After World War II, Japan's constitution prohibited the country from waging war or creating an army. However, with the onset of the Cold War in the 1950s, Japan was called upon to create a Self-Defense Force to bolster Western defenses against the tide of Asian communism. Although their role should be limited to national defense, the Japanese military is equipped with advanced weapons technology and has the third largest military budget in the world. As the first scientist allowed to participate in SDF basic training, Sabine Früštük offers a glimpse into this unusual army.