Japanese military holds annual firepower drill

Japanese Self Defense Force held annual training exercises with the presence of Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi. Around 3,000 SDF personnel took part in the drills, which were held at a military base in Gotemba near Mount Fuji.

Marking its 64th anniversary of the exercises, the SDF used the Boeing V22 Osprey aircraft during the training for the first time. Footage from NTV also showed missile launchers, tanks and armored vehicles in action, while paratroopers dropped from helicopters.

Following Japan's defeat in World War II, its post-war constitution limits the use of force to self-defence, and a ban on arms exports was only lifted in 2014.