Shinzo Abe's Article 9 Challenge

This week, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe renewed his pledge to revise the country's pacifist constitution drafted by the Americans after Japan's catastrophic defeat in WWII. While speaking to some 4000 Japanese SDF troops in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture, he announced his plan to specifically mention it's military's right to exist. Abe was quoted as saying: "You have gained public trust with your own hands. Now it's time to fulfill our responsibility as politicians to accommodate an environment where all Self-Defense Force can accomplish their duties with sense of pride."

Abe's political opponents say this is not necessary. It will take a two-thirds majority in both houses of government to pass. This push to revise Article 9 which called for Japan to renounce the use of force to settle international disputes forever has been ongoing since 2015. In the face of tensions with North Korea and the PRC on the high seas, the revision would allow Japan to come to the aid of its allies in the event of an attack. The American drafted provision hamstrings Japan's ability top respond to a crisis. PM Abe seeks to change that to adjust Japan to the growing threats in an ever destabilizing world. While some will see this as a license to engage in war, we see this as a geopolitical reality particularly with what is happening in the South China Seas and the temporary lack of leadership from Washington D.C. Enough time has passed since the end of WWII. Japan's Self-Defense Forces has proven it can be a force for good. We will wish for their continued success.

North Korean Missiles Over Hokkaido

Welcome to a scary new world where Kim Jong-Un has acquired the capability to fire a ballistic missiles over Japan. In light of the absence of American Leadership though the abdication of commitment on the part of the Trump Regime, Japan has come face to face with the realities of an aggressive neighbor bent on waging war. While Japan's populace abhors the idea of abandoning the pacifist constitution imposed by the Americans at the end of WWII, this weeks events that saw three North Korean missiles fly over Hakodate should serve as a wake up call that Japan must scrap Article 9 and mobilize its forces to meet this crisis. While the United States Navy has pledged to honor its long term commitments to the defense of Japan, neither the Self Defense Forces or the United States do anything to stop these missiles from violating Japanese airspace. Had those missile been armed and malfunction or worse deliberately targeting Sapporo, Japan would have no choice but to defend herself which would almost certainly guarantee retaliation that would plunge the region into war.

We have stated many times we do not want war. At the same time we feel that to prevent a war one must have a strong defense. Article 9 limits Japan's capability to do that. This must change regardless of what protests Beijing sends Tokyo's way. The Belligerents of North Korea don't care about how Japan feels about the past. They want to prove they can hurt their one time colonial masters and thanks to their recent acquisition of technology allegedly from the Ukraine, Japan must act. This is about protecting Japan and right now Japan is threatened. I hope that PM Abe will push for stronger measures to protect Japan. But scraps of paper are not enough. It's up to the Japanese people. We hope they have heard this wake up call and will move towards a stronger defense to protect those they love.

U.S. Marines to the Rescue in Kumamoto

Seen here in this photo by Cpl. Jessica Collins USMC are V-22 Ospreys of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265,  31st Marine Expeditionary Unit preparing to lift off from their base at Futenma Air Station to assist the Japan's SDF in Earthquake Relief efforts. Much like the efforts of Operation Tomodachi in the days following the Tohoku Disaster on 3/11, American Military Units throughout Japan are lending a helping hand to the people stricken by the earthquakes that have hit the area in and around Kumamoto Prefecture.

As of late, some 42 people are reported dead from the two powerful earthquakes and some 110,000 people have been forced to evacuate. With American help, the SDF will be able to reach villages and other areas inaccessible by roads due to earthquake damage. We at American Mishima will continue to pray for the People affected by this disaster and hope relief comes to them soon.

Getting Real on Yonaguni Island

Japan's Defense Ministry has announced the opening of a new radar facility on Yonaguni Island. Never heard of it before? If you love underwater archeology (Or Ancient Astronaut Theory), chances are you have heard of the famous Yonaguni Monument. But getting back to our post, this move on the part of Japan's SDF is a significant one. The Defense Ministry has further announced that it has now stationed 160 troops to maintain this new radar facility on Yonaguni Island (part of Okinawa Prefecture) 60 miles from Taiwan giving Japan a back window into what the PRC is up to in the South China Seas. Naturally, there have been some fierce protests from Beijing that include calls for boycotts of Japanese products. All talk is fine but with the artificial island building (for the purpose of Militarizing the South China Sea) on the part of the PRC in international waters and claims of Chinese Sovereignty far beyond the shores of the Chinese mainland has forced Japan to step up it's game. By establishing this base, Japan will have an early warning should trouble break out with the Chinese Navy. We of course it doesn't come to that. As our Chinese friends would say "it's bad for business." Trust me, war is very bad business and nobody wants that. Let's continue to pray that cooler heads will prevail. 

