Why Japan’s Decommissioned Navy Destroyers Are Being Eyed By Other Countries Now

Japan largely demilitarized after World War II, with the only remnants of its military being the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF). This small military service exists to defend the island’s interests, and consists of around 250,000 active personnel in its Naval, Ground, and Air branches. Traditionally, the country’s laws prohibited the sale of lethal military assets, but those rules have changed. On April 21, 2026, Japan relaxed its 80-plus-year-long practice of limiting arms exports, allowing for the sale of lethal weapons to the 17 nations with which it has defense agreements. These include the United States and many allied nations in…