In
a ceremony held at a military base near Sasebo on the southwest island
of Kyushu, about 1,500 members of the Amphibious Rapid Deployment
Brigade (ARDB) wearing camouflage lined up outside amid cold, windy
weather.
"Given
the increasingly difficult defense and security situation surrounding
Japan, defense of our islands has become a critical mandate," Tomohiro
Yamamoto, vice defense minister, said in a speech.
The troops conducted a 20-minute mock public exercise recapturing a remote island from invaders.
The
formation of the Japanese marine brigade is controversial because
amphibious units can project military force and could, critics warn, be
used to threaten Japan’s neighbors. In its post World War Two
constitution Japan renounced the right to wage war.
