The Japanese government plans to amend the titles of the Self-Defense Force, prompting criticism.

According to a report by Japan's "Yomiuri Shimbun" on the 25th, the Japanese government has finalized a plan to revise the ranks of the Self-Defense Forces, and plans to submit a revised draft to the Diet within the current fiscal year. Some of the new designations overlap with those of the old Japanese Imperial Army, causing a lot of concern and questioning within Japan. The report stated that the government plans to change the rank of the top officers of the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces, corresponding to the Chief of Staff, to "General" and unify the ranks of the other officers as "Lieutenant General"; changing "Colonel" to "Brigadier General," and overall adjusting according to the internationally recognized military rank system. The report pointed out that this is the first time the ranks have been adjusted since the Self-Defense Forces were established in 1954, as Japan had long used rank names distinct from those of other countries due to regulations stating that the Self-Defense Forces are not a military. However, now this policy is undergoing a major change. There has been a lot of concern on social media in Japan surrounding this issue. Many are questioning why names such as "Brigadier General" are being used, as they are ranks from the old Japanese Imperial Army. One commentator, military writer Kimura Kazutaka, directly called this renaming a "foolish plan." Ryo Kakuta, a researcher at Ritsumeikan University's Institute of Asian and Japanese Studies, pointed out that following the war, the Ground Self-Defense Force had consciously tried to distance itself from the old Japanese Imperial Army out of reflection on war responsibility. However, it is doubtful whether Japanese society will view this renaming simply as a way to "evoke respect for the Self-Defense Forces" as the government claims.