Thank you for visiting the Self Defense Fleet homepage.
Happy New Year, everyone.
I sincerely appreciate your understanding and support for JMSDF.
The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming more severe due to the military buildup and maritime expansion of neighboring countries and their attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force.
Additionally, I am concerned about the security environment of Indo-Pacific region, especially the South China Sea, as it tends to be complicated and unstable.
This January 1st is the 70th anniversary of the Self Defense Fleet. It continues to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions around Japan, deepen joint operations and the Japan-U.S. Alliance, and strengthen the security cooperation with like-minded countries and Japan Coast Guard. Self Defense Fleet maintains strength, readiness, and 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and continues to respond to various contingencies for the safety and security of the people of Japan in order to live up to their expectations.
Furthermore, I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to the families of the members who are away from home, who are still serving for their respective missions in the East China Sea, the waters and airspace of Japan, the Gulf of Oman and the northern Arabian Sea, Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, Bahrain, and in units all over Japan.
I wish you all a wonderful year with peace and hope.


January 1st, 2024
52th Commander in Chief of the Self-Defense Fleet
Vice Admiral SAITO Akira