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MINISTRYOF

DEFENSE

MINISTRYOF

DEFENSE

JAPANDEFENSEFOCUS

Defense and Self-Defense Forces

JAPAN

2009 November

No.15

INSIDE : PACC and PAMS held in Tokyo

Anti-piracy Operations o� the Coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden

Publication of the 2009 Defense White Paper

Fuji Firepower Review

Toshimi Kitazawa appointed as Defense Minister

Defense Minister Kitazawa makes an address of his instructions to MoD & SDF personnel at the inauguration ceremony.

the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are diversifying in order to meet these challenges. The expectations of the Japanese people towards the Ministry of Defense and the SDF are rising. At the same time, it is extremely important for us not only to consider the future vision of the Ministry & the SDF and the roles they should play – especially with regards to the dispatch of SDF personnel overseas – but also to gain the public's understanding". The Minister went on to say "The Ministry of Defense and the SDF need to have a strategic perspective of the future of our nation and continue various efforts to ensure the peace and security of Japan. Even in these uncertain times, I believe that each and every individual member of the SDF must be prepared to overcome difficult challenges with creativity and proper actions. “The Ministry of Defense and the SDF have a role that remains unchanged regardless of the circumstances and the times. That role is to be the last bastion of defense of Japan. The Ministry of Defense and the SDF are entrusted to protect not only the lives and property of the people of Japan, but also its industry, economy, and culture – indeed everything which has been developed and carried on in this country”. "Therefore, I ask each and every member of the SDF to keep in mind that you are always with the people in fulfilling your mission of ensuring Japan’s national security, and to devote yourselves diligently to your daily duties", the Minister appealed. “The Ministry of Defense and SDF is a large organization of around 270,000 personnel with a

budget amounting to around 4.7 trillion yen, and is tasked with the noble mission of protecting the lives and property of the nation. I am therefore bracing myself for the great responsibility I am about to assume”. “Therefore, I would like to ask every one of you, who shoulder this great responsibility, once again to fully acknowledge the fact that it is the trust of the people that enable the Ministry and SDF to keep up activities", the Minister remarked, thereby reaffirming the importance of earning the public trust as well as voicing his own feelings. In closing, the Minister stated, "I believe that your mission of protecting this country is the cumulation of devoted routine efforts. I would like to conclude my inauguration speech by sharing this thought with all of you and pledging that I will fully devote myself to my duties each and every day".

In the launch of the Hatoyama Government on 16 September, Toshimi Kitazawa was appointed as the new Defense Minister. He took off ice on 17 September, replacing his predecessor Yasukazu Hamada. After reviewing the SDF Special Guard of Honor, Defense Minister Kitazawa made his inaugural speech which he began by outlining instructions from Prime Minister Hatoyama to "ensure the peace and security of Japan based on the principle of an exclusively defense-oriented policy while retaining civilian control, and to coordinate closely with ministers concerned towards the revision of the National Defense Program Guidel ines (NDPG) and the formulation of the new Mid-Term Defense Program". "Following the instructions from the Prime Minister, I will devote all my power to maintaining the peace and independence of our country, fulfilling our r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a n d r o l e s e x p e c t e d b y t h e international community, and living up to the mandate of the people of Japan", Defense Minister Kitazawa stated. In analyzing the current situation, the Minister remarked, "The situation surrounding Japan’s national security is changing so rapidly. The international community today is facing a range of issues including confrontations between nations as well as global issues such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and rampant international terrorism". Meanwhile, on the role of the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces, the Minister stated "The missions of the Ministry of Defense and

Defense Minister Kitazawa reviews the SDF Special Guard of Honor

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Opening of the First Defense Council

Ministerial Activities

Current News

On the occasion of his visit to Japan, at the invitation of the Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force(JMSDF) Admiral Keiji Akahoshi, the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Admiral Datuk Abdul Aziz Jaafar made a courtesy visit to Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada on 3 August. During the visit, Admiral Aziz hoped that the Defense Minister and Chief of Staff of JMSDF would visit Malaysia. Defense Minister Hamada stated that he understood

that working-level talks between Japan and Malaysia have enhanced defense exchanges between the two nations, and that he would like to promote bilateral maritime exchanges in the future. Meanwhile, Admiral Aziz stated that the RMN and the JMSDF shared an amicable relationship and expressed his desire that it would continue to develop. The Admiral also remarked that he hoped to continue to learn various things from the JMSDF.

