With legislation to upgrade the Defense Agency to a ministry expected to clear the Diet this week, defense officials say they finally will be free of their identity complex.
Despite a budget of 4.79 trillion yen -- making Japan the world's fourth-biggest military spender -- and 240,000 Self-Defense Forces members -- the largest body among government organizations -- the agency has always held subordinate status.
The package of bills, which cleared the House of Representatives on Nov. 30, are expected to be passed by the House of Councilors on Friday and the agency is expected to become the Defense Ministry in January.