Even with 9 trillion yen in defense spending, the harshness of “no screen door, no toilet seat”…The reality of the appointment of naturalized citizens is emerging due to the shortage of 27,000 Self-Defense Forces personnel.

9 Trillion Yen Budget but Overwhelming Shortage of Self-Defense Forces

As the international situation becomes increasingly severe, Japan is rapidly increasing its defense-related expenditures. The defense-related budget for FY26 topped 9 trillion yen, reaching 9.353 trillion yen (up 334.9 billion yen from the previous year). The budget for personnel and food expenses, which covers salaries, retirement benefits, and meals for military personnel, was 2.3897 trillion yen (an increase of 38.9 billion yen over the previous fiscal year).

While the budget and equipment are being enhanced, the shortage of human resources for the Self-Defense Forces personnel who are responsible for the enhancement of the budget and equipment is becoming serious. The FY25 edition of the Defense White Paper also states that “securing human resources is an urgent issue,” and the overall sufficiency rate is only about 90%. Although the capacity has been set at 247,000 for the past 10 years, the current number of personnel has remained in the 220,000 range. In FY20 and FY21, the number temporarily exceeded 230,000, but has since declined again, reaching 220,000 in FY24.

Yasuhiro Kawakami, a former assistant admiral and chief researcher at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, said, “It is important to maintain the capacity.

“It is important to maintain the capacity.

This is because, as a guide to the scale of defense capabilities, every nation keeps a close eye on its neighbors and must take their capabilities into account when discussing theirs. China, for example, dwarfs Japan in terms of defense spending and manpower. Since some parts of China are undisclosed, it is estimated that the scale differs from Japan’s by nearly an order of magnitude.

Even so, the reality is that Japan is not able to attract Self-Defense Force personnel. Mr. Kawakami laments this situation.

We want to increase the number of SDF officers in this severe security environment, but no matter how many we try to recruit, we can’t get them.

There is a report (Asahi Shimbun, March 27) that the government and ruling party are considering a reduction in the number of SDF officers in response to the decline in the population.

Not even a screen door!　The harsh reality of government housing

As the number of applicants for recruitment declines due to the declining birthrate, the Ministry of Defense has announced a policy of carefully explaining the missions and roles of the Self-Defense Forces and recruiting people who have a firm determination. The Ministry of Defense is seeking to expand recruitment to include not only high school graduates, but also college graduates, women, and mid-career recruits. At the same time, the company is also working to make effective use of its existing workforce by streamlining operations, utilizing outsourcing, and extending the retirement age.

We have been recruiting people around 18 or 20 years old, but we are now looking for people a little older, and we are also trying to increase the number of female workers. We cannot defend the nation unless we have a large number of people who can enhance their experience and knowledge from a young age. On the other hand, we are trying to extend the retirement age.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense has begun to improve compensation in order to increase the number of applicants and reduce the number of mid-career retirements. Kawakami also says that financial stability and the elimination of anxiety after retirement are essential, and stresses that “we must improve the treatment of our employees. According to him, the salary of SDF officers is gradually increasing.

Improving the living environment is also an issue. The Ministry of Defense is building official housing, but Kawakami suggests that renting private apartments is an option rather than building new ones. Looking back on his own experience, Kawakami points out, “Government buildings do not have screens.

There were no screens, ventilation fans, or toilet lids in the government housing. I had to walk around with a fluorescent light for indoor lighting when I was transferred. At the very least, these things should be provided. On the other hand, government housing must be repaired, but the repair costs are high. Some private apartments are equipped with air conditioning and other amenities.

If SDF officers are designated as emergency response personnel, they need to assemble within a 30-minute walking distance. It is more convenient and less time-consuming to use private apartments in the area. Kawakami stresses the importance of creating a comfortable living environment for SDF personnel.

Conscription is unnecessary!　Promoting naturalized human resources is also important.

Kawakami makes the following suggestions for further measures to secure Self-Defense Force personnel: “Foreign nationals should not be included in the recruitment process.

We need to include foreigners in the recruitment process.

The foreigners referred to here are limited to naturalized citizens who have acquired Japanese citizenship. The assumption is that they will not be involved in front-line combat, but will mainly be responsible for logistical support operations. Currently, Japan is expanding the acceptance of foreign nationals in the manufacturing, service, agriculture, and nursing care industries to compensate for a serious shortage of labor. In the field of national defense as well, the time may come when Japan will have to rely on naturalized human resources. In fact, there are cases in other countries where foreigners have been appointed to the armed forces.

Looking at the world, South Korea maintains conscription, and France, which once abolished it, has reintroduced limited military service, and there are moves to revive military service. However, Kawakami said, “Conscription is not right for Japan. Countries that have introduced it seem to be having a hard time,” he analyzes.

Compared to professional military personnel who have volunteered and trained, conscripts’ abilities vary widely. Instead, it would be more beneficial to the country as a whole if civilians engaged in electric power, telecommunications, agriculture, etc., could maintain their respective work standards and perform steadily in times of emergency.

What is the most important factor in ensuring national security?

If the people as a whole become more aware of the need to protect the country, that alone will serve as a deterrent. When people have a sense of national defense, there is no need for conscription. People will be able to protect their own cities by themselves.”

What is the ultimate deterrent, the “Reserve Self-Defense Force?

A case that illustrates the strength of the awareness of “protecting one’s own city” is symbolized by the efforts of Estonia, which Kawakami visited. The country has citizen soldiers who keep weapons and ammunition in their homes.

Ordinary housewives were throwing hand grenades in exercises, not to protect the country as a whole, but to protect their own cities.”

Although the environment differs between Estonia, which is exposed to threats on land, and Japan, which is an island nation, there is a “real solution” for citizens to take charge of their own defense in Japan as well. This is the “reserve self-defense force” system.

While normally working as civilians, they are responsible for supporting the activities of the Self-Defense Forces in times of emergency. They participate in five days of training per year (according to the Ministry of Defense website, the second day is for basic training, and the third day is for target practice and certification), and in the event of an emergency or disaster, they are called up to provide security and logistical support at garrison sites.

However, the “sufficiency ratio” is another obstacle that stands in the way. The number of reserve SDF officers has remained at around 33,000 for the past several years, compared to the maximum number of 47,900. Kawakami points out that it is necessary to fill the reserve JSDF officers as well as the permanent JSDF officers. The understanding and cooperation of employers, families, and local communities are essential to increasing the number of people who want to become reserve Self-Defense Force officers.

Many citizens must raise their awareness of emergencies and steadily increase the number of SDF and reserve members. This will lead to an increased understanding of the activities of the SDF, which in turn will lead to an increase in Japan’s deterrence capability and prompt assistance in times of disaster.