The first meeting of the Defense Council took place on August 4 2009.The Defense Council is an organ newly established on August 1 of this year on the basis of the revised Defense Ministry Establishment Law as part of the Defense Ministry reforms designed to reinforce the Defense Minister's advisory system. The Defense Council comprises the Minister of Defense (Chairman), Parliamentary Senior vice Minister of Defense, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense, Special Advisers to the Minister of Defense, Administrative Vice- Minister of Defense, Minister’s Secretariat, Directors General, all Chiefs of staff, and Director General, Intelligence Headquarters.At the beginning of the meeting, the then Minister of Defense (then) Hamada stated as follows:"The first stage of the reform of the Defense Ministry involves abolishing the Defense Counsellor system, setting up a position of Special Advisor to the Minister of Defense and establishing this new Defense Council.In order to reinforce the system for assisting the Minister of Defense, this Defense Council was legally established by law as an organ where The Minister of Defense and other political appointees, the top civilian

and uniformed SDF personnel deliberate on basic policies related to matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense.For all of us here, it is my earnest wish that this Defense Council will be a forum for the discussion of the various issues that we face, and it will serve to solidly assist the Minister of Defense to make proper judgments."Fol lowing the above statement there was an explanation of the proceeding of the Defense Council in order to ensure common understanding.

To the Special Advisors to the Minister of Defense established after the abolition of the Defense Counsellor system, Professor Satoshi Morimoto of the Graduate School of Takushoku University was appointed and attended as member to the Defense Council.The Special Advisors to the Minister of Defense provide advice to the minister with regard to important matters relating to the jurisdiction of Ministry of Defense, and upon the orders of the Minister, offer their opinions to the Minister.

On 7 September, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Desmond Kuek made a courtesy visit to then Defense Minister Hamada. Lieutenant General Kuek relayed a message from Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean expressing his appreciation for Japan's cooperation on the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore on 30 May of this year. Then Defense Minister Hamada responded by stating that the Shangri-La Dialogue is a very significant

forum for discussing defense and security issues, and Japan wil l continue cooperation with a clear perception of the significance. The Minister also noted the importance of the relationship between Japan and Singapore, and expressed his expectation for this amicable relationship as well as defense exchanges to continue in the same way in the future. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Kuek stressed the need for Singapore and Japan to maintain and reaffirm their close bilateral relations.

Defense Minister Kitazawa was in Okinawa from September 25 through 27 to visit the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma and engage in an exchange of views with the governor of Okinawa and the mayors of local communities.On the 25th he had discussions with Governor Nakaima of Okinawa, listened to his opinions on the relocation of the MCAS Futenma, and inspected the

Self Defense Force's Naha base. On the 26th he visited MCAS Futenma and the coast of the Camp Schwab which is the proposed site for the relocation of MCAS Futenma, as well as holding discussions with Mayor Iha of Ginowan City and Mayor Shimabukuro of Nago City.Following this, Minister Kitazawa held a press conference where he stated his visit stemmed from

the wish to grasp the realities of the situation in Okinawa for h imsel f at the ear l iest poss ib le opportunity, listen to the people of Okinawa firsthand, and thus form a sound basis for making judgments. He expressed great satisfaction at his visit and a strong feeling of how useful the experience would be in tackling future issues.

Courtesy Visit by Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy

Courtesy Visit by Singapore Armed Forces Chief of Defence Force

Minister of Defense Kitazawa's Visit to Okinawa

Defense Council

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The Ise is launched amidst masses of waving colored tapes

PACC participants

Chief of Staf f, U.S. Army General Casey and Chief of S t a f f , J G S D F G e n e r a l Hibako shake hands at the joint press conference.

Commanding General of the GSDF Ground Research Toshiyuki Morotomi and Commanding General of the United States Army P a c i f i c ( U S A R P A C ) L i e u t e n a n t G e n e r a l Benjamin Mixon.

