Japan’s Self-Defense Forces played an important role in rescue and restoration activities, with about half of its 200,000 personnel dispatched to the damaged area. While this severely weakened Japan’s defenses, the US ensured East Asia’s security by deploying an aircraft carrier and cruisers, and American forces also searched for missing victims together with the JSDF.
此外，自从两年前日本民主党上台后就步入低谷的日美关系似乎在灾后有所巩固。日本自卫队在灾后拯救和修复方面扮演了重要角色，派遣了全部20万兵力中的一半进入灾区。而此举虽然严重削弱了日本的防御能力，但美国专门派遣了一艘航空母舰和巡洋舰来维护东亚安全局势，同时美军也与自卫队一道搜索灾难失踪者。