The is one of five active Armies of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. It is headquartered in Itami, Hyōgo. Its responsibility is the defense of Chūgoku, Kansai, Shikoku and the Southern half of the Chūbu region.
Activities The Central Army has participated in relief efforts within Japan such as the Kobe earthquake in 1995, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and nuclear cleanup efforts following the Fukushima nuclear accident, and Tropical Storm Talas in 2011. They have also worked on international relief efforts, including reconstruction in Iraq in 2005, relief activities in Haiti in 2011, and peace cooperation activities 2014 in South Sudan.
Organization The Central Army is commanded by a lieutenant general, currently (. The forces under this command include the following:
Central Army, in Itami 3rd Division, in Itami, responsible for the defense of the Hyōgo, Kyōto, Nara, Ōsaka, Shiga and Wakayama prefectures. 7th Infantry Regiment, in Fukuchiyama 36th Infantry Regiment, in Itami 37th Infantry Regiment, in Izumi 10th Division, in Nagoya, responsible for the defense of the Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Mie and Toyama prefectures. 14th Infantry Regiment, in Kanazawa 33rd Infantry Regiment, in Tsu 35th Infantry Regiment, in Nagoya 13th Brigade, in Kaita, responsible for the defense of the Chūgoku region. 8th Infantry Regiment, in Yonago 17th Infantry Regiment, in Yamaguchi 46th Infantry Regiment, in Kaita 14th Brigade, in Zentsūji, responsible for the defense of Shikoku. 15th Rapid Response Regiment, in Zentsūji 50th Infantry Regiment, in Kōnan Central Army Artillery Regiment, in Himeji 1st Artillery Battalion, in Himeji 2nd Artillery Battalion, in Toyokawa 3rd Artillery Battalion, in Nagi 4th Artillery Battalion, in Matsuyama Target Acquisition Battery, in Himeji Central Army Air Corps, in Yao 112th Aviation Squadron, in Ise Central Army Helicopter Battalion, in Yao Central Army Air Traffic Control and Meteorological Company, in Yao Central Army Airfield Maintenance Company, in Yao Central Army Combined (Training) Brigade, in Ōtsu 47th Infantry Regiment (Reserve), in Kaita 49th Infantry Regiment (Reserve), in Toyokawa 4th Non-Commissioned Officer Training Battalion, in Ōtsu 109th Training Battalion, in Ōtsu 110th Training Battalion, in Matsuyama 4th Engineer Brigade, in Uji 6th Engineer Group (Construction), in Toyokawa 7th Engineer Group (Construction), in Uji 102nd Equipment Battalion, in Uji 304th Beach Obstacle Company, in Mihama 304th Engineer Company, in Izumo 305th Engineer Company, in Okayama 307th Vehicle Company, in Uji Central Army Signals Regiment, in Itami 104th Command Post Signals Battalion, in Itami 104th Base Systems Signals Battalion, in Itami 303rd Central Signals Company, in Itami Central Army Logistic Support, in Kyoto 101st Supply Battalion (Reserve), in Kyoto 104th Engineer Support Battalion (supports the 4th Engineer Brigade), in Uji 107th General Support Battalion, in Kyoto Central Army Transport Battalion, in Kyoto 103rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, in Kyoto 302nd Anti-Aircraft Support Company (supports the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group), in Ono 302nd Signals Support Company (supports the Central Army Signals Regiment), in Itami 303rd Ammunition Company (Reserve), in Seika 306th Infantry Support Company (supports the 49th Infantry Regiment), in Toyokawa 307th Infantry Support Company (supports the 47th Infantry Regiment), in Kaita 308th Artillery Support Company (supports the Central Army Artillery Regiment), in Himeji 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, in Ono, with Type 3 Chū-SAMs Central Army Intelligence Corps, in Itami Central Army Medical Corps, in Itami Central Army Command Post Training Support Company, in Itami Central Army Accounting Company, in Itami Central Army Band, in Itami
Central Army organization graphic
References
External links Central Army Homepage (Japanese)