Current News

The christening and launch ceremony for the helicopter destroyer (DDH) Ise (a project started in 2006) took place on August 21 at the IHI Marine United factory in Yokohama's Isogo ward.The ceremony was attended by Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi, MSDF Chief of Staff Keiji Akahoshi, Deputy Director General, the Equipment Procurement and Construction Office Masao Hosoya, President of IHI Marine United Shigemi Kurahara, and the President of IHI Corporation Kazuaki Kama. In front of persons involved with the building of the ship, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Minister Kishi proclaimed "I name this vessel Ise". After that, stays were cut, a decorative paper ball was split into two the banner draping the bow parted, masses of ticker tapes filled the air, fireworks exploded, and the Ise was launched. The "Ise" is the name of the old domain that corresponds to

most of present-day Mie prefecture.The Ise belongs to the Yokosuka base and is the second 13,500 ton Hyuga-class destroyer. Main data: length: 197.0m, maximum width: 33.0m, height: 22.0m, draft: 7.0m, main propulsion: COGAG-configured gas turbines (four engines, two shafts), shaft horsepower: 100,000 ps, speed: Approx. 30 knots, crew: Approx. 380. Ordinarily the ship can carry three patrol helicopters, and its main weapons include two high performance 20mm machine guns, a vertical launching system (VLS), and two three-tube lightweit torpedo launchers.This is the MSDF biggest destroyer and is able to carry not only helicopters of the Marine Self-Defense force, but those of the Ground Self-Defense Force and the Air Self-Defense Force too. With ample inboard space, the ship can be employed flexibly and can serve as a local headquarters to respond to large-scale disasters and

others.The Ise is due to be delivered to the Maritime Self-Defense Force in March 2011 and will be commissioned as an escort ship replacing the Hiei.

The 6 th Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (PACC) and 33 rd Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) were held in Tokyo from 24-28 August. PACC is aimed at developing & enhancing interpersonal relationships and promoting security cooperation among the armies chiefs of Asia-Pacific nations through exchange of their opinions. The PACC is jointly held every two years by the U.S. and one of the participating nations on a rotating basis. This year marks the sixth conference and it has been convened in Japan for the first time. JGSDF Chief of Staff General Yoshifumi Hibako and U.S. Army Chief of Staff General George Casey, Jr. co-hosted the event which was attended by representatives from 22 nations. PAMS is aimed at developing & enhancing interpersonal relationships and improving understanding of challenges and issues among the senior-level army officers (ranked from lieutenant colonel to major general) of Asia-Pacific nations through exchange of views. PAMS is jointly held every year by the U.S. and one of the participating nations on a rotating basis. This year marks the thirty-third seminar and the second time it has been held in Japan following the 24 th PAMS convened in 2000. Commanding General of the JGSDF Ground Research and Development Command (GRDC) L ieutenant Genera l Tosh iyuk i Morotomi and Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), Lieutenant General Benjamin Mixon co-hosted the seminar which was attended by representatives from 27 nations.

PACC and PAMS were held simultaneously with one theme and related four topics on which opinions were exchanged. This year's theme was "International Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) in Natural and Human-induced Disasters". The following topics were also addressed. ① The Natural & Human-induced Disasters that Land Forces should prepare for and lessons learned from past disasters.② The Role that Land Forces should play in CIMIC/Interagency cooperation Building in DRO. ③ Issues to be addressed on bui lding–up of international cooperation in DRO based on the past experiences and lessons learned. ④ Developing commanders and soldiers for DRO.

In his speech at the PACC/PAMS joint opening ceremony, then Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada stated "The number of natural disasters and disaster victims worldwide in the past 10 years has trebled compared to the 1970s. Disaster relief operations conducted by the military are the subject of ever-higher expectations, and play a crucial role in eliminating one of the causes of regional instability and laying the foundation for prosperity. International DRO carried out by Japan's Self-Defense Forces constitutes means to stabilize the environment in the Asia Pacific region, and we are committed to actively providing our cooperation in the future".

Representatives from participating nations lively exchanged their opinions under the theme throughout the duration of the conference thus establishing & enhancing interpersonal relationships and fostering security in the region. Commenting on the results of the conference, JGSDF Chief of Staff General Yoshifumi Hibako said "This is the largest scale of coference held by Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force after its foundation, and we have succeeded in appealing the sincere attitude of the Ministry of Defense and JGSDF in engaging in international disaster relief operations. I also believe that we have enhanced our relationships with participating countries and contributed to promoting the creation of a security environment in the Asia Pacific region”. “By our “OMOTENASHI” that means utmost and sincere hospitality as the host nation, we have also succeeded in building confidence in Japan among participating countries by giving them opportunity to experience Japanese traditions & culture to understand the positive aspects of our country. In the future, I would like to use this experience as a foundation for expanding our exchanges with other nations. I also hope that studies will be further promoted to construct the international framework to cope with natural and human-induced disasters.".

