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2025 May 14 - 20 TOP3 [SDF]

GSDF contracts with funeral service industry in case of GSDF personnel deaths in battle

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force had signed a cooperation agreement with an organization in the funeral service industry in case GSDF members died in action, Akahata learned on May 15.

This shows that the government attempt to turn Japan into a war-capable nation is advancing without pause. Japan has come to the point where its GSDF is specifically contemplating the possibility of casualties in “survival-threatening situations” in which the SDF would be involved in U.S. wars abroad.

The GSDF agreement is with the Japanese Federation of Funeral Business Unions consisting of 56 funeral business cooperatives and 1,186 funeral homes.

According to the Defense Ministry, the agreement is to prepare for the eventuality that SDF members may lose their lives in the event of “various disasters,” “armed attack situations,” or “survival-threatening situations.”

Inoue Masanobu, a lawyer who is well-versed in the national security-related legislation, said, “A 43-trillion-yen arms buildup is now underway in Japan. If a ‘Taiwan contingency’ occurred, the Nansei Islands would immediately be turned into a war zone. The GSDF is probably expecting casualties among its personnel in such a conflict. This means that the Defense Ministry and the SDF are anticipating participating in an actual war. The people should understand the fact that the government is already preparing for and anticipating casualties in war.”