Japan struggles to draw more talent into its military amid China worries

Hard to get young Japanese to enlist; shrinking population affects recruitment

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NAHA - Sporting dark face paint and clutching a gun, teenage soldier-in-training Takuma Hiyane crawls across a field on Japan's Okinawa, the front line of the nation's defence as anxiety grows over China's territorial ambitions.

As the world marks the 80th anniversary of World War II, Japan, which has been officially pacifist since its defeat, is trying to draw more talent into its armed forces.

Tokyo began upping its military spending in 2023 and aims to make it 2 per cent of its gross domestic product by the end of the 2027 fiscal year, but has come under pressure from Washington to boost it even further.

Japan fears that China could attempt a forceful takeover of Taiwan - the self-governed island it claims - potentially triggering a conflict with Washington that could drag in Tokyo as well.

But it has been hard to convince enough young Japanese to enlist.

Mr Hiyane, a 19-year-old former high school badminton player who signed up after his graduation in March, was swayed by the idea of helping victims of natural disasters, he said.

"I thought this was a job (in which) I could contribute to my country and be proud of, so I decided to join," he told AFP, carefully dodging questions on the sensitive topic of national defence.