DRO: Disaster Relief OperationCIMIC: Civil Military Cooperation

The christening and launch ceremony for the helicopter destroyer, Ise (a project started in 2006)

Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (PACC) and Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS)

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The MSDF destroyer 'Harusame' departing from Yokosuka Port as part of 2nd DSPE

P-3C patrol aircraft in patrol operations

Anti-piracy Operationsoff the Coast of Somaliaand in the Gulf of Aden

Since 30 March 2009, the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) has been engaged in escort operations in order to counteract piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. On 24 July, the 'Anti-Piracy Measures Law' came into effect, thus enabling the MSDF to provide protection against acts of piracy to not only Japan-related ships but also foreign ships. In addition to operations by destroyers, the MSDF has also been carrying out patrol operations in the Gulf of Aden since 11 June by using P-3C patrol aircraft. On 6 July, destroyers 'Harusame' and 'Amagiri' departed Yokosuka Base as the 2nd Deployment Surface force, and started escort operations under Anti-Piracy Measures Law on 28 July. Destroyers 'Sazanami' and 'Samidare' of the 1st Deployment Surface returned to homeport Kure Base on 16 August. Under the order for maritime security operation, the 1st Deployment Surface force conducted 41 escort missions for 121 Japan-related vessels.

1. Formation・ P-3C maritime patrol aircraft: x 2 ・ Dispatched personnel: approx. 150 (approx. 100 MSDF & 50 GSDF personnel)2. Mission Achievements (11 June - 30 September)・ Flight operations: 72 flights・ Flight time: approx. 570 hours・ Confirmed merchant vessel : approx. 4800 vessels・ Provision of information to escort vessels, foreign naval ships & private merchant vessels: approx. 400 times3. Cases of provision of information(1) On 1 July, a Japanese P-3C aircraft was engaged in patrol operations when it received information via international VHF regarding the presence of a suspicious boat. The P-3C went to the site, but did not find anything particularly susupect and reported as such to nearby commercial ships and warships. (2) On 10 July, the Indian vessel 'Nafeya' was attacked and hijacked by pirates. On 14 July, a Japanese P-3C took and provided photographs of the 'Nafeya' to relevant countries after receiving information that a French warship was pursuing the pirates who were on the run using the 'Nafeya'. (3) On 17 July, a Japanese P-3C received information from a commercial ship via a foreign warship regarding the presence of a suspicious boat in the commercial ship’s surroundings. The P-3C went to the site and identified the said commercial ship. The P-3C did not find anything suspect and reported as such to the commercial ship that originated the report.(4) On July 24, a Japanese P-3C received information from a foreign warship regarding a susupisious boat. The P-3C visually confirmed that a ladder was loaded on the boat in

question. Thereafter, it seemed as if the ladder was disposed of by the susupected pirates. The P-3C reported as such to the foreign warship.(5) On 31 July, a Japanese P-3C aircraft was engaged in patrol operations when it identified a skiff with a ladder loaded on it, approximately 30 nautical miles ahead of the Japanese destroyer “Amagiri”',which was engaged in an escort operation. The “Amagiri” launched its on-board helicopter, which identified the skiff in question. (6) On 14 August, the P-3C received information from a foreign warship about the location of a pirate mother ship which was suspected of having conducted piracy activities that day. Investigationg the area, the P-3C did not detect any suspicious boats, and therefore, reported this information to nearby commercial ships and foreign warshps that the area was clear and returned to daily patrol operations.(7) On 16 August, the P-3C received information about an ongoing piracy incident and set course toward the incident site. However, there were only 3 commercial ships in the area, which were not deemed suspicious. The P-3C reported this information to nearby commercial ships and foreign warships and returned to daily patrol operations. (8) On 19 August, the P-3C patrol aircraft which was engaged in patrol operations, detected a suspicious anchored boat with contents including a ladder. The boat began to sail toward a nearby tanker. The P-3C reported this information to commercial ships and foreign warsips sailing nearby. A German warship which was participating in EU NAVFOR received this information, set course toward the susupected boat, and conducted an on-board inspection. They seized and disposed of weapons, such as AK-47s. The boat and its crew were released.The P-3C patrol aircraft received a message from EU NAVFOR stating, “Thank you for excellent teamwork.” The P-3C also received a message from the tanker that was on the course of the suspected boat stating,”Now, suspected boat is clear.So thank you very much. We appreciate all of your advice.”(9) On 22 August, the P-3C which was engaged in patrol operations, detected a suspicious boat with contents including a ladder. The P-3C provided this information to nearby commercial ships and foreign warshps. A Netherlands’ warship which was participating in EU NAVFOR received this information and lauched a helicopter which fired warning shots to prevent the suspected boat from escape. In addition, a Norwegian warship which was participating in EU NAVFOR set course toward the suspected boat, launched speed RIB's, and conducted an on-board inspection. The discovered and disposed of ladders and weapons, such as rocket propelled grenades. The boat and its crew were released. The P-3C received a message from EU NAVFOR stating, “Thank you once again for your excellent cooperation.”

