GSDF seeks images of endearment for military hardware

Japan Policy & Politics, April 9, 2001

TOKYO, April 3 Kyodo

The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), in a move aimed at softening the public image on the nation's military hardware, has decided to give names of endearment to some of the weapons in its arsenal.

Choosing from the entries of a GSDF-sponsored public contest, the GSDF said it has adopted the nickname ''long nose'' for the newly developed model 1999 self-propelled 155-mm howitzer.

The GSDF's standard 5.56-mm small arm would be known as ''birdie.''

The two are among 33 nicknames chosen by the GSDF from the public contest the GSDF launched on its official Web site last fall.

While the GSDF already has nicknames for some military hardware, such as ''Cobra'' for AH1 antitank helicopters, most GSDF weapons are known by their technical acronyms, such as ''87AW'' for the model 1987 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

GSDF officials said the GSDF received 1,360 contributions, some of them apparently were too macho for the GSDF's public image.

According to the GSDF, Japan's main ''model 90'' battle tank was named ''riku-o,'' or ''lord of the land,'' in one entry, but the GSDF decided to stay put with the tank's standard name, ''kyu-maru,'' the Japanese for nine-zero.

''There was a large number of very interesting entries, but we can't be too carried away,'' a GSDF spokesman said.