Taking No Chances

Seen here is Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meeting with his top military advisors after deploying Patriot Advanced Capability 3 Missile Interceptors in response to the recent missile launches from North Korea. The last launch was capable of reaching Hiroshima thus such actions taken  as stated in the PM's Message:

 
"This morning I convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council. I received a briefing from the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff and then confirmed the government’s response.
North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile cannot be tolerated. It is a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolutions and a grave provocative action in terms of Japan’s security.
We will continue to take measures resolutely, acting in close cooperation with the international community. We will also take all possible measures to ensure the safety of the Japanese people under any circumstances." - Japan PM Shinzo Abe.

Japan SDF Ready to Shoot Down North Korean Missile

As North Korea prepares to launch another test of its ballistic missiles, Japan's Self Defense Forces have been placed on high alert with orders to shoot down any missile that violates Japan's Air Space. This comes a month after Pyongyang announced it had developed a hydrogen bomb to threaten the world with bringing an already tense region to an all time high state of instability. With tensions at an all time high, Japan's Defense Ministry is taking no chances.

It's likely that should such action become necessary, Japan's Maritime SDF may fire on such a missile from one of it's AEGIS Class Warships (as seen in the above Raytheon photo) or from a land based SDF Patriot Missile battery. We sure hope it doesn't come to that but with an erratic  leader like Kim, anything is possible. May cooler heads prevail.

Turning the Tables in the East China Seas

Over the last two years we have seen the PRC's Navy build artificial islands in the East China Seas in what could be best surmised as a militarization of international waters on the part of a naval expansion of China's Navy and Beijing's military power in the Pacific In an unexpected move, Japan's small yet capable Self Defense Forces have pulled a brilliant tactical ploy by adopting a strategy of deploying 200 + anti-ship missile batteries along Japan's small island chains. This strategy is being called "Anti-Access / Area Denial or A2/AD for short which forces China's Navy seeking to access their new man made militarized islands to pass through the cross hairs of Japan's missile batteries. This strategy also puts Beijing in the same missile cross hairs putting a monkey wrench in any plans to access the greater Pacific Ocean literally turning the tables on Beijing's Island building scheme to claim such artificial islands smack in the middle of international waters as their own sovereign territory. Two can play it that way ね? 

Japan Times reporting on this turn of events have stated that Japan intents to beef up it's forces by 10,000 personnel manning these batteries over the next five years. They will be backed up with submarines, amphibious craft, and F-35 fighter planes. Then of course there is the U.S. 7th Fleet. While there continues to be opposition the PM Abe's military buildup, US demands of Japan taking a greater role in regional security and the on going situation with Chinese military expansion in the East China Seas make it necessary for Japan to expand it's military capabilities. While we at American Mishima are not in favor of war, we do believe Japan has the right to defend itself and should have the legal right to aid it's allies in the event of trouble. On a strategic level, PM Abe is taking Japan's SDF on the right course. We wish everyone serving in the SDF and our USN 7th Fleet safe sailing. We're counting on you!

Kawaii Army or Identity Crisis?

Seen here in this 2012 photo are American built AH-1S Cobra Helicopters of Japan's 4th Anti-Tank Helicopter Squadron based at Kisarazu Chiba painted with colorful Anime characters. When we first came across an article written in the New Yorker about Japan's Cute Army we were like なんだいよ!?! For a moment we thought the SDF must be going through some identity crisis as the article erroneously suggested until we found another article that better explains this photo. As it turns out, this was part of a promotion marking the 20th anniversary of the squadron's founding in March 27th, 1992. The characters were the result of the "Dousenaru Pro ni Design wo Tanomou” project. There are four of these squadron "mascots" known as the Four Sisters of Kisarazu. They are Kisarazu Akane (the eldest, First Lieutenant)Kisarazu Aoi (second, Second Lieutenant) Kisarazu Wakana (third, Leading Private) Kisarazu Yuzu (youngest). These Cobras participated in festivals and military air shows until 2014. While there are female pilots, none resemble or dress like the characters due to SDF regulations. Despite it's popularity with the masses, the Cobras eventually returned to their normal camouflage to resume operations.

Japan PM Shinzo Abe Boards U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier

Current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first sitting Japanese Prime Minister to board a United States Navy Aircraft Carrier, the newly deployed USS Ronald Reagan weeks after it arrived at its new home port at Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture. This comes one month after the Japanese Parliament (Diet) voted to enact new laws expanding the role of Japan's "Self Defense Forces" in a time of crisis to assist Japan's allies if needed. After the 3/11 Tohuko Disaster, the USS Ronald Reagan participated in Operation Tomodachi. Such good will on the part of the US Navy has not been lost as PM Abe declared the USS Ronald Reagan a Tomodachi (friend) who was there to help the people of Japan during it's time of need.

To the Ship and its crew, PM Abe wished to give a "hearty welcome" and a continuation of what he calls the US-Japan "Alliance of Hope."

