Currently, Japan is facing the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II, which calls for a fundamental strengthening of its defense force to ensure Japan's peace and security. In particular, reinforcing the human resource base to enhance the capabilities of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel has been positioned as an urgent issue, and measures are being considered at a rapid pace by the entire government.
In April 2024, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation established the study group "
Security Strategy Studies Project" with experts including policymakers and practitioners on security as its members, to examine bold ideas for strengthening the human resource base of defense capabilities, utilizing a third-party perspective, free from the existing framework. We are pleased to issue our policy proposal “Policy Recommendation on Enhancing the Foundation for Human Resource Base of Defense Capabilities.”
We hope that this proposal will contribute to further strengthening the human foundation of Japan’s defense capabilities.
Click
here to download the policy proposal.
※You can read Japanese version
here.
※This proposal was presented at the public forum
“SPF Security Strategy Forum: Policy Recommendation on Enhancing the Foundation for Human Resource Base of Defense Capabilities,” held on May 14, 2025 (Click
here to view the event).
Proposals
Introduction
Proposal 1: Sustained Government-Wide Deliberation Including the Strengthening of Social Infrastructure
Proposal 2: Reacknowledgement of the Unique Nature of SDF Personnel
Proposal 3: Improvement of the Treatment of SDF Personnel
Proposal 4: Organizational Reform of the SDF to Overcome the Era of Population Decline
Proposal 5: Bold Revision of the SDF Reserve Personnel Systems
Proposal 6: Promoting Public–Private Cooperation to Strengthen the Human Resource Base
Proposal 7: Enhancing Security Education as a Social Foundation for the Entire Nation
Proposal 8: Promoting Public Understanding of the Role of SDF Personnel
Conclusion
Authors
- Mr. Tetsuro Kuroe, Chairperson; Former Administrative Vice-Minister of Defense
- Gen. Koji Yamazaki, Former Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
- Adm. Yutaka Murakawa, Former Chief of Staff, JMSDF
- Lt. Gen. Tadashi Miyagawa, Former Director General, Defense Intelligence Headquarters
- VAdm. Hiroshi Shibata, Former Director General, Naval Systems, ATLA
- Ms. Misa Sakurabayashi, Writer on defense issues
- RAdm. Yasuhiro Kawakami, Director, General Affairs and Networking Program, Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit, Sasakawa Peace Foundation
