Defence Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force restructures elite units for faster crisis response

The SOG was formed in 2004 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Modelled after the U.S. Green Berets and similar crack units, it specialises in counterterrorism, guerrilla warfare and overseas rescue operations. It is considered Japan's most secretive military unit, with most members keeping their affiliation confidential. The group would likely be the first deployed to recapture occupied territories, for example, the disputed Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. The CRR serves as Japan's rapid deployment force for overseas missions and domestic emergencies, including potential incursions into the Tokyo metropolitan area. In recent years, the CRR has played a growing role in protecting and evacuating Japanese people caught up in volatile situations, notably in the Middle East. The integration of the two forces reflects the increasing complexity and danger of missions both at home and abroad, said a GSDF official, adding that such situations require "specialised and advanced capabilities to respond to simultaneous and multifaceted threats."

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