・ Destroyers: x2 (JMSDF destroyers Harusame & Amagiri)・ Patrol helicopters・ Dispatched destroyer personnel: approx. 400 (200/vessel)

・ Total: 150 vesselsJapanese merchant vessels: 1Foreign-registered vessels operated by Japanese shipping companies: 57 (including 5 vessel with Japanese crew members)Other foreign-registered merchant vessels: 92

(1) At 16:56 on 31 July, a P-3C conducting patrol operation sighted a small boat equipped with a ladder approximately 30 nautical miles ahead of the destroyer 'Amagiri'. The Amagiri launched its on-board helicopter and confirmed the status of the boat. (2) At 00:23 on 5 August, the Harusame sighted a suspicious small boat approximately 3.5 nautical miles off its starboard bow in the north-north-west direction. The Harusame hailed the vessel using a long range acoustic device (LRAD) and launched its on-board helicopter to verify the status of the boat.

MSDF destroyer departed Yokosuka Base

Defense Policy

Outline & Achievements of Dispatched UnitsAir unit

2nd Deployment Surface Force1. Formation

2. Achievements of anti-piracy operations　(30 July - 30 September)

3. Cases of responses to small craft

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Airlift squadron in the Iraq Reconstruction Support /Photograph from the self defense white paper

GSDF personnel engaging in disposal of an unexploded ordenance/Photograph from the self defense white paper

PAC-3 missiles deployed in the Tohoku region/Photograph from the self defense white paper

Recruiting personnel for the SDF

Anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and the in the Gulf of Aden

Shooting training from a light armored vehicle/Photograph from the self defense white paper

Anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and the in the Gulf of AdenUnijima Sub Base,seen from the main island of Tsushima(Korea can be seen on the opposite shore)

Publication of the 2009 Defense White Paper

The Japan's 2009 defense white paper entitled "Defense of Japan" was released on 17 July and commercially published on 21 July 2009. The defense white paper is annually published in order to raise awareness among Japan's citizens of national defense policies as well as the key events in the past year concerning the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The paper is also intended to promote understanding and trust of foreign countries for the sake of the transparency of Japan's defense policies. Part I of this year's white paper describes the MoD's recognition of international situation, the defense policies of other nations which may have an influence on Japan's security, and the situation in the surrounding region. Specifically, the paper reports on North Korea's move to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles including its ballistic missile launch conducted in April and nuclear test carried out in May 2009, and expresses the MoD's concerns regarding the transfer and proliferation of these weapons. The paper also describes China's efforts to modernize its military force, its intensified maritime activities, and recent remarks by the country's senior military officials on the acquisition of aircraft carriers, as well as China's efforts to

bolster both its military use of space and cyber-warfare capabilities, while indicating the lack of transparency in its national defense budget details and the unclearness of the future vision for its military. Part II of the white paper outlines for the first time the MoD's initiatives concerning the development & use of space following the enactment of the Basic Space Law, as well as its ocean policy initiatives including the SDF's anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. Part III describes the MoD's response to North Korea's missile launch in April of this year, as well as its disaster relief dispatch activities and response to the new-type flu. The paper explains the current status of Japan-U.S. security arrangements such as initiatives for the realignment of the USFJ and describes the various measures aimed at ensuring their effectiveness and enhancing reliability. The paper also presents the MoD's proactive efforts on its own initiative in the arena of the international peace cooperation activities including JSDF activities in Iraq and the Indian Ocean, as well as the dispatch of JSDF instructors to the PKO center in Egypt. Part IV mentions reforms the of the MoD, describing the

establishment of the Council for Reforming the Ministry of Defense and efforts for the reform of the MoD as well as the up-to-date information on the reform.This year's white paper reports on the domestic and overseas activities of the JSDF clearly in an easily-digestible format and presents the real pictures of both the MoD and JSDF through columns addressing important matters pertaining to Japan's security, including the voices of actual JSDF personnel as who engage in their daily duties related to the matters.

