April 8, 2026

The government on April 3 submitted to the Diet a bill to relax the existing rules with the aim of making it easy to mobilize public servants as Self-Defense Force reserve personnel. Criticism has been spreading on social media that this is the first step toward the implementation of conscription.

Currently, national and local government employees who concurrently serve as SDF reserve personnel must obtain permission from their supervisors each time they are called to SDF-related duties.

The Defense Ministry on its official website stated that under the bill on “Special Provisions for Concurrent Employment of National and Local Public Employees to Ensure the Smooth Execution of Duties by Self-Defense Force Reserve Personnel and Others”, it will become easier for public employees to engage in concurrent service as SDF reserve personnel on the grounds that they will receive all required permissions when they become reservists and face no pay cuts during the training period for reserve personnel.

The ministry explained that the bill will help solve the chronic shortage of SDF reserve members and deepen people’s interest in and understanding of the importance of SDF reserve personnel. The ministry also stated on its website that although the bill does not cover private-sector employees, the ministry hopes that companies hiring SDF reservists will treat them similarly to public servant reservists.

It is likely that the bill, if enacted, will create pressure on public sector employees and corporate workers to apply to become SDF reservists.