Population decrease hurts self-defense capability

Tokyo wants to upgrade Japan's defense capacity. A demographic crisis could get in the way.

"...Traditionally, the JSDF drew most of its recruits from rural areas, where economic opportunities are scarcer. But the countryside has been hit hardest by demographic trends, as many young Japanese move to metropolitan areas for work. Japan is one of the most urbanized countries in the world, with 92 percent of the population living in cities in 2020."

Interesting article. Having two sons (one of them definitely psychologically unsuitable for military service) and knowing the militarist views of some of Japan's leaders, I worry about enforced conscription.

They are talking about women having to register for the draft at 18 like men do here in the US. I guess the argument is , if women want equal rights , that's part of it. So far it just seems in the discussion stage so I don't picture Congress doing anything soon.

Lothor said:

Having two sons (one of them definitely psychologically unsuitable for military service)...

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I am sorry to hear this. I hope that he will be able to find a meaningful career that is helpful to society.

Buntaro said:

I am sorry to hear this. I hope that he will be able to find a meaningful career that is helpful to society.

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Well, it could just mean they have trouble with authority and taking orders. I wouldn't consider myself psychologically suitable for military service either. Then again, I'm not much use to society either...

Lothor said:

Having two sons (one of them definitely psychologically unsuitable for military service) and knowing the militarist views of some of Japan's leaders, I worry about enforced conscription.

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Most democratic nations with mandatory conscription have exhaustive catalogues of exemptions from service. And just like the others, I am sure your sons will make their way in fields that do not require hierarchies and authorities.

nice gaijin said:

I wouldn't consider myself psychologically suitable for military service either.

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I was fighting tooth and nail to evade mandatory military service for the same reason. I was refused civil service (an alternative service for conscientious objectors, etc.); however, it turned out that the army was just another kindergarten where the number of stars on your epaulettes determines who has a say. It taught me a lot about human psychology and handy ways to play the system.

nice gaijin said:

Then again, I'm not much use to society either...

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I seriously doubt that.


Hypothetically, Japan has several options to fill their ranks: compulsory military service, replacing more troops with advanced technology, and accepting foreign nationals à la Gurkhas in the Royal Army or Pakistani conscripts in Saudi Arabia, or any combination thereof.

I joined the Navy in 1969 to avoid being drafted and sent to the war in Vietnam. Even in the intelligence section, I had to deal with drunks and career people who could not have made it in the civilian world. At times , it seemed all you had to do to get by and get ahead was to have shiny shoes and belt buckle and a crease in your pants , no brains needed. At the time , I felt it was a wasted 4 years , other than getting me 2 years in Japan. As an old man , I now look back on it as an interesting learning experience that helped me later in life dealing with things.

thomas said:

Most democratic nations with mandatory conscription have exhaustive catalogues of exemptions from service. And just like the others, I am sure your sons will make their way in fields that do not require hierarchies and authorities.




I was fighting tooth and nail to evade mandatory military service for the same reason. I was refused civil service (an alternative service for conscientious objectors, etc.); however, it turned out that the army was just another kindergarten where the number of stars on your epaulettes determines who has a say. It taught me a lot about human psychology and handy ways to play the system.




I seriously doubt that.


Hypothetically, Japan has several options to fill their ranks: compulsory military service, replacing more troops with advanced technology, and accepting foreign nationals à la Gurkhas in the Royal Army or Pakistani conscripts in Saudi Arabia, or any combination thereof.

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I think that accepting foreign nationals into the Japanese army is very much a hypothetical option!

Lothor said:

I think that accepting foreign nationals into the Japanese army is very much a hypothetical option!

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Oh yes, absolutely. Just like filling labour gaps with immigrants.

The US military seems to be real interested in eliminating humans and going robotic on ships. planes , tanks etc. Makes me think of the Terminator movies when the robots try to kill off humans , LOL. I think if there was a major(WWIII) war , Canada would be over run by draft dodgers .

Uncle Frank said:

I think if there was a major(WWIII) war , Canada would be over run by draft dodgers .

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When was the last draft in the US? During the Vietnam war?

Yes, it ended sometime in 1973 or 1974, I think. But in the early 80s, the US resumed a program where all males, upon turning 18, had to register for a hypothetical draft, should the US ever be in a position of needing several million young men to march off into some war zone. The registration just makes it easier for the army to locate and identify potential conscripts. It was a while since I did this... Sort of sobers you up when you get out of high school and the first step into officialdom is putting your name on a draft registration card. Anyway, the requirement still exists.

They are talking about adding females to the draft , but I doubt it will happen. The amount of deaths lost in battle on all sides is such a waste of young lives , but it seems to be a part of the cycle of life on earth. During the Vietnam war , it was your birthday that decided if you got drafted. MY birthday came up as number 25 on the list of those to go , so it was a sure thing. I went down and signed up for the Navy shortly after that list came out , LOL.

Nixon actually ran on a platform that included ending the draft, thinking that it was not only popular but would take the wind out of the antiwar movement, as he expected that the affluent youths who were protesting would stop objecting to the war once their chance of conscription ended. But in 1971, they requested a 2 year extension of the program, and conscription continued until 1973.

From Conscription in the United States - Wikipedia

In 2020, the bipartisan National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service issued a final report recommending that the military improve enlistment rates through improved outreach and recruiting rather than a renewed draft. However, it also recommended that the U.S. Department of Defense perform regular national mobilization drills to rehearse a recommencement of the draft.[131]​

In 2021, legislation was proposed to remove the word "male" from all conscription legislation.[132]​ This would effectively remove any gender and sex conditionality related to the draft.

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I'm fully in support of including women in the draft, not just because of notions of equality, but that the more people potentially affected by something as callous as military conscription for an unpopular war, the more chance there is to end such a program altogether, and the less incentive there is to pick a fight with our neighbors in the first place.

As an aside, this is slightly touched upon in the recent movie Tomorrow War, where normal citizens are pulled into the future by the millions to act as cannon fodder for a war that hasn't happened yet.

In an era of soft power and an interconnected global economy, war is a messy and wholly unnecessary endeavor that is fueled by propaganda and serves a few special interests; the citizens of all countries involved invariably suffer from the consequences of war. We should've tried the Bush administration officials for dragging us into Afghanistan and Iraq in particular. They sold their war on a lie and ought to be held accountable for their war crimes.

I agree it's an incredible waste of life, but I reject the notion that it is in any way necessary. However, as they are never held accountable, men with power will never hesitate to throw their youth into the jaws of the war machine; it is their greed and inability to address the issues we face that we will be forced to repeat this cycle of violence as the climate crisis continues to worsen, causing drought and famine and an increased pressure to hoard and protect natural resources.

Being a Vietnam Veteran, I try to keep my feelings in due to the deaths on both sides . But I just would like to say this: War generally is a racket.