■ Outline of 2009 defense white paper "Defense of Japan"Part I: The Security Environment surrounding Japan

　Overview

　Chapter 1:Issues in the International Community

　Chapter 2 National Defense Policies of Countries

Part II: The Basics of Japan's Defense Policy and Build-up of Defense Capability

　Chapter 1:The Basic Concepts of Japan's Defense Policy and Related Issues

　Chapter 2:The National Defense Program Guidelines and Build-up of Defense Capability

Part III: Measures for the Defense of Japan

　Chapter 1:Operation of the Self-Defense Forces for the Defense of Japan and

Responses to Diverse Situations

　Chapter 2:Strengthening of Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements

　Chapter 3:Improving the International Security Environment

　Chapter 4:Citizens of Japan, the Ministry of Defense and the SDF

Part IV: Reform of the Ministry of Defense

　Section 1: Council for Reforming the Ministry of Defense

Section 2: Efforts for Realizing the Reform of the Ministry of Defense

　Section 3: Other Efforts* A provisional English translation of the 'Defense of Japan' is available on the MoD website.

Defense Policy

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001 Disaster relief activities for flooding in Chugoku and Kita-Kyushu in July 21-31

002 Relief operations for disaster by Typhoon Etau in August 10-23

003 The replenishment vessel Oumi leaves Sasebo port on July 22

004Two Self Defense Force members were dispatched to lecture at the Peacekeeping School « Ecole de Maintien de la Paix» in Bamako Mali in August 28 – September 5.

The torrential rain which accompanied Typhoon Etau in August of this year resulted in isolated and missing people in Hyogo and Okayama prefectures. On 9 August, the governors of Hyogo and Okayama Prefectures requested the commanders of the JGSDF 3rd Artillery Unit and the 13th Artillery Unit respectively for disaster relief dispatch. The MoD and SDF responded to these requests by dispatching units to the affected areas to undertake disaster relief operations. ■Overview of Support OperationsFrom 10-13 August, the SDF conducted water supply assistance at 17 locations within Okayama's Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture. From 10-11 August, the JGSDF 13th Artillery Unit conducted epidemics preventing assistance at 5 locations within the city. Between 10-19 August, the JGSDF 3rd Artillery Unit conducted water supply assistance at 11 locations in the town of Sayo and 4 locations in the city of Shiso in Hyogo Prefecture. From 10-23 August, the JGSDF 3rd Artillery Unit conducted searches for missing people in Sayo town and Shiso city. On 22 August, Transportation support was provided for the Prime Minister's visit to the affected areas.

From 19 to 27 July, torrential rain hit Yamaguchi, Fukuoka and Nagasaki Prefectures. Some people were isolated and went missing, and water supplies were disrupted. Disaster relief dispatches were requested by the prefectural governor of Yamaguchi to the commander of the 17th infantry regiment on the 21st by the prefectural governor of Fukuoka to the commander of the 4th division on 24th and by the prefectural governor of Nagasaki to the commander of the 16 th infantry regiment on the 27 th . Accepting these requests, the Ministry of Defense and the Self Defense Force dispatched of the units to the affected areas for relief activities.■Overview of the relief activitiesYamaguchi Prefecture: airlifting of patients on July 21, search and rescue of missing people in the Manao district on July 22-28, water supply assistance on July 22-29, and bathing assistance on 23-30 July.Fukuoka Prefecture: rescue of people isolated by flooding in Kita-Kyushu City on July 24-25, water supply assistance in Munakata City on July 25-26, rescue of people isolated by flooding in Chikushi County on July 26, and search for missing persons in Kasuya County on July 25-30.Nagasaki Prefecture: water supply assistance in Sasebo City on July 27-31.Transportation assistance was provided to government survey teams to Yamaguchi prefecture on July 22, and Fukuoka prefecture on July 27. On July 29, transportation assistance was provided for visits by Prime Minister to Yamaguchi and Fukuoka prefectures.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF)'s 6th Maritime Replenishment Support Unit was dispatched to the Indian Ocean in order to undertake replenishment support activities in the area. The unit is being led by Captain Tetsuya Uchiyama comprising the destroyer Suzunami (Commanding Officer Commander Nobukatsu Shimizu) and the replenishment vessel Oumi (Commanding Officer: Captain Daisuke Gotoh), and a total of some 340 crew members. The Suzunami departed Maizuru Port on 21 July while the Oumi embarked from the Sasebo Port on 22 July. The two vessels then rendezvoused off the coast of Kyushu and reached their destination in mid-August. The new unit relieved the 5th Maritime Replenishment Support Unit aboard the destroyer Akebono and the replenishment vessel Tokiwa which had been engaging in replenishment support activities since April.

