Japanese navy appoints first female chief of warship unit
The Japanese navy said on 6 March it had for the first time appointed a woman as commander of a unit that includes the country's biggest warship.
Ryoko Azuma, 44, will command four warships making up a division with a total of 1,000 crew members.
A spokesman for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force told AFP: ‘This is the first time a woman was appointed for the job. But she wasn't chosen because she was a woman.’
The ships include the helicopter carrier Izumo, the navy's biggest ship.
Azuma, after a ceremony at Yokohama near Tokyo to mark her arrival in the post, said: ‘I want to do my best to carry out the heavy duty I have been given.’
About 400 crew members attended the ceremony.
Azuma said: ‘I don't think about being a woman but I want to try to become a role model for younger female officers.’
About 14,000 women are currently serving in the Self-Defense Forces as the military is known, accounting for only 6% of the entire personnel.
On most levels, Japan lags behind other developed countries in terms of sexual equality.
In politics women are still under-represented with only 47 of the 465 members of the lower house.
According to statistics compiled by the Swiss-based Inter-Parliamentary Union, this ratio of 10.1% places Japan below Myanmar and Gambia.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Will the US be able to make its shipbuilding industry "great again"?]()
Will the US be able to make its shipbuilding industry "great again"?
The White House and Congress have been increasing efforts to support the national maritime industry.
-
![Euroatlas brings Greyshark AUV to Asia for its maiden visit]()
Euroatlas brings Greyshark AUV to Asia for its maiden visit
Euroatlas displayed its Greyshark autonomous underwater vehicle outside Europe for the first time, highlighting variant specifications and development progress at IMDEX 2025.
-
![ST Engineering to supply the Republic of Singapore Navy with counter-mine systems]()
ST Engineering to supply the Republic of Singapore Navy with counter-mine systems
Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering) will supply uncrewed naval systems and supporting command and control equipment to support counter-mine operations with deliveries expected to begin in 2027.
-
![SOF Week 2025: SubSea Craft introduces MARS USV]()
SOF Week 2025: SubSea Craft introduces MARS USV
The MARS platform was built be a low-signature, multi-role, mission-configurable capability.
-
![US and European special operators test Icelandic AI-based solution for marine platforms]()
US and European special operators test Icelandic AI-based solution for marine platforms
Hefring Marine IMAS was designed to optimise vessels’ operation.
