Defense News – Japan plans to send its recently converted aircraft carrier on the country’s annual deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, conducting training and enhancing ties with regional partners over the next four months.

War on the Rocks – The biggest announcement from President Joe Biden’s trip to Asia may be the one that got the least attention. The Quad, a grouping consisting of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, has just announced a maritime domain awareness partnership that will provide a new stream of data from commercial satellites to countries across the Indo-Pacific.

CNN – On most days, fisherman Kazushi Kinjo leaves port on the Japanese island of Yonaguni to catch deep sea red snapper in waters to the north. There, fish are plentiful — and increasingly, so are Chinese Coast Guard ships.

Navy News – The modifications to JS Kaga began on 24 March 2022 at the Japan Marine United (JMU) shipyard in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture.

USNI News – Japan doesn’t talk much about its naval capabilities because of its historical aversion to offensive capabilities following its defeat in World War II. This has been defined in Article 9 of its post-war constitution. However, as an island nation and a naval power, it has still been able to assemble a modern version of a big gun fleet, but it’s designed for defensive operations. But over the past two decades, the rise of China as a global power and North Korea’s attempts to develop long-range nuclear missiles present a two-fold threat to the island nation.

War on the Rocks – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has taught Taiwan many lessons about preparing for a possible Chinese invasion. Japan should also take this opportunity to learn. What more can Japan’s Self-Defense Forces do to prepare given their inevitable participation in any potential conflict over Taiwan?

Naval News – The Mogami-class / 30FFM (also known as FFM and previously known as 30DX) is the next generation multi-mission frigate designed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). A total number of 22 Frigates are expected to be procured for the JMSDF.

NavalToday – Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has revealed that the navy’s first Taigei-class submarine entered service.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – Japan’s defense minister raised concerns about Russia’s recent naval activities in the Sea of Japan, citing the size of the exercise and increased tension with Ukraine.

Naval News – Since the signing of the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation in 2007, Australia and Japan have grown closer through joint training exercises between the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF). And the Australia-Japan relationship has entered a new chapter in recent years.

War Zone – The missiles would offer land-attack and anti-ship capabilities and would be expected to serve as a deterrent to China and North Korea.

Kyodo News – Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military have drawn up a draft joint operation plan that would enable the setup of an attack base along the Nansei island chain in the country’s southwest in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

War on the Rocks – The most important development for Taiwan’s security might be unfolding right now in Japan. Tokyo’s strategy toward Taiwan is dramatically shifting. Once reluctant to join all but the most anodyne of pro-Taiwan statements with the United States, Japanese officials now increasingly state their desire to “protect Taiwan as a democratic country.” While no formal changes in security policy or diplomatic legalities are likely, Tokyo is signaling that it is willing to support Taiwan’s sovereignty, up to and including joining a military defense of the island against Chinese attack. This is likely giving Chinese Communist Party leaders and military planners much more short-term heartburn than the recently announced submarine and technology sharing deal between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

War On The Rocks – As the United States increasingly focuses on competition in the Indo-Pacific, and as elements of the U.S. military look specifically to amphibious aircraft, it would do well to consider acquiring handy Japanese seaplanes.

War on the Rocks – Earlier this month, U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighters embarked on the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force ship JS Izumo as a capability validation…It is also a milestone on a path that is establishing smaller aircraft carriers equipped with the F-35B Lightning II, or “Lightning carriers,” as the new capital ships of Asia.

Naval News – Shin Kurushima Hashihama Dockyard, located in Hashihama, Imabari city, Ehime prefecture today launched the first of two Yard Oiler Tankers for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.

1945 – James Holmes writes that Tokyo must refuse to succumb to the allure of prestige platforms.

Naval News – According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD)’s budget request for FY2022 announced on August 30, 2021, the budget includes the cost to modify the Lockheed Martin SPY-7 radar in order to operate it at sea. Japan’s SPY-7 radar was initially procured for the land based Aegis Ashore facility.

USNI News – Two U.S. carrier strike groups drilled with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) and a Japanese big-deck warship over the weekend in a major naval exercise in the waters off the southeast of Okinawa, Japan.

Naval News – On August 31, 2021, Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced its FY2022 budget request. Here are some of the key points of interest, related to the maritime domain.

USNI News – U.S Marine F-35Bs from Iwakuni will support the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s post refit trials of the destroyer helicopter carrier JS Izumo (DDH183) next month.

USNI News – The Japanese Ministry of Defense detected a Chinese submarine operating in the contiguous zone of Japan’s southern islands.

USNI News – U.S. Marine F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters will operate off a Japanese warship later this year.

War Zone – It isn’t clear if the surge in Chinese drone presence over the East China Sea is indicative of a new trend or prelude to a major naval movement.

Breaking Defense – Japan’s new Defense White Paper warns that China’s growing military muscle, overflights and naval incursions “have become a matter of grave concern to the region including Japan and the international community,” one which will require new capabilities and doctrine to counter.