Japan rolls back pacifist pillars - CNN.com

Japan rolls back pacifist pillars - CNN.com, 15th Dec 2006

Postwar Japan has been solidly pacifist under the 1947 U.S.-drafted Constitution, which foreswears Japan from using force to settle international disputes, and Tokyo maintains fighting forces only for self-defense.

Which has been deployed to support American forces at sea and in Iraq. Also this Self Defense Force is quite large.

Japan Self-Defense Force - GlobalSecurity.org

With nearly 240,000 military personnel and an annual budget of close to $50 billion, Japan's military outstrips Britain's in total spending and manpower, while its navy in particular scores high among experts for its sophistication.

-HJC