Other than that concern, the idea behind the article 9 is an interesting thing. It’s a nice way to remain neutral while doing what is important to the country to defend itself.

Has there been any changes to the so-said general law to deploy the SDF at will?

Pretty in

The people there are respectful as you have seen in the video. Upon arriving in the Army people arent treated as maggots but treated politely, one bows to his superiors or to a person that has more expericen to show his respect.
This is how Japan as a Nation Works today.

Japan in it’s Majority will never want to wage war on anyone ever again. They have learned from the mistakes of the past.

What Really worries me is America that has waged countless small and big wars about superficial reasons with the excuse of Homeland Defence.

At the moment Japan is Defending their Homeland without the need of going abroad in Foreign Countries to do so. The essence of Defending your land is to do it IN YOUR LAND.
So i repeat, my Main concern is America. Japanese people are way too polite start a war.

I believe it was Curtis LeMay that said if America had not won WWII he would be facing trial as a War Criminal.

“Curtis LeMay, War Criminal or American Hero?”

Not so fast.

Japanese goverment has yet to fully account for the war crimes of Nanjing genocide and obduction of women for millitary prostitution plus many more. The current textbooks formally approved by the goverment does not acknowlege any war crimes. The sitting prime ministers all pay respect at the Shinto shrine where the convicted war criminals are still honored. Imagine if German chancellors did the same at a memoral for Hitler. As a contrast. Germany as a nation has done much more to admit to and atone for the crimes of the past. If the Japanese want to move on then let’s make sure that they properly account for the history first.

But then again, didn’t the US congress just got around to appologise for slavery this year?

Japan has surely learned from its past ventures and I pray that the SDF is primarily used as a peace-keeping mission throughout the world as envisioned.

And in reading some of these comments; all nations have committed atrocities during war. No nation can pat itself on the back for being the ‘good guy’. War is war and it’s brutal. It’s that simple. No one plays by the rules even though the rules exist. At least the samurai were noble and dedicated their lives to training to fight and die with honor. Might be a bit glorified but for anyone who has studied martial arts, they would know the life and death situation in combat with a sword or hand to hand. Guns are for wimps.

Japan has white-washed, lied, and denied its past war crimes. She has yet to fully accept the pain she has caused her neighbors. Through these denials, Japan instead asks “What’s all the fuss? Grow out of it.”

In the current state of affairs, the only result of Japan’s About Face on the military is an arms race in Northeast Asia. The South Koreans, never mind the hungry North Koreans, will not stand by as Japan (and China) re-arms.

It’s in US interest for the Article 9 to stand and let Japan stand down. But then, Bush and Cheny needed allies in our Iraqi adventures so….

I am a little conflicted on the issue of Japan’s about face. On the one hand, I can clearly understand why some in Japan do not want to leave their defense to foreign nations as this dependence on others clearly undermines their sovereignty. If I were a Japanese citizen, this issue would boil down to 2 words “North Korea”. No truly strong, sovereign nation would tolerate a militarily belligerent nation as their neighbor. Would we tolerate a militarily belligerent Canada, Mexico or Cuba? Of course not. Then why should the Japanese tolerate North Korea?

On the other hand though, forgetting the lessons of history would be a catastrophic mistake, especially given the new emerging geopolitical reality that faces Japan today. The rise of China and India in the region, and the reemergence of Russia greatly complicate the issue. In this situation a newly minted militaristic Japan (a la 1930s) could light the fuse to the powder keg that already exists in the area as the aforementioned powers vie for dominance of that half of the world.

In an ideal world, I would like to see a militarily strong Japan whose military is completely subservient to its elected civilian leadership. From my understanding of 1930s Japan, the military was ultimately not controlled by the civilian leadership, and in some ways, actually controlled itself as an entity separate from the civilian govt. A strong Japan is in our strategic interest. It will lessen China’s singular focus on us as they will have to dedicate more of their resources to countering Japan, which will give us more breathing room to focus on achieving our strategic global goals.

I am certain they will move forward with the lessons they have learned in the past, but hope they remember that a civilian controlled military is quite a different beast than a military controlled by an Emporer.

Not to mention the multiple country’s today that have committed mostly similar horrible acts against other country’s (not mentioned names). How we say ones right and the other is not.

As for the arming for sake of defense: In the U.S. constitution it is our right to bear arms. Who is to say to us it is not. Every nation has a right to defend it self within reason.

It is this sort of bias remarks that gives us the reputation we have today. We should be looking beyond the past and into the future.