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Nothing but a number: Japan’s military
- They say 30 is the new 20, and that seems to have become a recruiting slogan for Japan’s Self Defence Forces (armed forces in all but name).
- The SDF raised the maximum age for recruits from 26 to 32 today.
- For the past five years it has missed enlistment goals; this year it attracted just three-quarters of its target for lower-ranking enlisted personnel.
- Recruiting is hard because Japan’s population is ageing and shrinking.
- The number of people aged 18-26 has fallen from 17m in 1994 to 11m today.
- Labour-starved businesses offer more attractive terms for new hires, and Japan’s pacifist culture makes soldiering seem a bit disreputable.
- The shortage is badly timed: Japan is trying to beef up its military to face China and a nuclear-armed North Korea.
- The SDF also wants to attract more women, who are only 6% of personnel, and may delay the retirement age.
- After all, 70 is the new 60, too.
- Nothing but a number 不过只是一个数字而已
- recruiting slogan 征兵口号
- Self Defence Forces自卫队
- armed forces 军队
- in all but name
- enlistment 征聘；征兵
- personnel （组织或军队中的）全体人员，职员
- ageing and shrinking 人口老龄化及人口减少
- pacifist 和平主义者，反战主义者
- disreputable 名声不好的；不名誉的；不光彩的
- beef up 补充；增强；加强力量
- nuclear-armed North Korea 拥有核武器的朝鲜
- after all 最后
- The shortage is badly timed 短缺严重超时
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