Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, who led the charge for expanding the participation of Self-Defense Force troops in Sunday's disaster drill by the metropolitan government, urged SDF personnel to take pride and retain confidence as a military force.
He meanwhile dismissed the protests of antiwar groups against the SDF's participation, calling the protesters "left-wing idiots" and saying their views were being ignored by the general public.
"The weird naming of 'Self-Defense Forces' has been used under the Constitution and the forces have been experiencing an awkward presence," he told SDF personnel gathered along the Edogawa River in eastern Tokyo. "But (the SDF) is indeed a military force and I expect you to work hard in daily training as such."