The [b]Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force[/b] (海上自衛隊, [i]Kaijou Jieitai[/i], abbreviated as [i]Kaiji[/i] or [i]JMSDF[/i]) is the naval branch of the [[Japan Self-Defense Force]]. It is the modern successor to the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]], a position it shares with the [[Japan Coast Guard]].

As it is officially a self-defense force, not a military navy, almost all of the JMSDF's large surface ships are called 護衛艦 ([i]goei-kan[/i], lit. "guard ship" or "escort ship") and officially classed as destroyers. However, the term does not include submarines, mine warfare vessels, variants of patrol boat, landing & transport vessels and training ships. The fact that [[JS Izumo (DDH-183)|Izumo]]-class helicopter carriers with a displacement of nearly 20,000 tons are called "destroyers" is often the butt of jokes.

Unlike the [[Japan Ground Self-Defense Force]], which dropped most traditions associated with the [[Imperial Japanese Army]], the JMSDF still maintains many traditions of its predecessor, the Imperial Japanese Navy. For example, their tradition of eating [[curry rice]] for lunch every weekend was handed down from the IJN.

h4. See also

* [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]
* [[Japan Ground Self-Defense Force]]
* [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]]

h4. External links

* "Wikipedia: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Maritime_Self-Defense_Force
海上自衛隊 海自