JPOSS

Yuji Idomoto (UCSD), "The Military That Isn’t: Legalized Anti-Militarism and Limits of Japan’s Defense Policy"
2026-03-05 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
U.S. ET: March 5 (Thursday), 8 – 9 PM
JST: March 6 (Friday), 10 – 11 AM
Zoom Registration: Link
Paper: Idomoto paper
Author & Presenter: Yuji Idomoto
Abstract:
Japan’s postwar security identity has been defined by anti-militarism, rooted in Article 9 of the Constitution. Existing scholarship has examined its normative foundations, erosion under regional threats, and persistence despite incremental change, but has paid little attention to its legalized dimension—specifically, the formal designation of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) as an administrative organ rather than a military. This paper argues that the SDF’s legal status imposes distinctive operational constraints: it must function in a policing capacity during peacetime, requires explicit political authorization to engage in combat, and lacks standing rules of engagement and military codes. These limitations hinder crisis response, discipline, and coordination with allies. Drawing on underutilized Japanese-language sources, this study demonstrates how domestic legislation institutionalizes restraint, extending debates on anti-militarism and Japanese defense policy. More broadly, it shows how the legalization of domestic norms can profoundly shape foreign and defense policy.
Discussants: Thomas Berger (Boston University), Paul Midford (Meiji Gakuin University)
Chair: Amy Catalinac (New York University)
