(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Today, I visited the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Camp Ainoura. The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade located here at Camp Ainoura is a key unit for carrying out Japan’s remote island defense operations and is a one-of-a-kind elite unit. By building an integrated operational structure with the V-22 Osprey deployed at Camp Saga, which opened in July this year, the brigade’s capability to defend remote islands, including the southwestern region, will be further strengthened. Today, I got the chance to actually ride the amphibious vehicle, Assault Amphibious Vehicle 7, and saw for myself that the vehicle offers high mobility and protection. I also observed underwater emergency egress training and heliborne training. It was very encouraging to see that each personnel were carrying out their duties assiduously with a high level of proficiency, and with a sense of urgency as professionals in island defense, under the shared mission of protecting the nation. Supporting the personnel are their families and cooperating organizations. As Minister of Defense, I expressed my deep appreciation for the continued assistance of cooperating organizations, and we exchanged our candid views. Later, I will be spending time with the families, including taking photographs together. I intend to tell them that I am fully committed to creating an environment where the families can live with peace of mind and wait for the safe return of the personnel. Tomorrow, I will attend the naming and launching ceremony for the 12th state-of-the-art Mogami-Class Frigate at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works and visit its plants. The Mogami-Class Frigate will serve as the basis for the frigates to be transferred to Australia, for which procedures are now underway. The frigate was also viewed recently by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia, the Hon Richard Marles MP. The 12th frigate to be named and launched is the last and the culmination of the Mogami-Class Frigate series, beginning with the first one whose construction started in FY2018. For Japan, a nation surrounded by the sea on all sides and having critical sea lanes, it is essential to maintain and strengthen maritime defense capabilities. Shipyards, which produce and maintain outstanding vessels, make up the core of such capabilities. Tomorrow, I will see firsthand the high-level shipbuilding capabilities of the shipyard that supports the defense of Japan, and I will deepen my understanding of the shipbuilding process and technologies. The Ministry of Defense will continue to work as one team in addressing the challenges we face toward strengthening our defense architecture in the southwestern region, and in maintaining and reinforcing the defense production and technological bases.