Japanese Troops - Iraq

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) deployment to Iraq marked a pivotal moment in Japan’s post-World War II history. For a nation constitutionally bound to pacifism, the deployment was not merely a military operation but a test of Japan’s evolving international identity, political alliances, and the limits of its Self-Defense Forces (SDF). This video report examines the context, operations, challenges, and legacy of the JGSDF’s presence in Iraq from 2004 to 2006, emphasizing the unique role they played as “not soldiers” in a traditional sense.