Japan aims to build a large defense base in the "Old Military Capital."

According to a report by Reference News Network on September 17, the Asahi Shimbun website reported on September 11 that Kure City in Hiroshima Prefecture, once known as the "First Military Port of the East," has developed with manufacturing as its core since the post-war period. Now, the project to build a large defense base in this area has officially started. The Japanese Ministry of Defense signed a purchase agreement with Japan Steel Works in August this year to take over the former Setouchi Steel Works site in Kure. This move aims to address the demand for "new types of combat methods" arising from dramatic changes in the security environment.

Kure City, located by the Seto Inland Sea, has developed as a "military city" centered around the former navy since the Meiji period. The Kure Naval Arsenal was established here in 1903.

The Ministry of Defense has acquired approximately 140 hectares of land and proposed the establishment of a "multi-functional composite defense base." This concept mainly includes the following three major components: building a foundation for the maintenance, repair, and manufacturing of equipment; constructing disaster prevention bases and troop activity bases; and enhancing port functions.

From the layout drawings and materials presented, the base will include facilities for drone manufacturing, research facilities related to the Defense Equipment Agency, ammunition depots, and helicopter landing pads.

The nearby Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Base already has the Kure District Headquarters, which gathers major forces of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, including destroyers and submarines. The Ministry of Defense has designated this area as "extremely important in the field of security assurance."

In March 2025, to enhance the capacity for transporting personnel and supplies to the southwestern islands and other areas, the first joint force composed of the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces, the "Self-Defense Forces Maritime Transport Group," will be established at Kure Base. Not far from here, the 13th Brigade of the Ground Self-Defense Force is also stationed in Kaita Town.

According to relevant sources, the Ministry of Defense also plans to construct a dock in Kure City that can accommodate large vessels. It can be considered that the idea is that if an emergency occurs in the southwestern region, this base will serve as a center for transportation and supply, used for delivering troops and supplies to the surrounding areas.

Reports indicate that the importance of sustainable combat capability has become increasingly prominent during the Russia-Ukraine war. In other words, it is necessary for troops to maintain ammunition, equipment, and transportation capabilities over the long term. The Ministry of Defense believes that logistical support functions covering equipment manufacturing, material distribution, and transportation must be maintained even during peacetime.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi stated during his visit to the former site in Kure on September 7: "This will help ensure sustained response capabilities and strengthen the domestic production base for equipment, which is of great significance in the field of security assurance."

In terms of equipment manufacturing, the Ministry of Defense plans to introduce private enterprises that master advanced technologies such as high-performance drones and has already initiated a public recruitment process. The use of drones combined with artificial intelligence (AI) technology is a typical representation of "new types of combat methods."

In light of the trend of concentrating important functions in the Kure area, many local residents are concerned that "this place may become a target for attacks from other countries." Striking enemy bases in emergency situations is not an uncommon tactic.

Currently, Japan faces numerous challenges, including a deteriorating security environment, a declining population, and the urgent need for technological innovation.

Reports indicate that at this turning point in history, how this national-level project will advance is worth paying attention to. (Translated by Ma Xiaoyun)