From 28 August to 5 September, the JSDF dispatched two instructors in response to a request from the Peacekeeping School « Ecole de Maintien de la Paix » in Bamako Mali. The peacekeeping school is one of Africa's PKO centers and was established in 1999 with the aim of strengthening the peacekeeping capabilities of African nations. Since its founding, the school has trained more than 1,720 military and civilian personnel from 53 countries. The dispatched officers were Lieutenant Colonel Eijiro Imamura (International Cooperation Office, 2nd Operations Section, Operations Department, Joint Staff Office) and Lieutenant Colonel Hiroaki Takano (Chief of Civil Cooperation Section, JGSDF Central Readiness Force Headquarters). The officers presented two lectures entitled "The Potential & Limitations of Military-Civilian Cooperation" and "Background & Lessons of Self Defense Forces’ Peacekeeping Operations" to 25 civilians and military personnel with the rank of field and company officers from 20 African nations. The MoD perceives this dispatch as a very significant one which has broadened the scope of MoD & SDF international peace cooperation efforts and contributed to the peace and stability in Africa.

Relief activities for the flood disaster in Chugoku and north Kyushu

Typhoon Etau Disaster Relief Operations

Replenishment Support Activities in the Indian Ocean

Dispatch of JSDF Instructors to the Peacekeeping School « Ecole de Maintien de la Paix » in Bamako Mali

Relief activities for the flood disaster in Chugoku and north Kyushu

Topics

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Fuji

Fire

pow

er R

evie

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The shape of Mt. Fuji depicted with barrages “the Artillery Fire”. The high accuracy is required to adjust 1/100 second.

CH-47J helicopters leaving the scene with lifting JGSDF personnel

The Fuji firepower Review took place in the presence of Defense Minister Hamada.

Type-74 tanks appeared in the preliminary “tank fire”The exercise reached the climax, when a simultaneous firing by a group of Type-90 tanks is conducted in the “Exploitation”.

The 2009 Fuji Firepower Review was open to public on 30 August at the JGSDF East Fuji Maneuver Area located in Gotemba City, Shizuoka with Defense Minister Hamada in attendance. The Fuji Firepower Review was launched in 1961 in order to contribute to the education of JGSDF Fuji School students by enhancing their understanding of effects infantry, artillery and armored munitions firepower, as well as the status of their firing in modern warfare. From 1966, the review was opened to the public to enhance the public understanding and trust of the JGSDF. The review programme is comprised of two parts separated by an intermission, namely the first part of maneuvers designed to introduce the JGSDF's core equipment, and t h e s e c o n d p a r t o f m a n e u v e r s w i t h t h e a i m o f

demonstrating firing through the collaboration of the various types of units of the JGSDF. Although people need to apply by mail or internet for and win a lottery to attend the review, the number of applications has been increasing these year. This year there were 93,919 mail applications and 52,845 internet applications, which was approximately double compared to that in the last year. This year's rate of applicants for public invitation was 28.0 times as high as last year, while the rate of applicants for invitation with parking ticket was 209.5 times higher. The total number of successful applicants who attended the review as spectators from all over Japan was around 26,000. The spectators cheered at the impressive spectacle of the live-ammunition firing.

