And rearmament created many jobs in Europe in the late 30's.

Japan has a huge hi-tech industry, what better way to fill up their order
books than getting them to design and build a new hi-tech military ?

Kill two birds with one stone, revive the economy and increase Japans
stature as a major player.

IF the government can afford it.....It is in the US's interests to have a
strong counter balance to Chinese strength in that area, maybe the US will
provide some help in this area in the form of favourable loans and sharing
technology ??

Just a few thoughts....

(Or, Dams have an economic value after they are constructed, can the
same be said for a weapon system?).

: >  There has been discussion that dropping the "self defense" line
: >would allow Japan to build up the best defense possible, which according
: >to the Americans is "a good offense". Along these lines there are two
: >very big items Japan might pursue in the next few years:
: >  A) A "strategic" air force.
: >  B) Missiles!

: The problem though, is Japan's economy isn't the most robust in the
: world right.  How are they going to pay for any sort of major
: expansion of their "More Than Self Defense Forces"?

        It wouldn't have to be a "major" expansion, the Japanese military
budget is large enough that shifting some money around could easily
provide funds to start such programs in at least small numbers. I don't
think it would take much (either missiles or 'bombers') to get the attention
of everyone else in the region. It would probably be cheaper than
alternative 'conventional' up arming plans (like mini-carriers and gator
forces) sometimes bandied about.
        Besides, even on a bad day Japan can still outspend most of the
parts of Asia she hasn't already purchased :-).  The introduction of
theater ballistic missiles into the Japanese arsenal could be enough to
drive US regional strategy bonkers (all the more reason for Japan to
suggest we do something to forestall such a possibility...).

Instead of forstalling the possibility, it would encourage US-Japanese
collaboration on the technology (I think that is already in the plan),
and, IMHO, greatly improve the chances of a useful system, or speed up
its production.

It makes good sense for the US to see a more militarily capable Japan when
we increasingly see China as a Pacific threat.  It makes good sense for
Japan's stagnant economy to have a military modernization and expansion
program.

Seems to me Japan has a strong and viable democratic oriented leadership
that won't let militarists dictate foreign policy, now and quite far into
the forseeable future.  

I think it is time for Japan to take on military and political
responsibilites that are more consumate with its economic power (even in
a past decade of economic stagnation).  

I applaud the idea of a more capable Japanese military, but note I'm a
budding isolationist, so my interests might be more selfish in nature.

It will run wild in the Pacific for six months, then... oops wrong script.

OK it will need a proper flagship .   None of your DDG crap either.  A
replica YAMATO!
It will look great and pay for itself as a movie prop and from millionaires
willing to pay $20 million just to be the officer -of- the- watch for an
afternoon.    

On visits to Pearl, it can fire its 21 gun salutes straight at that
moribund old tub the USN has there, another great son et lumiere event for
the tourists as BB vs BB is seen again .  This will also go over big on
Japanese TV replacing Godzilla re-runs.

The USN will be forced to respond.   The Germans too, a replica BISMARCK
..they will all do it.  Pretty soon nobody will care about the Tall Ships;
the big thing will be the annual BB reviews in all the big ports, smners
can bring their kids...