Japan's navy appoints first woman to command warship squadron
Ryoko Azuma
Japan ’ s navy on Tuesday appointed the first woman to command a warship squadron   including the flagship Izumo helicopter carrier   as it tries to lure more females to make up for a dearth of male recruits in graying Japan .  Ryoko Azuma    will command four ships with a combined crew of 1   000   of which only 30 are women   that make up the Maritime Self Defense Force ’ s ( MSDF ) First Escort Division . “ I don ’ t think about being a woman . I will concentrate my energy on fulfilling my duties as commander  ”  Azuma    44   said at a change of command ceremony attended by 400 sailors aboard the Izumo   which was docked at a shipyard in Yokohama near Tokyo for repairs . When  she  joined the MSDF in 1996 women were barred from serving on warships   a rule that the navy abolished ten years ago . Submarines   however   are still crewed only by men . Newly - appointed Commander of First Escort Division of Japan Maritime Self - Defense Force ( JMSDF ) Ryoko Azuma ( 2nd L )  who is the first female commander of a navy destroyer squadron in Japan   salutes to soldiers on JMSDF ' s helicopter carrier Izumo at a port in Yokohama   south of Tokyo   Japan March 6   2018 . REUTERS / Nobuhiro Kubo Japan ’ s military   like the wider economy is turning to women to make up a shortfall in personnel as the nation ’ s working age population shrinks amid a drop in birthrates . The number of people aged between 18 and 26 years old is forecast by the government to shrink to seven million people by 2065 from 11 million last year . Unlike commercial companies   however   Japan ’ s military is unable to relocate units overseas or hire foreigners to supplement to their Japanese staff . By 2030   the SDF plans to increase the combined number of women serving in the air sea and ground forces to 9 percent of the total from 6 percent   or 14   000 people now . In addition to Azuma   other senior female officers in the MSDF include four captains and a rear admiral in charge of logistics . “ I want to devote myself to becoming a person that will inspire others  ” Azuma said when asked if she wanted to serve as a role model for other women .
Japan ’ s navy on Tuesday appointed the first woman to command a warship squadron   including the flagship Izumo helicopter carrier   as it tries to lure more females to make up for a dearth of male recruits in graying Japan .  [TGT]will command four ships with a combined crew of 1   000   of which only 30 are women   that make up the Maritime Self Defense Force ’ s ( MSDF ) First Escort Division . “ I don ’ t think about being a woman . I will concentrate my energy on fulfilling my duties as commander  ”  [TGT]said at a change of command ceremony attended by 400 sailors aboard the Izumo   which was docked at a shipyard in Yokohama near Tokyo for repairs . When  [TGT]  joined the MSDF in 1996 women were barred from serving on warships   a rule that the navy abolished ten years ago . Submarines   however   are still crewed only by men . Newly - appointed Commander of First Escort Division of Japan Maritime Self - Defense Force ( JMSDF ) Ryoko Azuma ( 2nd L )  who is the first female commander of a navy destroyer squadron in Japan   salutes to soldiers on JMSDF ' s helicopter carrier Izumo at a port in Yokohama   south of Tokyo   Japan March 6   2018 . REUTERS / Nobuhiro Kubo Japan ’ s military   like the wider economy is turning to women to make up a shortfall in personnel as the nation ’ s working age population shrinks amid a drop in birthrates . The number of people aged between 18 and 26 years old is forecast by the government to shrink to seven million people by 2065 from 11 million last year . Unlike commercial companies   however   Japan ’ s military is unable to relocate units overseas or hire foreigners to supplement to their Japanese staff . By 2030   the SDF plans to increase the combined number of women serving in the air sea and ground forces to 9 percent of the total from 6 percent   or 14   000 people now . In addition to Azuma   other senior female officers in the MSDF include four captains and a rear admiral in charge of logistics . “ I want to devote myself to becoming a person that will inspire others  ” Azuma said when asked if she wanted to serve as a role model for other women .