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Joint Field Training Exercise with U.S. Marine Corps in Japan, FOREST LIGHTJoint Field Training Exercise with U.S. Marine Corps in Japan, FOREST LIGHTLaunching of New Submarine “Kokuryu”Launching of New Submarine “Kokuryu”

FY2013 SDF Joint ExerciseFY2013 SDF Joint Exercise

Cooperation and Exchanges between the SDF Engineer Unit and Mongolian Armed Forces Dispatched to the Republic of South SudanCooperation and Exchanges between the SDF Engineer Unit and Mongolian Armed Forces Dispatched to the Republic of South Sudan

Changes in the International Peace Cooperation Assignment Implementation Plan for the Republic of South SudanChanges in the International Peace Cooperation Assignment Implementation Plan for the Republic of South Sudan

Self-Defense Force Marching Festival 2013Self-Defense Force Marching Festival 2013Dispatch of Japan Relief Unit to the PhilippinesDispatch of Japan Relief Unit to the PhilippinesThe 18th Tokyo Defense Forum and 3rd TDF SeminarThe 18th Tokyo Defense Forum and 3rd TDF Seminar

Japan–Russia Defense Ministerial MeetingJapan–Russia 2+2 MeetingCourtesy Call on Prime Minister Abe by Russian Representatives

Japan–Russia Defense Ministerial MeetingJapan–Russia 2+2 MeetingCourtesy Call on Prime Minister Abe by Russian Representatives

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Troop Review FY2013The Troop Review FY2013

The Troop Review FY2013

No. 47DEC. 2013

At the request of the Government of the Philippines on November 12, Minister of Foreign Affairs consulted Defense Minister for MOD/SDF cooperation on International Disas-ter Relief. Having judged that the dispatch of the SDF units would contribute to effective relief activities, Defense Minister responded to the consultation by issuing an Opera-tion Order and Philippine International Disaster Relief Team was organized to conduct activities on site.

Dispatch of Japan Relief Unit to the Philippines On November 15, considering grave disaster situation on the ground, Defense Minister updated an Operation Order, which organized Joint Task Force for International Disaster Relief activities in the Philippines and Joint Operation Coordi-nation Center. Joint Task Force will conduct epidemic preven-tion, relief activities and transport of relief supplies, in addition to existing medical assistance and personnel transport.

peace-time domestic efforts to pave for HA/DR. TDF seminar on the cyber security was also held with experts in the field as panelists. Additionally Director-General level bilateral meetings between participating countries were conducted at the occasion of the Forum.

*Invited countries and organizations: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada,

China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand,

Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri

Lanka, Thailand, East Timor, the United States, Vietnam, ASEAN Secretariat, the EU,

ICRC and OCHA

The MOD hosted the 18th Tokyo Defense Forum (TDF) and the 3rd TDF Seminar in Tokyo from October 29 to 31. The Tokyo Defense Forum is an international conference that has been organized every year by the MOD since 1996 for defense officials from the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) member states. The Director-General for International Affairs of the MOD chairs the Forum, while officers in charge of defense policy (Director-General of Defense Ministries and General-class Officers) from the Asia-Pacific Region participate in the Forum. During the Forum, discus-sions are held on national defense policy, etc. to improve mutual understanding and transparency (see note)*. Taking into account that Japan together with Laos will co-chair the Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief Experts’ Working Group of the ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting (ADMM-Plus) from next April, the Forum was held under the theme of “The progress of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region”. Director-General for International Affairs Yama-moto chaired this year’s forum and discussions were held based on presentations by participating countries on the role that regional frameworks, such as ARF and ADMM-Plus, should play to promote multi-lateral cooperation in the fields of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as well as

The 18th Tokyo Defense Forum and 3rd TDF Seminar

Japan–Russia Defense Ministerial Meeting / Japan–Russia 2+2 Meeting / Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Abe by Russian Representatives

Japan–Russia Defense Ministerial Meeting / Japan–Russia 2+2 Meeting / Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Abe by Russian Representatives

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov Sergey Viktorovich and the Minister of Defense Shoigu Sergei Kuzhugetovich from the Russian Federation made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on November 2, during their trip to Japan. Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida and Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera also attended the courtesy call.

Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Abe by Russian Representatives

ing the drug trade in Afghanistan at the Domodedovo Interior Ministry Personnel Training Center

(2) Defense exchange・ Regular mutual visits by both defense ministers・ Establishment of Japan–Russian Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks・ Cooperation in the field of defense medicine

(cooperation in the hygiene field of humanitarian assistance/disaster relief)

・ Regular Ground-to-Ground unit exchange and mutual dispatch of training observers

・ Initiation of discussions for the early dispatch of ASDF transport aircraft

(3) Meetings and discussions・ Establishment and regular hosting of the Japan–Russia

Cyber Security Meeting・ Discussions and information sharing on peacekeeping

operations during Military-Military Talks・ Initiation of discussion on sports exchange opportunities

Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida and Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera met with their Russian counterparts the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov Sergey Viktorovich and the Honorable Minister of Defense Shoigu Sergei Kuzhugetovich during the Japan–Russia Foreign and Defense Ministers Meeting (“2+2”) in Tokyo on November 2. During the meeting, the four ministers talked about national security and defense policy based on the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region, cooperation in multilateral frameworks in the region, and the deployment of the missile defense system in the region. They agreed to move forward with the following cooperation.(1) Counterterrorism and anti-piracy measures・ Joint counterterrorism and anti-piracy exercise between

the MSDF and the Russian Navy・ Joint training exercises involving the anti-piracy units of

both countries in the Gulf of Aden・ Joint human resource development project for combat-

Japan–Russia 2+2 Meeting

cooperation and exchange, and agreed to move forward with the following defense cooperation and exchange initiatives.・ Regular mutual visits by both defense ministers・ Establishment of Japan–Russian Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks・ Cooperation in the field of defense medicine・ Regular Ground-to-Ground unit exchange and mutual

dispatch of training observers・ Initiation of discussions for the early dispatch of ASDF

transport aircraft・ Discussions and information sharing related to coopera-

tion in UN peacekeeping cooperation・ Initiation of discussion on sports exchange opportunities

Japan’s Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera met with the Honorable Minister of Defense Shoigu Sergei Kuzhugetovich at the Ministry of Defense on November 1, to discuss future Japan–Russia defense cooperation and exchange as well as defense policy. During the meeting, which was held in Tokyo for the first time in 10 years, both defense ministers talked about mutual defense policy and training exercises with other countries in terms of the security situation in the Asia-Pacific Region. They also agreed to hold continued discussions in order to foster greater trust and understanding between the two defense ministries. Both parties had a frank exchange of views for further development of Japan–Russia defense

Japan–Russia Defense Ministerial Meeting

Courtesy call on Prime Minister Abe (middle)

Cabinet Public Relations Office

3DecemberNo.47Visit the Japan Defense Focus website for photo and movie galleries that cannot be found in this pamphlet.2 December

No.47 Visit the Japan Defense Focus website for photo and movie galleries that cannot be found in this pamphlet.

MEETING WITH FOREIGN LEADERSMEETING WITH FOREIGN LEADERS

Joint Field Training Exercise with U.S. Marine Corps, “Forest Light ” was conducted at Aibano Traing Area, Shiga Prefecture, from October 8 to 18. The main purpose of this exercise was to enhance the joint operational capability by exercising mutual coordination procedure under combined operational environment through actual action between GSDF and USMC, while following their chain of command respectively. The MV-22 Osprey joined this exercise, which was the first time among the joint exercises conducted between the SDF and USMC in Japan.

Joint Field Training Exercise with U.S. Marine Corps in Japan, FOREST LIGHT

FY2013 SDF joint exercise (field training exercise) was conducted in the area surrounding Japan’s sea and airspace, such as the bases of the SDF and U.S. Forces, from November 1 to 18. This exercise was one of the biggest drills in this fiscal year, which included about 34,000 personnel from each force. By drilling and verifying the operations of the three forces during of armed attack situation, we aimed to main-tain and enhance the capability of joint operation.

FY2013 SDF Joint Exercise

At the cabinet meeting held on October 15, the following decision was made to change the International Peace Cooperation Assignment.1. Extension of Dispatch Term

U.N. Resolution 2109 was adopted on July 11, 2013, which renewed the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) for a year, until July 15, 2014. In conjunction with this change, the SDF engineer unit’s term of dispatch was extended for a year until October 31, 2014.

2. Change of Transit LocationFollowing the conclusion of Japan’s International Peace Cooperation Activity in the Golan Heights, Israel and

Egypt were removed from possible transit locations.3. Changes in Unit Size, Organization and Equipment

The number of personnel increased from 330 to 410, in accordance with the expansion of the SDF engineer unit. At the same time, the provisions pertaining to the Joint Coordination Center were removed (Approx. 350 person-nel, an actual number of dispatched SDF personnel when including the Joint Coordination Center personnel into calculation, will increase to approx. 400), setting up a transitional measure to ensure operations can be continued until December 31. Moreover, the number of permitted arms and vehicles went through changes.

Changes in the International Peace Cooperation Assignment Implementation Plan for the Republic of South Sudan

The SDF engineer unit (4th Contingent) and the Mongolian Armed Forces dispatched to the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan had mutual visit to their encamp-ments respectively and exchanged opinions on October 12 and 23 to 24. Recently, Japan and Mongolia have been deepening their ties with one another, including the hosting of reciprocal visits by both countries’ prime ministers. The SDF and Mongolian Armed Forces are also actively enhancing their relationship through active exchanges between both personnel on the ground in peacekeeping operations in South Sudan.

