- Title: JAPAN: Country trains a growing number of military reservists
- Date: 9th February 2011
- Summary: YOKOSUKA, JAPAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) PARTICIPANTS IN JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCES RESERVES TRAINING HOLDING GUNS IN TRENCH FEMALE TRAINEE HOLDING GUN ON STAND-BY PARTICIPANTS STANDING ON HILL AND IN TRENCH TWO FEMALE TRAINEES TRAINER LECTURING TRAINEES IN TRENCH TRAINER TEACHING TRAINEES HOW TO HANDLE GUNS TRAINER DEMONSTRATING HOW TO MOVE IN TRENCH TRAINER YELLING AT PARTICIPANTS TRAINER INSTRUCTING PART-TIME GYM INSTRUCTOR AND RESERVIST TRAINEE MASAYUKI TAKEDA (MIDDLE) SITTING ON GROUND HOLDING GUN WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPANTS MOVING FORWARD HOLDING GUNS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 24 YEAR-OLD PART-TIME GYM INSTRUCTOR AND RESERVIST TRAINEE MASAYUKI TAKEDA, SAYING: "Since this job enables us to kill someone, I feel a big responsibility. I reconfirmed its grave responsibility." PARTICIPANT CRAWLING FORWARD PARTICIPANT ARMY CRAWLING ON GROUND 24-YEAR-OLD PART-TIME RESERVIST TRAINEE MASAYUKI TAKEDA MOVING FORWARD WITH GUN AND PICKING UP GUN ON GROUND PARTICIPANT PRETENDING TO FIRE A SHOT AND SHOUTING 'BANG' PARTICIPANTS MOVING TOWARDS SOLDIER HOLDING HANDS UP KNEELING ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 33 YEAR-OLD BUSINESSMAN PARTICIPATING IN JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCES RESERVES TRAINING, YUSUKE TSUGE, SAYING "To be honest, there is a gap. Since I work wearing casual clothing unlike many business people, wearing camouflage and holding a gun has a sobering effect on me." TRAINEES GETTING READY FOR MARCHING DRILL VARIOUS OF 33 YEAR-OLD BUSINESSMAN AND MAGAZINE EDITOR YUSUKE TSUGE PARTICIPATING IN JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCES RESERVES TRAINING TURNING THE WRONG WAY WHEN ASKED TO TURN RIGHT VARIOUS OF TRAINEES MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCES TRAINER FIRST LIEUTENANT TAKESHI ISHIBASHI, SAYING "I believe that they can get over this training if they have love for their country and since they came here voluntarily." VARIOUS OF TRAINEES GETTING READY TO MARCH VARIOUS OF TRAINEES MARCHING OFF
- Embargoed: 24th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan, Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Defence / Military
- Reuters ID: LVA5LFAFCH09Q0O39YUSIXJZM9MK
- Story Text: A small but growing number of Japanese are volunteering to be trained as military reservists.
The forty ordinary Japanese, who took part in a special military training session held recently on Camp Takeyama, are part of a small but growing number of civilians who are looking to sign up to join the Japanese military reserve force.
Under a gun-shy, post-war defence policy, Japan has never deployed its reserve force, let alone it's military officially called the Self-Defence Forces (SDF), to engage in live combat since World War Two.
Japan's pacifist constitution bans the maintenance of a military, although it has been stretched to allow armed forces for self-defence.
The reservists were formed in 1954, but it was not until ten years ago that they allowed civilians to join the now 39,500 strong force.
Yet from a mere 1,619 applicants a year in 2005 to 5,253 in 2009 the number of people willing to try out is growing.
"Since this job enables us to kill someone, I feel a big responsibility. I reconfirmed its grave responsibility," 24 year-old part-time gym instructor, Masayuki Takeda told Reuters during a break between training.
He is on a five day initial training course for reservists in training held on an army base located near Yokosuka, 45 kilometres (28 miles) southwest of Tokyo.
However even if Takeda makes it as a reservist after the additional 45 days requirement, with no military experience he is unlikely to take part in any front-line defence.
Eventually he could be called on to guard army posts at home or to transport supplies or help the SDF in rescue work for earthquakes, floods and other disasters.
Joining the reserve force is voluntary in Japan, unlike countries such as South Korea, Taiwan and Israel, where service is mandatory for some time after national service.
Japan's reserve force opened its door to ordinary citizens only recently, therefore most of the force is still comprised of former SDF personnel.
The current boost in applicants is often attributed to the bad economy, rather than rising nationalism. In addition, those with a growing interest in the SDF mention its role in disaster relief rather than any military action.
Full time reservists are given a 4,000 yen ($49) monthly allowance in addition to 8,100 yen a day for each of the five days that they are required to report back to the barracks.
Trainees at Camp Takeyama told Reuters that their first impressions of the military have changed due to the try outs.
"To be honest, there is a gap. Since I work wearing casual clothing unlike many business people, wearing camouflage and holding a gun has a sobering effect on me," said the 33 year-old Yusuke Tsuge, a former car salesman, before an interest in tank engines led him to work at a military magazine.
While public concern is growing over China's military build-up and North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, those issues appeared not to be a driving force for aspiring reservists and military staff.
While military training is not particularly hard by normal standards, only one third of those who apply eventually sign up for the forces.
SDF trainer First Lieutenant Takeshi Ishibashi says it still takes some amount of patriotism to stay the course for the first three years.
"I believe that they can get over this training if they have love for their country and since they came here voluntarily," Ishibashi told Reuters.
With a fast shrinking and aging population, Japan needs all hands on deck and is keen to welcome even the tiny ten percent of reservist trainees that go on to join the military full-time. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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