Japan Passes Controversial Security Bills

After many months of debate amid vocal angry protests in the streets of Tokyo, the Japanese Diet passed through new security bills that would allow Japanese Self Defense Forces the ability to render aid to an Ally such as the United States or participate in military actions in defense of Japanese interests abroad. Many Japanese people estimated around 50% of the population do not support these measures and contend that this will lead to the militarization of Japan and dictatorship. To those pacifists who really believe PM Shinzo Abe is a Dictator we say ばか! This is not 1946! This is 2015 and the PRC and North Korea are taking full advantage of Japan's American imposed Article 9 which restricts Japan's ability to defend itself in international crisis in addition to being restricted from rendering aid to allied nations. This defeatist attitude suggesting that if Abe has his way there will be another war and a certain defeat for Japan is nonsense! Mr. Abe is no Hitler nor is he a dictator otherwise these protesters would have disappeared by now. By supporting such measures, we are not endorsing the extreme right wing Nationalists of Japan but rather endorsing the urging of the United States Government for Japan to take on a greater Security role in the Far East particularly in international waters where Japan's own fishing fleet by which Japan depends on for its very survival is being threatened by the PRC's growing naval presence in the South China Seas and elsewhere that if hostilities were to break out and Japan would have to wait until it was directly attacked would be too late. The entire nation would literally starve into Chinese submission. This we know may sound extreme but that is a realistic scenario the Pacifists are ignoring. Having a deterrent like a stronger SDF will discourage such hostilities which is why the United States has the largest carrier bound fleet in the world. 

Japan has a small yet capable fleet that is well trained and well equipped. It's SDF and air crews are up to the task but have been restricted for the last 70 years by Article 9. What people fail to realize is that the Japan of the 1930's is not the Japan of today. The Pacifists demand that their government not turn its back on 70 years of pacifism yet are okay to turn its back on Japan's long 1000 year history and focus on the dark years of WWII. Japan has learned some painful lessons by waging a war of aggression that will not be repeated. Modern Japan is a mature responsible country that can be trusted in times of crisis and as we write this opinion piece the Chinese Navy is militarizing international waters Japan depends on for commercial traffic and fishing. While many of Japan's neighbors are not ready to or willing to get past the atrocities of Japan during WWII of which Japan's apologies have fallen on deaf ears, we in America can be sure that Japan's quest to expand it's military capabilities can be trusted as a true partner in the Pacific. This is our opinion and not one to glorify war or empower the far right Nationalists nor is it a call for a new militarist Japan of old. This is 2015 and in order to protect Japan's future, we believe that Mr. Abe is doing the right thing.

Japan Deploys Troops to Philippines

Did we just say Japan was sending troops to the Philippines? Yes, for the first time since World War II Japanese SDF Troops are being sent to the Philippines but this time not to invade, conquer, or to subjugate, they are being sent there to help the people who have suffered as a result of Typhoon Haiyan. In a bold move sidestepping Article 9 of Japan's Post War American Drafted Constitution restricting Japan's "Self Defense Forces" to strictly home island defense, Prime Minster Shinzo Abe issued the following statement: "I made the decision to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to the Philippines at a scale of approximately 1,000 members, Japan’s largest relief dispatch in history. We are providing an ongoing stream of assistance to bring relief to the people of the Philippines from the enormous typhoon damage. A medical team began its activities in the affected area yesterday. Last night, rescue workers from the Self-Defense Forces also arrived in the area. Today, medical equipment will also arrive in the local area on an SDF aircraft. The hardship of the destruction from a major catastrophe is not simply someone else’s problem."

Under Abe's orders, Japan is sending three warships, transport aircraft, helicopters, and 1000 SDF Troops to help in the disaster relief efforts. Tokyo is also providing $10,000.000 in emergency aid in addition to an advance team of 25 medical workers who had been sent ahead of the SDF. This is the largest deployment of Japan's SDF in what could be seen as a further move by Prime Minister Abe's to expand Japan's non-combat activities in what Japan Times calls a "more pro-active role for the military overseas." While we have long supported Japan's right to defend itself, its about time that a real movement within Japan's current government for lifting the self-imposed ban on exercising the right of collective self-defense, or aiding an ally under attack has gained momentum. Abe has pledged to bolster Japan's military to cope with the new demands of the ever changing regional stability particularly with recent issues with the PRC's Navy and North Korea. We at American Mishima applaud Prime Minister Abe for coming to the assistance of the Philippines. Our hearts go out to the many devastated families of the people living there in the worst natural disasters since the Tohuko Disaster that killed over 10,000 people in Japan March 2011. Japan has not forgotten how the world came out with an outpouring level of support. We are happy to see Japan's government coming to the aid of another stricken people who needs the worlds help. While people will always be critical of Japan for it's wartime past, humanitarian relief efforts such as these in the 21st Century is something Japan can do now. Please continue to be of assistance. どもありがとうさま!

If you would like to help, Please visit:
American Red Cross PhilippinesTyphoon Response