The annual event of the Fuji Live Firing Exercise is performed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) at the foot of Mt. Fuji. It is open to the public, but it's very difficult to gain admission. The admission fee is free, but there are so many people who want to see the exercise and the competition rate for the tickets is about 30 times this year. I 've applied for tickets these last four years, but wasn't able to get them.
Most Japanese people have been indifferent to national security until recent years, but seeing what neighbor nations are doing, they've considerably changed their mind. Lots of people began to bear respect for the Japan Self-Defense Force, and the race for the tickets to observe the exercise is getting fierce these days.
I heard about the rehearsal of the exercise, which is scheduled on the previous day and is open to newcomers to the force or families of the military personnel. I asked my acquaintance who was a veteran to get some tickets for the rehearsal and he successfully got two.
During my summer vacation, I've mostly gone out of the country lately, but I decided to visit Shizuoka prefecture this year, in which the Fuji Drill Site is located, to see the exercise and then drive my car around Mt. Fuji and Izu Peninsula, which pokes down to the Pacific Ocean at the south of Mt. Fuji. Enjoy my following trip memos.
富士総合火力演習 Fuji Live Firing Exercises
陸上自衛隊が実弾を使った演習を年に一度、一般に公開する。安全保障に無関心だった日本人だが、シナ朝鮮のお陰で国防に対する意識が高まり、昨今ではこの演習を見学するためのチケットは無料だが抽選となっており、その競争率は数十倍に達する。毎年申し込んできたが、当たらず、今年は策を弄した。つまり、演習の予行があると聞き、このチケットを自衛隊の関係者にお願いした。入隊したばかりの若い自衛官に見学させたり、自衛官の家族などが見学できるチケットだ。チケット２枚入手できた。
毎年の夏休みは、どこか海外へ行くことが多かったが今年は演習の行われる富士演習場とその周辺をドライブすることにした。これからのいくつかの記事は富士山周辺、伊豆半島の各地を巡った旅行記をＵＰする。伊豆半島は富士山のあたりから南へ延びている半島で、日本地図を見ればすぐに確認できると思う。ここをほぼ一周した。８月２５日は演習場のある御殿場市内に宿泊。
Comments