Quoted from your link. . .
Quote:"The numbers are low compared with China's, North Korea's or even Taiwan's, but Japan's troops are among the best equipped and trained. Its defense budget is the fourth highest on the planet."
I had no idea Japan's defense budget was this large. On balance, this is probably a good thing. Just as we can't count on the police being on our doorstep when we need them, Japan would be foolish to depend on a second party for her defense.