Self-Defense Forces Commemoration Day in Japan

The Self Defense Forces (“Jieitai”) are the Japanese military. The name emphasizes self defense of the Japanese islands rather than any capability to project force outside of Japan because Article 9 of the postwar constitution prohibits the state from possessing military potential or force. Since 1991, the Japan Self-Defense Forces have conducted international activities to provide support for peacekeeping missions and disaster relief efforts as well as to help prevent conflict and terrorism.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces were officially established on July 1, 1954. Self-Defense Forces Commemoration Day was first held in 1966. It was eventually decided to move the celebration to November 1, because July 1 falls during the season of typhoons, and bad weather prevents from celebrating the occasion properly.