The general population here in Japan remains peaceful. How much longer will peace will last? As we speak there is a flotilla of 1,000 Chinese fishing boats headed to the disputed islands . If Japan does nothing it will be seen as weak and ineffective . If it reacts it will be accused of nationalism . If the US does nothing to protect it then Japan will see no reason not to ditch the constitution that prevents them from re-arming and strengthening their military.
Within past month there was an MOU permitting for long-range Japanese UAV’s to operate from GUAM...! That was huge and tells u were looking also at long-term secular trend of higher instability in that region.
When I was in the Army my Battalion was fortunate to go over to Japan and train with the JGSDF. In this day and age there is no reason to hold Japan to the post WWII constitution regarding their military to be for self defense only.