縄 Four Japanese soldiers were injured Monday following an explosion at a storage facility for unexploded ordnance located within a United States military base on Okinawa, local and defence officials confirmed, as reported by AP. The injuri…

https://www.alojapan.com/1293993/4-japanese-soldiers-injured-in-us-military-base-blast-in-okinawa/ 4 Japanese soldiers injured in US military base blast in Okinawa #JapaneseSoldiersInjured #KadenaAirBase #news #Okinawa #OkinawaExplosion #OkinawaNews #SelfDefenseForces #USMilitaryBase #沖縄 At least four Japanese sustained injuries after an explosion took place on Monday, June 9, within the US military’s Kadena Air Base in Japan’s Okinawa, news agency Xinhua reported, citing local media. According to public broadcaster NHK, the blast went off…

https://www.alojapan.com/1274027/asdf-training-plane-crashes-into-central-japan-lake/ ASDF Training Plane Crashes into Central Japan Lake #Japan #JapanNews #lake #news #plane #SelfDefenseForces #training It was not immediately known whether the two crew members survived the crash. The T-4 aircraft disappeared off the radar around 3:08 p.m. while flying near the city of Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, where the lake is located, after leaving the ASDF’s Komaki base in the neighbouring Aichi city of Komaki at 3:06 p.m. Chief Cabinet

To counteract China’s maritime and naval industrial dominance, the U.S. secretary of the navy has proposed that Japan build commercial vessels that would also be suitable for military use in an emergency. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/28/japan/politics/japan-us-shipbuilding/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #us #usjapanrelations #johnphelan #gennakatani #defense #selfdefenseforces #china

Two separate wildfires in Okayama and Ehime prefectures that started over the weekend continue to blaze, having destroyed at least 370 hectares of land between them as firefighters tried to put them out. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/24/japan/okayama-ehime-forest-fires/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #okayama #ehime #kumamoto #selfdefenseforces #yoshimasahayashi

A Self-Defense Forces officer has filed a suit seeking more than ¥14 million in damages over alleged workplace harassment in which he developed a mental illness after being tasked with work for which he wasn't trained. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/21/japan/crime-legal/sdf-power-harassment-lawsuit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #defenseministry #selfdefenseforces #harassment #powerharassment

U.S. air bases across the Indo-Pacific are becoming increasingly vulnerable amid a lack of hardened shelters, as China’s missile arsenal grows. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/10/asia-pacific/us-bases-asia-pacific/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #usbases #usmilitary #okinawa #defense #usmarinecorps #people039sliberationarmy #selfdefenseforces

Japan hosted a gathering of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership Wednesday, the first time a nonmember state has done so, in a move that highlights the growing cooperation between Tokyo and its Western allies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/11/20/japan/five-eyes-japan-meeting/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #fiveeyes #japan #selfdefenseforces #defense

Japan and Pacific island countries have agreed on a host of new initiatives designed to boost economic and security cooperation as Tokyo steps up efforts to counterbalance China’s growing regional clout alongside the U.S., Australia and other partners. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/07/18/japan/politics/kishida-pacific-islands-summit/ #japan #politics #fumiokishida #china #defense #selfdefenseforces #us #vanuatu #solomonislands

A 25-year-old U.S. Air Force serviceman in Okinawa Prefecture on Friday pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor — a case that has angered local residents and risks putting a dent in U.S.-Japan relations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/07/12/japan/crime-legal/okinawa-sex-assault-trial/ #japan #crimelegal #selfdefenseforces #okinawa #japanesecourts #usjapanrelations #sexcrimes

Japan's Defense Ministry has unveiled its first basic policy on the use of artificial intelligence as the country looks to stave off a manpower shortage and keep pace with China and the U.S. on the technology’s military applications. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/07/02/japan/sdf-cybersecurity/ #japan #selfdefenseforces #defenseministry #cybersecurity #ai #minorukihara

Footage of a Japanese naval destroyer that circulated on Chinese social media is likely genuine, despite initial speculation the video may have been generated by artificial intelligence. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/10/japan/destroyer-drone-video-footage/ #japan #defenseministry #drones #selfdefenseforces #china #socialmedia #ai #tech

As the search continues for seven missing crew members of two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters that crashed into waters hundreds of kilometers south of Tokyo, defense officials say there was no indication of aircraft issues. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/22/japan/msdf-helicopter-crash-search/ #japan #selfdefenseforces #defense #defenseministry #airaccidents #maritimeaccidents #minorukihara

The government plans to designate five airports and 11 ports in the country as facilities that can be used by the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard in ordinary times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/03/27/japan/defense-airports-ports-japan/ #japan #selfdefenseforces #japancoastguard #airports #ports

With only some 40 women in the unit, Japan's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade highlights how the Self-Defense Forces lag far behind in gender diversity. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/01/21/japan/japan-female-marines/?utm_content=bufferc6b69&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #selfdefenseforces #gender #women039sissues

Building an effective Japan-U.S. kill chain will enhance defense and ensure interoperability among each branch of the Self-Defense Forces. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2023/09/05/japan/japan-us-kill-chain/?utm_content=buffer4d192&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #commentary #japan #geoeconomicbriefing #usjapanrelations #selfdefenseforces