In what the Defense Agency says is the first time in the 50-year history of the Self-Defense Forces, the chiefs of staff of the three branches of Japan's military organization appeared together before reporters on Monday.

Gen. Hajime Massaki of the Ground Self-Defense Force, Adm. Koichi Furusho of the Maritime Self-Defense Force and Gen. Yoshimitsu Tsumagari of the Air Self-Defense Force discussed such issues as Japan's humanitarian mission in Iraq and their evaluation of the SDF at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo.

All three acknowledged that the SDF is facing a major turning point.

"While the SDF has mainly been involved in domestic activities, we will now have to balance our domestic and overseas operations," Massaki said.

"I guess our having been invited to the FCCJ tonight signified a change for us," Furusho said when asked whether he sees any change in the public's opinion of the SDF.

In January, the SDF was pressured by the government to stop the regular weekly conferences given separately by the three top uniformed officers. This was widely seen as a retaliatory measure by civilian officials angered by repeated leaks of information regarding the timing of the dispatch of SDF troops to Iraq.

But the conferences are still held, and the agency and its press club continue talks on how news conferences should be held.