Japan Coast Guard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Japan Coast Guard 海上保安庁 Kaijō Hoan-chō
S-Mark
Japan Coast Guard ensign
Abbreviation	JCG
Motto	正義仁愛 Righteous Benevolence
Agency overview
Formed	1948; 77 years ago (1948) (as the Maritime Safety Agency) April 2000; 25 years ago (2000-04) (as the Japan Coast Guard)
Employees	13,744
Annual budget	210,601,000,000 yen
Jurisdictional structure
National agency (Operations jurisdiction)	Japan
Operations jurisdiction	Japan
Legal jurisdiction	Maritime law enforcement within Japan's EEZ
Governing body	Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Operational structure
Headquarters	2-1-3, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8976, Japan 35°40′33″N 139°45′00″E / 35.67583°N 139.75000°E / 35.67583; 139.75000
Agency executive	Takahiro Okushima, Commandant
Child agency	Japan Coast Guard Academy
Facilities
Numbered regions	11
Ships	379
Fixed wings	25
Rotary wings	46
Website
Official website: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/index.html Official website: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/e/index_e.html

The Japan Coast Guard (Japanese: 海上保安庁, Hepburn: Kaijō Hoan-chō) (JCG) is like the police of the sea for Japan. It protects Japan's coastline and waters. The JCG works under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. It has about 13,700 people working for it. The Japan Coast Guard started in 1948 as the Maritime Safety Agency. It got its current English name in 2000.

The JCG's motto is "Righteous Benevolence" (正義仁愛 (Seigi Jin'ai)). This means they aim to be fair and kind in their work.

History of Japan's Sea Protectors

How the Japan Coast Guard Began

Before and during World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy handled sea protection. After Japan surrendered in 1945, this navy was dissolved. This meant Japan had fewer ways to keep its waters safe.

Because of this, sea trade and smuggling grew a lot. There were even pirates appearing. Japan wanted to make its waters safe again quickly. In 1946, a special group was set up to control illegal immigration. This happened after smugglers brought a serious illness to Japan.

The Allied forces, who were helping Japan after the war, also saw the problem. In 1946, a US Coast Guard captain suggested creating a full coast guard. So, in 1948, the Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) was formed. Its English name changed to the Japan Coast Guard in April 2000.

Clearing Mines After the War

After World War II, many sea mines were left in Japan's waters. Clearing these mines was a very important job for the MSA. Old minesweeper ships from the former Japanese Navy were used for this task. These ships later moved to another defense force.

In 1950, MSA minesweepers even went to the Korean Peninsula. They helped clear mines there under the United Nations flag during the Korean War.

Working with Other Countries

In 1999, Japan's Prime Minister suggested working with countries in Southeast Asia. The idea was for the Japan Coast Guard to patrol waters with other countries. This would help fight piracy and improve safety at sea.

Some countries liked the idea, but others were not so sure. Still, in 2001, armed Japan Coast Guard ships went to other countries. They helped train maritime forces in India, Thailand, and the Philippines to fight piracy. More countries joined these training exercises later.

The 118 Emergency Number

In May 2000, the Japan Coast Guard started a special emergency phone number: 118. You can dial this number from any phone in Japan. It's for reporting accidents at sea, oil spills, or suspicious ships. It's also for reporting smuggling and illegal immigration. In 2018, over 5,000 calls were made about sea accidents.

Important Events: Sea Battles and Collisions

Battle of Amami-Ōshima

On December 22, 2001, Japan Coast Guard ships stopped a vessel in Japanese waters. This ship was believed to be from North Korea. When the vessel did not respond, the JCG ships fired at it. The unknown ship fired back and then sank.

Later, the Japan Coast Guard brought the sunken ship up from the sea. They found weapons and spy equipment on board. The ship and its contents are now on display at the Japan Coast Guard Museum in Yokohama.

Haneda Airport Collision

On January 2, 2024, a Japan Coast Guard plane crashed. It was a DHC-8 'Mizunagi 1' aircraft. The plane was helping with relief efforts after an earthquake. It collided with a Japan Airlines plane at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Sadly, five Coast Guard crew members died, and one was badly hurt.

What the Japan Coast Guard Does

The main job of the Japan Coast Guard is to keep the seas safe and secure. Here are their key tasks:

• Enforcing laws at sea: They act like police on the water, making sure rules are followed.
• Search and rescue: They help people in trouble at sea and respond to disasters.
• Mapping the ocean: They survey the seafloor and ocean currents to create maps.
• Managing sea traffic: They help guide ships to prevent accidents.

The Japan Coast Guard is a civilian group, not a military one. But they do have important jobs for border security. In emergencies, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), which is Japan's navy, can help the JCG. The Minister of Defense can even give orders to the JCG in such cases.

