Okay, I've gotten bugged about this over a dozen times.
JAPAN in REALITY DOES have a MIlitary (at least what WE as americans would call one, after all.)(And I would rank their naval forces as a very good fig/sub navy.)
HOWEVER, AS OF 92 (last time I asked around, or was informed about this.) JAPAN'S Goverment (yes the Gov't) SAID THEY DID NOT. (Quote: "We do not have a military, we have a self defense force")
It's part and parcel of the way Japan does soical interactions. (Lots and lots of "lies" (social ones.) misdirection, etc.) The reason (I belive, can't recall if I was told this by a japanese gov't person, or figured it out on my own) IS because of Art 3 (I think. haven't checked in a while.) of their Consituion which renounced war, and the right to have a Army/Navy. It's also (I belive this, I know that I didn't get told this.) due to the OTHER nations of the PacRim being VERY VERY edgy about Japan. (LOOOONG memories there.) Appartenly the Diet thinks if they keep saying they don't have a military, other people will belive them. (Or at least accept Japan has no plans to go out and conqure again.)
Note: This is NOT the only area where the Diet/Gov't is playing sematics with. (There are a LOT of other areas, too.) Remember, in Japan, sematics and reading between the lines is a skill that you need.
Andrew