Despite the increasing risk of war, Japan lacks soldiers

Japan has recognized the signs of the times in terms of security policy. Tokyo is no longer hiding behind America’s protective shield. Alarmed by the war in Ukraine, Tokyo is making a turning point. Within five years, the government has doubled military spending, sought new defense alliances and gone on the offensive in its arms policy. The only thing the island nation is not making any progress in is the procurement of manpower for the armed forces.

As if it were just demographics

Those in charge point to the demographic problem like a mantra. Japan is shrinking and aging like no other country in the world. Artificial intelligence, automation and unmanned weapon systems are reducing the need for personnel. But the high-tech nation is already making considerable use of this potential. A new type of frigate can manage with two-thirds of the crew of the previous model. But no war can be won without women and men in uniform.

There is no way around trying to recruit new military personnel. Some campaigns by the so-called Self-Defense Forces (SDF) seem downright desperate. Recruiters lure in candidates with freedom of choice when it comes to haircuts – snappy hairstyles instead of crew cuts. They promise more modern toilets or advertise larger steaks and more spacious cabins that offer more privacy in the submarine. New counseling services are aimed at victims of sexual harassment. The impact of these campaigns? Little.

The Japanese armed forces regularly and significantly miss their recruitment target. Only half of the personnel requirements were met in the most recent round of recruitment. And this despite China and North Korea constantly demonstrating that Japan needs a strong military deterrent. Chinese warships and fighter jets are testing the borders more and more brazenly. North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un is obsessively testing missiles that can be equipped with nuclear weapons. In addition, Japan shares disputed borders with a third aggressive and authoritarian superpower: Russia.

Despite the increased security risks, recruiters are going around in circles with their lure calls. Of course, the living conditions in the Japanese barracks can be improved. The financial incentives must also be right so that more young Japanese choose a military career. If soldiers’ families have to do without air conditioning in the sweltering summer heat because the costs are beyond their budget, something is going wrong.

A reputation problem

And yet these efforts are unlikely to bear much fruit unless the political leadership manages to convey the core message: the security situation in North Asia has deteriorated – the country must do more to protect itself against threats posed by its neighbors.

Japan, itself an aggressor until the end of World War II, long enjoyed the role of a peace-loving anchor of stability in East Asia. In its pacifist constitution, Japan renounced the right to wage war as an independent nation. This was accompanied by a feeling of moral superiority. Antimilitarism is considered good form in many places. Anyone who wants to serve in this climate must almost overcome shame.

Outside the barracks walls, the population meets the army members with curiosity at best, but rarely with respect. No wonder you rarely see soldiers in uniform on the Japanese streets. More elegant showers and better barracks food will not change that. What is needed is a change in awareness among the elite – and role models who effectively embody it.