How the Japan Coast Guard is Organized

National Headquarters and Training

Main building of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Kasumigaseki, where the Japan Coast Guard is based

The Japan Coast Guard is led by a Commandant and two Vice Commandants. Other officers include directors and inspectors. The main office is in Tokyo.

The JCG also has special schools to train its members:

• Japan Coast Guard Academy in Kure: This is a four-year school for future officers. Students earn a bachelor's degree. About 40 cadets graduate each year.
• Coast Guard School in Maizuru: This school trains other JCG personnel.
• There are also branch schools in Moji and Miyagi.

Regional Operations Across Japan

A map showing the 11 regions the JCG covers

The JCG divides Japan into eleven regions. Each region has a main headquarters. Under these headquarters are smaller offices, stations, and air stations. They also have centers for mapping and traffic advice. This helps them cover all of Japan's waters effectively.

Special Teams for Tough Jobs

A SRT officer abseiling from an AS332L1 helicopter.

The JCG has three special teams for very specific and difficult tasks:

• Special Rescue Team (SRT): These are highly trained Rescue swimmers and divers. They rescue people in dangerous situations at sea.
• National Strike Team (NST): This team handles big oil spills and chemical dangers at sea. They are like a specialized cleanup crew.
• Special Security Team (SST): This is a tactical team that deals with terrorism and other serious threats.

Equipment of the Japan Coast Guard

Vessels: Ships and Boats

PM Abe and Adm Sato review the JCG fleet in honor of their 70th anniversary in 2018

When the JCG first started, it used old ships from the former Japanese Navy. Over time, they began building their own ships. These new ships were designed to fit Japan's needs and sea conditions better. They have different sizes for different jobs, like large patrol ships (PL), medium patrol ships (PM), and smaller patrol craft (PC).

As sea areas that countries could claim grew, the JCG needed more and bigger ships. They built many new patrol vessels and also started putting helicopters on some of their larger ships. More recently, they have built faster ships and added advanced weapons to deal with modern threats.

The JCG has expanded its facilities on Ishigaki Island. This allows 12 large patrol vessels to be based there. This makes Ishigaki the JCG's biggest base.

Number of Vessels

The JCG operates 454 watercraft. These include:

• Patrol vessels: 146
• Patrol craft: 239
• Special guard and rescue craft: 49
• Hydrographic survey vessels: 15
• Aids to navigation evaluation vessels: 1
• Buoy tenders: 5
• Aids to navigation tenders: 18
• Training boats: 3

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  Shikishima (PLH-31)

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  Hida (PL-51)

Aircraft: Planes and Helicopters

The JCG uses aircraft to help with its missions, especially for search and rescue. They have both fixed-wing planes and helicopters.

Number of Aircraft

The JCG operates 95 aircraft. These include:

• Fixed wing planes: 36
• Helicopters: 59

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  Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma of the JCG

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  Japan Coast Guard Bombardier DHC8-300

Vehicles on Land

A "Onebox Car" used as a Patrol Car of Japan Coast Guard in Kagoshima.

The JCG uses civilian vans and minibuses. These vehicles transport goods and personnel. They also transport people who have been caught breaking laws, like illegal immigrants.

Armaments: Weapons Used

Weapons on Vessels

At first, JCG ships could only carry small weapons. But after the Korean War, they were allowed to have larger guns. They started with 3-inch guns and 40 mm guns on bigger ships. Smaller ships had 20 mm guns.

Over time, these older guns were replaced with newer, more advanced ones. Modern JCG ships have guns that can be controlled remotely. They can also automatically track targets. This helps them shoot more accurately. Some ships now have powerful 40 mm or 30 mm chain guns. These are used to counter heavily armed vessels.

Personal Weapons for Officers

In the early days, JCG officers used old pistols and rifles from World War II. In the 1960s, they got new revolvers. Some special security units now use modern pistols.

Their rifles were also updated over the years. Today, officers use modern automatic rifles. The Special Security Team (SST) also has submachine guns and sniper rifles for special operations.

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  An officer holding a Type 89 rifle at the bow of a patrol boat.

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  Shooting drills with revolvers.

Japan Coast Guard Museums

You can learn more about the Japan Coast Guard at these museums:

• Japan Coast Guard Museum in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture.
• Japan Coast Guard Museum Yokohama in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
• NYK Maritime Museum in Yokohama, which also covers Japan's sea history.

See also

• Japan Coast Guard Academy
• Big Joys, Small Sorrows
• Umizaru
• Umizaru 2: Test of Trust
• North Pacific Coast Guard Agencies Forum
• DAICHI (ALOS)