| Central Readiness Force | |
|---|---|
Official Central Readiness Force insignia |
|
| Active | March 28, 2007 – present |
| Country | Japan |
| Branch | Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces |
| Type | Mixture of Special Forces, Aerial Transportation, anti-NBC Warfare and Military Training units |
| Role | Direct Action, Unconventional Warfare, Domestic and International Counter-Terrorism |
| Size | 4,335 soldiers |
| Part of | Controls 1st Airborne Brigade, 1st Helicopter Brigade, Japanese Special Forces Group, Central NBC Weapon Defense Unit, International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit, NBC Countermeasure Medical Unit and the Central Readiness Force Regiment |
| Garrison/HQ | Nerima, Tokyo |
| Nickname | CRF |
| Engagements | United Nations Mission in Nepal United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti Deployment Airforce for Counter-Piracy Enforcement |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lieutenant General Mamoru Fujisaki |
The Central Readiness Force (中央即応集団 Chūō Sokuō Shūdan) was recently established on March 28, 2007, following the upgrading of the Japanese Defense Ministry from the former Japanese Defense Agency.[1] Based in Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces (JGSDF) Camp Asaka in Nerima, Tokyo, the unit has the capability of responding to any situation in either Japanese or foreign soil. The unit can also be Japan's response to any combat operations in further peacekeeping missions as a rapid reaction force[2] as a part of the Japanese government's National Defense Program Guidelines over the need to improve the JGSDF's capabilities to deal with new defense issues such as foreign peacekeeping operations and anti-terrorist operations.[2]
The CRF had a formal ceremony in the same base on March 31, 2007. Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma was the guest of honour in formally inaugurating the force. Lieutenant General Josho Yamaguchi (山口淨秀 陸将, Yamaguchi Josho Rikushō) is the first CRF commanding officer.[2] The current commander of the CRF is Lt. Gen. Mamoru Fujisaki.[3]
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Formed on March 28, 2007, the CRF has consolidated the 1st Airborne Brigade, the 1st Helicopter Brigade, the Japanese Special Operations Group and the 101st NBC Protection Unit into a single force meant to conduct operations in domestic and foreign soil.[2][4] On March 31, 2007, the Central Readiness Force had held its formal ceremony at the JGSDF's Camp Asaka in Nerima, Tokyo, which included guests such as Fumio Kyuma and Josho Yamaguchi, the former presiding over the formal establishment of the CRF.[4]
The CRF went to be deployed in its first civil disaster mission to quell wildfires in the forests of the Yamanashi Prefecture on April 29, 2007 with the 1st Helicopter Brigade being deployed after its integration to the force.[5] The CRF had conducted a military exercise on October 31, 2007 with its subordinate units participating in a wider range of scenarios from anti-NBC cleanup to personnel transportation and evacuation.
6 officers from the CRF were deployed to Nepal as part of the UNMIS mission on March 30, 2007 as part of their first CRF peacekeeping mission.[6][7] A CRF officer deployed to Nepal as part of the UNMIN was awarded by UN peacekeeping officers for completing his duties to monitor the ceasefire between the Nepalese government and Maoist rebels.[8] The officers had returned on March 18, 2008.[9] 4 CRF officers under the UNDOF's transport unit were deployed to France as Japanese representatives on July 14, 2008 for its annual Bastille Day Military Parade celebration.[10] The CRF was deployed to assist in the aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in humanitarian relief efforts, as well as to combat radiation problems at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.[11][12]
| Name (English) | Name (Japanese) | Year of appointment | Previous position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josho Yamaguchi | 山口 淨秀 (Yamaguchi Josho) | March 28, 2007 | Western Army Chief of Staff |
| Name (English) | Name (Japanese) | Year of appointment | Previous position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toshiaki Tanaka | 田中 敏明 (Tanaka Toshiaki) | March 28, 2007 | Northern Army Vice Chief of Staff |
| Name (English) | Name (Japanese) | Year of appointment | Previous position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kouichi Isobe | 磯部 晃一 (Isobe Kouichi) | March 28, 2007 | Eastern Army Vice Chief of Staff |
| Name (English) | Name (Japanese) | Year of appointment | Previous position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kizuku Fukuda | 福田 築 (Fukuda Kizuku) | March 28, 2007 | Eastern Army Commanding Officer, Defense Plans & Operations Department |
| Name (English) | Name (Japanese) | Year of appointment | Previous position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toshihiro Honjyo Hirofumi Takizawa |
本庄 俊弘 (Honjyo Toshihiro) 滝澤 博文 (Takizawa Hirofumi) |
March 28, 2007 | Eastern Army Commanding Officer, Defense Plans & Operations Department |
The structure of the CRF has been created with the following established for its headquarters:
The following is the current formation of the CRF as 2011.[13]
The following are represented in the insignia and patch of the Central Readiness Force:
The insignia symbolizes the CRF's mandate to operate in Japanese soil.[14]
The patch symbolizes the CRF's mandate to operate in foreign territory as a representative of Japan in Peacekeeping missions.[14]
Under future plans to unify cooperation between Japan and the United States, the Central Readiness Force's headquarters will eventually be transferred out to Camp Zama by the year 2012.[15][16] This would be done for the US military and the JSDF to operate with improved interoperability.[17]