An influential private research institution called on the Defense Ministry to consider recruiting foreign nationals to fill the depleting ranks of the Self-Defense Forces.

A study team at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation submitted the proposal to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Sept. 2.

The team included former defense officials, such as Tetsuro Kuroe, a former vice defense minister, and Koji Yamazaki, a former chief of staff of the Joint Staff.

The proposal said an expansion of SDF recruitment should be included in the three key national security-related documents that will be revised this year.

“Anything necessary should be included in the revisions,” Yamazaki told reporters about the proposal.

Kuroe and Yamazaki also serve on an expert panel that advises the government on revisions to the three security-related documents.

The Defense Ministry in recent years has been struggling to recruit members for the SDF. Japan’s continuing population decline is expected to exacerbate the problem.

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s proposal noted that Australia allows foreign nationals from such countries as New Zealand, the United States and Britain to enter its military.

“The time has come to consider the possibility of recruiting foreign nationals as SDF personnel,” it said.

The proposal also said such recruitment should be limited to nationals from allied or like-minded countries.

In addition, the foundation proposed the establishment of new legal frameworks to repair and enhance production of defense equipment in emergency situations.