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Change often comes so slowly in Japan that it’s easy to overlook. That’s especially true with the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) Japan’s military.
Five years ago, the idea of foreign troops other than Americans training in Japan was thought impossible. It was “unconstitutional,” “politically explosive,” and, for Japanese officials, “too difficult” (preceded by the sound of air sucking through teeth).
Yet, from May 11-17, French Army troops will be training in Kyushu at the Kirishima Training Ground along with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) and the United States Marines.
The exercise will involve the GSDF’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade Japan’s “Marines” and will also include tabletop exercises at Camp Ainoura near Sasebo, the ARDB’s home base. (Ten years ago, the idea of a Japanese amphibious force was considered equally preposterous. It wasn’t, to those who knew better, but that’s another story.)
Japan’s Defense Improves Slowly, Pick Up the Speed
Commentary
Change often comes so slowly in Japan that it’s easy to overlook. That’s especially true with the Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) Japan’s military.
Five years ago the idea of foreign troops other than the Americans training in Japan was thought impossible. It was: “unconstitutional,” “politically explosive,” and for Japanese officials, “too difficult” (preceded by the sound of air sucking through teeth).
Yet, from May 11 to 17, French Army troops will be training in Kyushu at Kirishima Training Ground along with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) and U.S. Marines.
Capacity: 7,000
A stone s throw away from the Olympic Stadium, the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium is one of the legacy venues of the 1964 Games. It served as the main arena for Tokyo 1964, hosting the gymnastics events and water polo, which was held in the venue s indoor pool. This time around, it will just be table tennis on display.
Yoyogi National Stadium
Capacity: 10,200
Another legacy venue having been constructed to host the aquatics and basketball competitions for the 1964 Games. The venue is the work of world-renowned architect Tange Kenzo, whose design at the time was seen as an industry marvel. With its suspension roof design, it continues to be held up as one of the city s most beloved pieces of architecture.
[윤설영의 일본 속으로]일본 대만은 중요한 친구 …유사시 집단적 자위권 행사할까 joins.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from joins.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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First Japan-U.S. Joint Statement to Mention Taiwan in Half a Century
On April 16, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga became the first foreign leader to be welcomed into the White House by newly inaugurated U.S. President Biden. The Japan-U.S. joint statement includes words like “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait” and “the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues” for the first time in half a century.
On November 21, 1969, when Prime Minister Eisaku Sato visited Washington, he emphasized the importance of Taiwan’s peace and security to Japan’s security in a U.S.-Japan joint statement. The Republic of China (Taiwan) was an ally of the United States at the time.