On January 15, 23 advanced team members of the Self-Defense Forces arrived at Juba International Airport in South Sudan. They are going to engage in Japan's International Peace Cooperation Assignment in South Sudan.
The Japanese Cabinet decided to dispatch SDF engineering units to South Sudan last December, and they are scheduled to be deployed by March.

Major Takao Shimase has been dispatched to Timor-Leste to undertake information gathering and other tasks as an UNMIT Military Liaison Officer. In order to make the UN more familiar to the locals, he has also been engaged in volunteer activities such as teaching at an elementary school and demonstrating origami works. In Bobonaro where he is working, people welcome him shouting "Japan diak (I like Japan)!" because the engineering troops of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force built good relations with the local people in the past.
The presidential election is scheduled next March, and Timor-Leste is at a critical stage. How could Japan contribute to the development of this country in its peacekeeping operations? The "On-Site Report" from Mr. Shimase is available here.