TOKYO -- The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has a unit known as the "field intelligence unit." Its stated purpose is to develop a network of "sources," including university professors and members of organizations familiar with conditions abroad, in preparation for overseas deployments by the Self-Defense Forces. Although the unit's existence is publicly acknowledged, details of its activities have never been disclosed. The Mainichi Shimbun interviewed multiple people connected to the organization to shed light on how it actually functions.

Blank forms, system not functioning

Accounts from multiple sources portray the field intelligence unit, which is tasked with gathering information on foreign affairs, as having lost its way.

"I heard that in many cases, the forms were almost entirely blank," one GSDF source said. "They created the format, but it wasn't functioning."

The individual was referring to documents recording "basic source data," or BSD. The forms were originally designed to record highly private details about sources, including their political views, beliefs and sexual preferences.

According to a former senior unit member, some personnel compiled reports without contacting the sources concerned. They sometimes entered information from the popular overseas travel guide series "Chikyu no Arukikata," as well as information available online.

BSD forms obtained by the Mainichi Shimbun contained only basic information such as names, with all fields concerning private matters left blank in some cases.

Criticism that the unit went too far

Some within the unit criticized the information required on the BSD forms.

"All that needed to be investigated was whether a source was trustworthy, based on factors such as their background and language ability," one person said. "It went too far."

Blank fields became increasingly conspicuous in the BSD records. A GSDF source said, "You can't easily determine someone's sexual preferences or beliefs. In the end, they probably stopped using the BSD forms."

Was the unit performing its intended function? Multiple former senior unit members believe its personnel may have lost their sense of urgency as the GSDF's overseas deployments were scaled back.

The force's missions abroad began with its participation in a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia in 1992. It subsequently contributed to postwar reconstruction and disaster recovery in various countries. However, its deployment to South Sudan, which continued until 2017, was the last mission involving a unit-size contingent.

One former senior unit member said the nature of the field intelligence unit changed as overseas deployments declined.

Wary of being followed and changing into tracksuits

The former senior unit member clearly remembers a report submitted by a subordinate unit member. It said the subordinate had "carried out the mission while remaining vigilant" when traveling between the unit's building and a library. The subordinate was apparently checking whether anyone was following them.

"The unit isn't secret. Its existence is publicly acknowledged, so there's no reason anyone would follow its personnel," the former senior unit member said. "Some senior members and other personnel seemed to admire spies and got the wrong idea, trying to behave as though they belonged to a covert unit."

Some unit members omitted the unit's name from business cards they produced themselves. Some also changed from their usual camouflage uniforms into tracksuits inside the unit's building. They were reportedly excessively concerned that their identities might be exposed.

'Efforts needed to fulfill mission'

A journalist who had covered the Ministry of Defense for many years once gave a lecture inside the unit's building. Testimony suggests the unit needed outside assistance to gain a clearer sense of its mission.

A former unit member who attended the lecture recounted, "It was probably intended to teach us about the difficulties of human intelligence, or HUMINT, which involves obtaining information from people." Members also reportedly watched spy films to learn about intelligence work.

According to testimony, doubts about the unit's effectiveness persisted until recently.

"The unit has a reason to exist, and it must make efforts to fulfill its mission," a former senior unit member said. "But it may have lost sight of its original purpose."

(Japanese original by Koji Endo and Hiroya Miyagi, Tokyo City News Department)