Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Conducts Large-Scale Live-Fire Exercise... Scale Reduced Due to COVID-19

Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono (center) is observing the "Fuji Combined Firepower Exercise" conducted by the Ground Self-Defense Force at the Higashifuji Training Ground in Shizuoka Prefecture on the 23rd. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seung-jin] Despite the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) went ahead with the largest live-fire exercise in Japan, the "Fuji (富士) Comprehensive Firepower Exercise."

According to Kyodo News on the 23rd, the Ground Self-Defense Force conducted the exercise as scheduled at the Higashi-Fuji (東富士) Training Area in Shizuoka (靜岡) Prefecture, with Defense Minister Kono Taro (河野太郞) in attendance.

However, this year’s exercise did not invite general spectators to prevent COVID-19 infections. Additionally, the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, specialized in landing operations, and the 1st Airborne Brigade, an airborne unit, were stationed in other prefectures and did not participate directly; only video footage was shown.

Kyodo News reported that since general spectators were first invited in 1966, this is only the second time the comprehensive exercise was held without spectators, the first being in 1979 when the exercise itself was not conducted. Last year, about 20,000 general spectators watched the exercise scenes.

This year’s exercise was conducted mainly by Ground Self-Defense Force personnel stationed in Shizuoka and Kanagawa (神奈川) Prefectures, with the number of participants reduced from 2,600 last year to 1,800.

Last year, about 4,000 new recruits were allowed to observe for training purposes separately from the participants, but this year observation was limited to 1,000 nearby unit members.

The remaining approximately 3,000 personnel watched the exercise via internet streaming from their respective garrisons and other locations.

The exercise simulated a scenario where a remote island was attacked. About 30 tanks and armored vehicles and approximately 40 artillery pieces were deployed, with 19 tons (worth about 4 billion yen) of live ammunition used.

Meanwhile, the Ground Self-Defense Force usually conducts this exercise in late August every year, but this year the schedule was moved up considering the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which were originally planned to start in July.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.