The Ground Self-Defense Force has held a large-scale live-fire exercise in Shizuoka Prefecture, showcasing a Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile launcher to the public for the first time. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/08/japan/japan-sdf-drill-hvgp-launcher/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sdf #gsdf #shizuoka #defense #missiles

An Osprey transport aircraft of the Ground Self-Defense Force is expected to use a U.S. military base in Okinawa Prefecture for the first time in an upcoming exercise with the U.S. side. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/22/japan/sdf-osprey-okinawa-us-base/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #gsdf #okinawa #osprey #usbases

"Shell explodes in GSDF tank, 3 SDF members killed, 1 injured"
"...during a live‑fire exercise at the Hijudai Training Area in Oita Prefecture"
(THE ASAHI SHIMBUN - 21 Apr 2026)
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16513586
#GSDF #Oita #Japan

The incident occurred at the Ground Self-Defense Force's tank unit at the Hijudai maneuver area in Oita Prefecture, and unconfirmed reports said the three may be unconscious. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/21/japan/japan-sdf-accident/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sdf #gsdf #oita

Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department on Sunday searched locations related to a Ground Self-Defense Force member accused of trespassing into the Chinese Embassy in the Japanese capital this month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/29/japan/crime-legal/police-search-sdf-base/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #china #chinajapanrelations #sdf #gsdf

⁠Japan has expressed its regret over the break-in at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo by a knife-wielding Japanese military officer, but that is "far from enough," the ​Chinese foreign ministry said on ‌Friday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/28/japan/politics/china-embassy-japan-regret-insufficient/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #china #chinajapanrelations #sanaetakaichi #sdf #gsdf

The realities of the Iran war has opened a window for stronger Japan-Ukraine ties. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/03/27/japan/japans-lessons-from-ukraines-war/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sdf #gsdf #ukraine #russia #russiaukrainewar #defense #drones #constitution

Amid an increasingly severe security environment, the Defense Ministry plans to establish a coastal defense system using thousands of drones. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/13/japan/japan-coastal-defense-drones/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #defense #sdf #gsdf #drones

The Ground Self-Defense Force has sent long-range missile equipment to Camp Kengun in the city of Kumamoto, as part of a counterstrike capabilities initiative. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/09/japan/ground-self-defense-force-missiles-kumamoto/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #gsdf #sdf #missiles #defense #kumamoto

China's claim that Japan is returning to militarism is misleading because legal and institutional constraints make such a shift unlikely and current defense reforms reflect responses to changing regional threats. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/20/japan/myths-of-japanese-militarism/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #wangyi #china #munichsecurityconference #yasukunishrine #taiwan #alliedoccupation #sdf #gsdf #msdf #sanaetakaichi #article9 #shinzoabe #defense #us