Special Forces Group (Japan)

The is the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's counter-terrorist special forces established in 2004 by the then Defense Agency to counter terrorist activities and deter guerrilla-style attacks on Japanese soil and to conduct military operations against guerrillas or enemy commandos. The unit is based in Camp Narashino in Funabashi, Chiba along with the 1st Airborne Brigade. The unit was formerly known as the Special Operations Group.
The SFGp has been referred to as Japan's Green Berets and Delta Force, due to their specialized role in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Personnel from the Delta Force of the U.S. Army had been responsible for assisting the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in raising the SFGp's foundations prior to its establishment.
The civilian counterpart of the SFGp are the police Special Assault Teams.
History.
In 1998, the Defense Agency had proposed the formation of a unit within the JGSDF that would handle tasks such as counter-terrorism with a selected group of JGSDF soldiers from the 1st Airborne Brigade sent to the United States to be trained by Delta Force operators. At the same time, two platoons were created from the brigade to be the foundations for the new unit. These consisted of the "G Platoon" (Formation Unit) and the "S Platoon" (Research Unit).
The establishment of the unit's framework had been completed in 2003, after 3 years of training and organisation. The unit's structure is based on that of Delta Force and Green Berets of the United States Army.
On March 27, 2004, the Defense Agency activated the unit as the Special Operations Group with the mandate under the JGSDF as its counter-terrorist unit.
In 2005, the SFGp had deployed four of its operators to serve as bodyguards for the commander of the JGSDF's contingent in Iraq under the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group.
On March 28, 2007, the SFGp, along with the 1st Airborne Brigade, the 1st Helicopter Brigade, and the 101st NBC Protection Unit, became part of the newly created Central Readiness Force.
The unit changed its English name on March 26, 2008 from SOG to SFGp or the Special Forces Group.
On January 18, 2018, the SFGp conducted one of their few exercises before the presence of the Australian and Japanese prime ministers.
Training.
Potential recruits to the SFGp are drawn from Ranger-qualified personnel of the 1st Airborne Brigade. As such, all SFGp soldiers are Airborne-qualified.
For specialized training, the 1st Platoon have their free-fall training under the 1st Airborne Brigade with the 2nd Platoon under the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The SFGp has a training facility inside the JGSDF Camp Narashino to conduct training on various techniques, especially on CQB tactics.
Equipment.
The SFGp has access to equipment used by the JGSDF, such as the Komatsu LAVs and Toyota Koukidoushas for transport and reconnaissance use. They also work in conjunction with the 1st Helicopter Brigade to provide mobility support, though they can be also deployed via C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Unit features.
As part of regulating and protecting the identities of the various soldiers serving in the SFGp, their faces are hidden in balaclavas and cannot be revealed except with authorization from their commanding officers.