Category: Self Defense Forces

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 10, 2026 Number of comments0
Abuse Japan Mental Health Self Defense Forces

Japan Govt Ordered to Pay Damages over SDF Officer’s Suicide

A Japanese district court on Friday ordered the government to pay 1.1 million yen in damages to the mother of a Ground Self-Defense Force member who committed suicide in 2012. They claimed that Kawashima, who was stationed at the GSDF’s Camp Shiraoi in the Hokkaido town of Shiraoi, took his life as appropriate measures were not taken against bullying mainly by one older officer.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 20, 2023 Number of comments0
Crime Japan Mental Health Self Defense Forces

Japan GSDF recruit to undergo psychiatric test after shooting instructors

A Ground Self-Defense Force recruit who fatally shot two of his instructors and injured another during a live-fire training exercise in central Japan last month will be subjected to a psychiatric evaluation, prosecutors said Thursday.

The 18-year-old will be detained for approximately four months through Nov. 24 for the examination, the Gifu Summary Court said after accepting the request by prosecutors for his detention.