Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signaled a historic foreign policy shift Tuesday when he authorized sending Self-Defense Forces units to Iraq, becoming the first Japanese leader since World War II to dispatch troops to a nation effectively at war.
With the move, which comes at the strong urging of the United States, Japan hopes to strengthen relations with its most important ally at a time when government officials boast ties are on their best footing ever.
But sending the SDF to Iraq could actually backfire on relations if Japan suffers casualties.