Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conducts 1st landing drill at US Army Japan port | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force has conducted a major drill to land its vehicles and equipment at the US military's port facility in Yokohama City, near Tokyo. The exercise is the first of its kind by the GSDF.

The drill was carried out at the Yokohama North Dock on Thursday with an aim to swiftly deploy GSDF units.

It was part of one of the largest field trainings that began in September with about 100,000 personnel from across Japan taking part.

Some 70 vehicles, including light armored vehicles and trucks, had been transported from the southern Japanese region of Kyushu onboard a ferry of a private contractor of the Defense Ministry.

It took about one hour for all the vehicles to be offloaded after the ship docked at the facility.

The training was overseen by GSDF Chief of Staff General Morishita Yasunori and the commander of the US Army Japan, Major General Dave Womack.

The National Defense Strategy compiled by the Japanese government in 2022 says that Japanese and US personnel will be deployed at each other's facilities through trainings and other activities with an aim to strengthen deterrence.

The GSDF says the force will improve the effectiveness of its missions in various fields so it can respond to any situation.