■ Scale of the ReviewPersonnel: approx. 2,400Major equipment: ・Approx. 80 tanks & armored vehicles・Artillery: approx. 40 ・Aircraft: approx. 25・Other vehicles: approx. 600Munitions : approx. 44 tons Cost: approx. JPY 350 million

■ Review ProgrammeThe First Part:・Long-range fire (air & artillery)・Mid-range fire (mortars & guided missile)・Close-range fire (antipersonnel obstacles, infantry 　fire, Anti-aircraft fire, Helicopter fire)・Tank fire・Parachuting

The Second Part:・Air reconnaissance・Heliborne operations・Attack　Reconnaissance operations　Fire coordinated with frontline company attack　(Preparation fire, breaching, advance support fire, 　infantry and tank team attack, assault support 　fire, assaults, anti-counterattacks, exploitation)

Fuji Firepower ReviewSpecial Feature

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Interview

Chief of Staff, GSDF General

Yoshifumi HibakoGeneral Hibako graduated from the National Defense Academy of Japan and entered the GSDF in 1974. He was appointed the 32nd Chief of Staff of the GSDF in 2009.

Spotlight

of the GSDF which is as important as eliminating direct aggression against Japan. In August of this year, we invited the chiefs of Army from some 20 nations in the Asia-Pacific Region to hold a conference under the joint sponsorship with U.S. on the theme of international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in natural and human-induced disasters. At the conference, Japan, which has many natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, was highly acclaimed by the participants for its achievements of disaster relief operations. I believe that the information shared at the conference will be utilized in the future operations of participating nations.

— First of all, please tell us about the role of the Chief of Staff, GSDF. My role is to assist as the highest GSDF professional advisor to the Minister of Defense in addition to supervising the administration, education and training of the GSDF under the Minister's guidance and supervision. The Chief of Staff , GSDF assumes responsibility for personnel affairs, education, training, equipment and build-up of defense capability of the GSDF while coordinating as a "force provider" with the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Office which is a "force user". The GSDF is responsible not only for national defense and disaster response but is also proactively engaged in international peace cooperation activities, so I consider that expansion of these activities is another important duty. Furthermore, the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements are a fundamental part of Japan's defense so it is also essential to coordinate closely with the U.S. military and prepare for response to diverse situations.

The international community is currently faced with a range of issues such as the international terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and complex & diverse regional conflicts. In addition, the interdependence of countries and regions is growing with the spread of information networks and economic globalization, so even events which occur in regions far from Japan may have impact upon and be a threat to our nation. It is difficult for a single country to address a global threat on its own. It is essential to approach such issues from various fields rather than simply from a military aspect. so the international community needs to work together. This is, I consider that working towards the peace and stability of the international community in concert with other countries is an role

I can clearly recall my missions during the dispatch of the GSDF to Iraq to support reconstruction efforts. At the time I was the Chief of Staff of the GSDF Northern Army, I participated in the dispatch of the first and second detachments from the beginning of the preparation to the end of their mission. That was a mission under the environment which the SDF had never experienced, so I had to consider everything from scratch such as what preparations to make, what training to implement, and what equipment to provide; and then made necessary coordination through consultation with my staff. As a result, we were able to provide detailed support from the viewpoint of the local Iraqi residents. We managed to make a significant contribution to Iraq's post-war reconstruction which was highly evaluated both within our country and overseas. I also clearly recall the moment when our troops returned safely to the airport after c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r o p e r a t i o n s . T h e wonderful smiles on everyone's faces were proof of the sense of fulfillment they had gained from completing their mission. I was truly very moved when I saw those faces, and was so glad to have achieved our mission in safety.

In March of this year, General Yoshifumi Hibako was appointed as the 32nd Chief of Staff, Ground Self-Defense Forces (GSDF). We asked the General about the mission of the GSDF.

— Finally, what are the challenges which lay ahead?Today there is a high possibility that instability in one country or region will transcend its border and spread over the world. Acts of terrorism or large-scale natural disasters could also strike Japan at any time. Under these circumstances, the GSDF is required to maintain physical and mental readiness to respond to any situation, act immediately in the face of danger and gain a good result without fail. In order to do so, I believe that it is necessary to sincerely carry out what needs to be done while anticipating tougher missions, and to strive towards the development of strong units and personnel with a high degree of morale to enable them to complete their mission while maintaining their strength, as well as a strong sense of solidarity and discipline.

— Which of your missions to date has been particularly memorable?

— What role do you think the GSDF should play in the international community?

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