Exhibition Drill

　　Following the opening speech of the Vice-Minister of Defense, the Drill began. Various weapons from simple infantries to the up-to-date tanks or military choppers appeared. Not only the power of their fire but their accuracy surprised me. A sniper successfully got a dummy down, which was placed so far away that a video camera and a huge screen had to be set up for us to see the target. The tank regiment continued firing real bullets simultaneously with amazing accuracy, while moving in a complete formation. Regardless of the terrain, even on a steep slope, their bombardments never missed the target. No matter what position the lower half of the tank took, the tank gun always pointed at the target, just like the upper and lower parts of the tank were two different animals. If X? J?np?ng watched the Drill, he would never be willing to invade Japan. His spies must have been in the spectators and I thought that the military power was a bona fide deterrent. The two hours of exhibition passed very quickly. I'd like to see the exhibition from the front row next time. Though the following pictures wouldn't inform you of the real power of the Japanese Ground Defense Force, I'll show you the better ones among lots of pictures which I took. The spectators before us were an obstacle to shoot pictures.

                                     

　
総合火力演習予行始まる。
　
１０時、防衛副大臣の挨拶の後、いよいよ演習開始。陸上自衛隊の持つ主だった兵器、最新装備、機動戦闘車、水陸両用車まで出てきた。狙撃手、ヘリ、戦車などの射撃の正確なことに驚いた。最新の戦車の素早い動き、大砲を正確に撃ちながら走っていた。下半分がどのような形になろうとも大砲は一点を指し狙いを外さない。これをみたらシナは日本を攻める気にはならないだろう。もちろん、スパイが見に来ているに違いない。これこそが抑止力なのだろう。写真では動きも音も伝わらないし、動画でも現場で見る迫力は伝わらないと思う。約２時間の演習はあっという間に終了した。できればまた見たい、今度は最前列を確保したい。前に居る人たちが邪魔でなかなか良い写真を撮ることができなかった。その中でもまあまあよく写っている写真をＵＰする。