Combat-Related Death of Soldiers and Public Support for Military Missions Abroad: The Case of Japan

How will the Japanese public react to the first combat-related death in the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) on a military mission abroad? Given the fact that Japan has experienced no such casualty as yet, it is not difficult to imagine the public’s initial shock and panic about the loss. Will the Japanese public, however, be able to continue to support JSDF deployments despite their human cost? This article analyzes applicable social learning theories to examine whether and to what extent Japan is ready to accept combat-related deaths and—despite them—to continue to support further missions away from home. Current opportunities for the public to discuss, understand, and accept (or reject) the threat of JSDF combat casualties are limited. The public’s understanding of the legitimacy of their military missions and of combat-related deaths remains inadequate, stalling social learning in this area across Japan. Under these circumstances, the chance for continuing public support for military missions will be slim once the JSDF suffers its first casualty in combat. Japan faces serious and urgent needs for more adequate and profound discourse among the public and between state authorities over what it means to lose JSDF troops’ lives. Failure in these efforts will jeopardize the very legitimacy of Japanese military missions abroad and threaten the loss of support for Japanese contributions to international peace