Central Army (Japan)

The Central Army or Middle Army is one of five active Armies of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. It is headquartered in Itami, Hyōgo. Its responsibility is the defense of Chūgoku, Kansai, Shikoku and the Southern half of the Chūbu region.

Activities

The Central Army has participated in relief efforts within Japan such as the Kobe earthquake in 1995, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and nuclear cleanup efforts following the Fukushima nuclear accident, and Tropical Storm Talas in 2011. They have also worked on international relief efforts, including reconstruction in Iraq in 2005, relief activities in Haiti in 2011, and peace cooperation activities 2014 in South Sudan.

The Central Army is commanded by a lieutenant general, currently Makoto Endō, in Toyokawa

** 7th Engineer Group, in Uji
** 102nd Equipment Company, in Uji
** 304th Engineer Company, in Izumo
** 305th Engineer Company, in Okayama
** 307th Vehicle Company, in Uji
* Central Army Field Artillery Unit, in Himeji, with three batteries of FH-70 155mm towed howitzers
** 1st Artillery Battalion, in Himeji
** 2nd Artillery Battalion, in Toyokawa, Aichi　
** 3rd Artillery Battalion, in Nagi
** 4th Artillery Battalion, in Matsuyama
* 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, in Ono
* Central Army Combined Brigade, in Ōtsu
** 47th Infantry Regiment, in Kaita
** 49th Infantry Regiment, in Toyokawa
** 4th Basic Training Battalion, in Ōtsu
** 109th Training Battalion, in Ōtsu
** 110th Training Battalion, in Matsuyama
* Central Army Aviation Group, in Yao
** 5th Anti-tank Helicopter Battalion, in Ise
** Central Army Helicopter Battalion, in Mashiki
** Central Army Meteorological Company, in Mashiki
** Logistic Support Battalion, in Mashiki
* Central Army Logistic Support, in Kyoto
* Central Army Signal Group, in Itami
** 104th Signal Battalion, in Itami
** 104th Command Center Signal Battalion, in Itami
** 303rd Central Communication Company, in Itami
* Central Army Medical Service, in Itami
* Central Army Military Intelligence Battalion, in Itami
* Kansai Logistic Depot, in Uji