Cooperation and Exchanges between the SDF Engineer Unit and Mongolian Armed Forces Dispatched to the Republic of South Sudan

Commemorative Photo with Mongolian Armed Forces and SDF members

Training using SSM-1 (GSDF Camp Naha)

S trong sounds echoed throughout the Nippon Budo-kan hall as the annual SDF Marching Festival was held on November 15 and 16, 2013, under the theme

“POWER FOR PEACE-for the creation of peace”. This year’s festival was performed by the GSDF Central Band, the MSDF Tokyo Band, the ASDF Central Band, the North Eastern and Western Army Bands, and our special guest bands from the U.S. Army Japan, the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, and the Royal Thai Army. Along with the band performances, drill performance by the 302nd military police squadron, fancy drill by the National Defense Academy, and the Taiko (drum) perfor-mance by the SDF-Taiko expressed unity and powerfulness. The grand finale came when all the audience sang “The Flower will Bloom Again” together, which is a theme song for the reconstruction from the 3.11 earthquake.

POWER FOR PEACE - for the creation of peace -力

Self-Defense ForceMarching Festival 2013Self-Defense ForceMarching Festival 2013



A C T I V I T I E SSPECIAL FEATURE

he Troop Review, one of the anniversary events of the foundation of the SDF, was held on October 27, 2013 at GSDF Asaka Exercise Area.

The review celebrates the foundation of the SDF, aiming to raise the sprits and self-consciousness of the SDF personnel, which leads to foster-ing the eminent tradition of the SDF, and will eventually help to gain trust and understandings from the Japanese people. Prime Minister Abe, the reviewer of the ceremony attended the parade with Minister of Defense Onodera and Chief of Ground Staff Iwata as approx. 4000 personnel from Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces marched on with approx. 240 vehicles, and approx. 50 aircraft.

The highlights of this year’s Troop Review are as follows;1. Enhancement of defense readiness in the Southwest Region and

demonstrating deterrence by high land defense capabilityWestern Army Infantry Regiment and Type-10 tank participated in this review for the first time.

2. High disaster damage prevention capabilitySDF Ready Reserve Personnel Unit which served in the Great East Japan Earthquake participated in the parade for the first time.

3. Achievements of the International Peace Cooperation ActivitiesUnit flags of the past PKO missions etc. were accompanied in the march.

4. Deepening of the Japan–U.S. RelationshipU.S. Forces equipment was on display (amphibious vehicle) and band performance by the U.S. Army Japan Music Band was conducted.

The Troop Review FY 2013The Troop Review FY 2013The Troop Review FY 2013The Troop Review FY 2013



SPECIAL FEATURESPECIAL FEATURE

Latest News

Participation in the 61st Opening Ceremony of Defense Academy

by Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Kihara (17 Nov.)





Courtesy call on Defense Minister by Admiral Harry B. HARRIS, Commander,

U.S. Pacific Fleet (18 Nov.)





Administrative Vice-Minister of Defense Nishi’s Participation

in Seoul Defense Dialogue (13 Nov.)





Troop Inspection by Defense Minister Onodera: Kyoto District (9~10 Nov.)Troop Inspection by Defense Minister Onodera: Kyoto District (9~10 Nov.)Troop Inspection by Defense Minister Onodera: Kyoto District (9~10 Nov.)

Troop Inspection by Defense Minister Onodera: Kyushu District (17 Nov.)Troop Inspection by Defense Minister Onodera: Kyushu District (17 Nov.)Troop Inspection by Defense Minister Onodera: Kyushu District (17 Nov.)

FY2013 Memorial Service for Members of the SDF who Lost their

Lives on Duty (26 Oct.)





Prime Minister Abe attending the ceremony

Inspection by Defense Minister Onodera (Kyoto district)

Memorial service for members of the SDF who lost their lives on duty was carried out, attended by the Prime Minister Abe and Defense Minister Onodera at Ichigaya, Tokyo, on October 26.This ceremony is held every year by Defense Minister since 1957 to mourn the officers who unfortunately lost their life on duty.

Launching of New SubmarineLaunching of New Submarine

“KOKURYU ”New Submarine named “Kokuryu” celebrated its launching ceremony attended by MSDF Chief of Staff Kawano and Director-General Kamata, the head of the Equipment Procurement and Construction Office, on October 31. Kokuryu is the 6th Submarine which is the same type as Soryu. The body is made of hypertonic steel and has a high propelling ability. In addition, underwater cruise capacity has enhanced by adopting sterling engine. Also, by automating several systems and rigging highly-efficient sonar, searching and stealth ability improved dramatically.

8 DecemberNo.47

A C T I V I T I E S

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