This page tracks publicly reported military deployments involving Japan: forces Japan has sent abroad, foreign forces reported on its territory or in its waters, and exercises it leads or joins.
Forces deployed by Japan
| Deploying | Host or area | Branch | Forces and personnel | Status | Date | Verified | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Japan | Japan | 🏳️ Joint or multiple branches | Malabar 2026 military exercise Not disclosed | Confirmed active | Nov 5, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 | Kyodo News USNI News |
| Japan | Miyako Strait | 🚢 Naval forces | Japan: Japan Joint Staff surveillance of Chinese ships Not disclosed | Confirmed active | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | Japan Joint Staff Defense News |
| Japan | Japan | 🚢 Naval forces | Japan: About 45,000 SDF personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 vessels and 260 aircraft (Keen … Not disclosed | Confirmed active | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 | Stars and Stripes |
| Japan |  Djibouti | 🪖 Ground forces | Japan: Counter-piracy air unit (DAPE) and support group (DGPE) Not disclosed | Confirmed active | — | — | Japan Ministry of Defense |
Foreign forces in Japan
| Deploying | Host or area | Branch | Forces and personnel | Status | Date | Verified | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Japan | 🏳️ Joint or multiple branches | Malabar 2026 military exercise Not disclosed | Confirmed active | Nov 5, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 | Kyodo News USNI News |
 United States | Japan | 🚢 Naval forces | United States: Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan 3 ships (USS Makin Island, USS Anchorage, USS John P. Murtha) plus embarked MEU Official announcement | Confirmed active | Oct 26, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | U.S. Navy via DVIDS (dvidshub.net) |
 South Korea | Japan | 🪖 Ground forces | South Korea: Observers at Keen Sword 27 Not disclosed | Confirmed active | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 | Stars and Stripes |
| Japan | Japan | 🚢 Naval forces | Japan: About 45,000 SDF personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 vessels and 260 aircraft (Keen … Not disclosed | Confirmed active | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 | Stars and Stripes |
| United States | Japan | 🏳️ Joint or multiple branches | Keen Sword 2027 military exercise Not disclosed | Historical | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 | U.S. Pacific Command (pacom.mil) Kyodo News via Okinawa Times |
| United States | Japan | ✈️ Air force | F-35A fighters permanently based at Misawa, Japan Not disclosed | Confirmed active | Mar 28, 2026 | Mar 28, 2026 | DVIDS: F-35A Lightning IIs arrive at Misawa Air Base (Mar. 28, 2026) |
| United States | Japan | 🏳️ Joint or multiple branches | U.S. troops in Japan 54,000+ Official announcement | Confirmed active | — | Nov 5, 2026 | DMDC via AP (LiveNOW from FOX) |
🪖 Ground 🚢 Naval and carriers ✈️ Air 🎯 Missile 🛡️ Air defense ⚓ Base 🏳️ Joint or international
Points mark the country or sea area named in public reporting, not exact positions. Many records have no map point.
Other countries
United States military deployments38 records
Russia military deployments8 records
China military deployments7 records
United Kingdom military deployments3 records
France military deployments8 records
Germany military deployments4 records
Poland military deployments2 records
Turkey military deployments9 records
Israel military deployments2 records
Iran military deployments1 record
India military deployments3 recordsJapan military deployments9 recordsSouth Korea military deployments7 records
Australia military deployments4 recordsNATO deployments and operationsAlliance missions and forward presenceLatest military deployment news
Public information only, linked to its source. Estimates and claims are labeled, and locations are given at country or sea-area level. See the full deployments directory or the Military Deployments Tracker.