Ground Self-Defense Force plans to integrate Tohoku Army in the eastern part of the country, aiming to improve operational efficiency

It has been learned that a unit reorganization plan has been floated within the Ministry of Defense that would integrate the Ground Self-Defense Force's Tohoku District Army into the Eastern District Army and abolish the Tohoku District Inspector General Headquarters (Sendai City). The aim is to improve operational efficiency and secure personnel in response to the establishment of the Joint Operations Command, which centrally commands the three Self-Defense Forces: Land, Navy, and Air Forces. Implementation by the end of fiscal 2027 is on the horizon, but there is a possibility that coordination will be difficult as local governments seek to ensure its continuation. This was announced by multiple government officials on the 6th.

The Ground Self-Defense Force will divide the country into five regions: northern, northeastern, eastern, central, and western, and set up a system for defense security and disaster response. The Tohoku Army is in charge of six prefectures: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima. During the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the Sendai Area Regional Inspector General Bureau supervised the disaster relief forces and played a central role.

If the integration is realized, the headquarters functions will be concentrated in the Eastern Area General Control Department (Nerima Ward, Tokyo). The area in charge of the Eastern Army expanded greatly from the current Kanto-Koshinetsu and Shizuoka capitals and 10 prefectures. It is expected that most of the troops and garrisons in the Tohoku region will be maintained.

In the chain of command, the army is located under the Joint Operations Command and the Ground Forces. Divisions and brigades are placed under the army. When the Joint Operations Command was established in March 2025, issues such as increasing the complexity of the command and control line and securing personnel for the command were identified. In its June proposal, the Liberal Democratic Party called for a ``reduction in the number of intermediate commands.''

Regarding unit integration of the Self-Defense Forces, in March 2011, the Maritime Self-Defense Force integrated the Ominato Regional Force (Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture), which was responsible for guarding the waters north of Aomori, into the Yokosuka Regional Force (Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture). However, there were strong calls from the local community to maintain it, and a new Ominato District Team was formed. The capacity was maintained, and the post of district superintendent was also created.