Dumb question #16

[yellowperil]

Does Japan have no armed forces? No war machine? Army, Navy, Air?

Are they just keeping it quiet, or are they without? They're kind of in a "hot zone" right now, is the reason I ask.


(Probably could have looked this up, but the feedback is better here.)

[nota]

they just call them self-defense forces
army with tanks ect
navy with warships
airforce with jet warplanes

how else can they fight godzilla ?

[yellowperil]

Godzilla? The fat guy with the bad haircut, just NW of them?

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by nota

they just call them self-defense forces
army with tanks ect
navy with warships
airforce with jet warplanes

What he said, I'm no expert but I have seen pictures of their fighter jets.

[masraum]

I lived in Japan years ago on a US Air Force base, they do have the self-defense forces, and, I believe, we have promised to provide any support necessary since we limited them.





When I was there, the planes weren't anything as cool as F15, F16, F4.

[sc_rufctr]

As others have posted the Japanese have a full defense force but by Japanese law they can't operate outside of Japanese territory.

Incidentally a few years ago New Zealand was thinking of disbanding their Air Force. At the time they claimed it was a waste of money.
Not sure what happened but right now they still have one.

[aap1966]

Their post war constitution forbids deployment of their "self defense forces" overseas. Even deployment of military medical teams overseas has caused problems in the past I understand. So, they can act only if NK invades Japan, but not directly in response to a NK attack on South Korea.
There has been low level talk of changing this part of the constitution since 9/11, but there is no real push for such change.

[JJ 911SC]

OK, Google is back on...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces

[John Rogers]

Since I went into the US Navy in 1965 and up to today, they have taken part in naval exercises with our ship and planes both in the far east and off the coast of San Diego. Their ships are immaculate and they have a very rigid advancement structure for officers and enlisted men. It may have changed but in 1986, the last time I was on one of their ships they did not allow women in the crew! As on chief Petty Officer told me, they were to stay home and be in the Sake bars!!!!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by yellowperil

Godzilla?

You don't know who Godzilla is?!? You're dead to me.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've worked on both their AWACS and tanker aircraft. Nothing with weapons, granted, but these only exist to support the ones that have them.

[Joe Bob]

The JDF is nothing but supportive, kinda like geisha warriors. Sad....they run a mean tea house.

[sc_rufctr]

Can anyone ID the rifles they're carrying? (German HK's?)

[HardDrive]

I have no doubt that if the Japanese people made the decision to go to war, they would be a formidable enemy.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I have no doubt that if the Japanese people made the decision to go to war, they would be a formidable enemy.

No schit...it would not necssarily have to be conventional either.