Special Forces Group ( Japan ) The is the Japanese Ground Self - Defense Force ' s counter - terrorist unit established by the former Japanese Defense Agency to counter terrorist activities and deter guerrilla - style attacks on Japan ese soil and to conduct military operations , like the 1st Airborne Brigade , against guerrillas or enemy commandos . The unit is based in Narashino , Chiba garrison in Funabashi , Chiba with the 1st Airborne Brigade . The unit was formerly known as the Special Operations Group . The SFGp has been referred to as Japan ' s Delta Force , due to their specialized role in the Japanese Ground Self - Defense Force . Delta Force personnel had been responsible for assisting the Japanese Ground Self - Defense Force in raising the SFGp ' s foundations prior to its establishment . The civilian counterpart of the SOG is the Japanese National Police Agency ' s Special Assault Team . History . In 1998 , the Japanese Defense Agency had proposed the formation of a unit in the JGSDF that would handle tasks such as Counter - terrorism with a selected group of JGSDF soldiers from the 1st Airborne Brigade sent to the United States to be trained by Delta Force operators . At the same time , two platoons were created from the brigade as a means of creating the unit ' s foundations . These consist of the " G Platoon " ( Formation Unit ) and the " S Platoon " ( Research Unit ) . The establishment of unit ' s framework had been completed in 2003 , after 3 years of training and organization . The unit ' s structure is based on Delta Force and the Green Berets . On March 27 , 2004 , the Japanese Defense Agency had activated the unit as the Special Operations Group with the mandate under the JGSDF as its Counter - terrorist unit . In 2005 , the SOG had deployed four of its operators to serve as bodyguards for the Japan ese commander of the Japanese Ground Self - Defense Force ' s contingent in Iraq under the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group . On March 28 , 2007 , the SOG merged with the 1st Airborne Brigade , the 1st Helicopter Brigade and the 101st NBC Protection Unit to create the Central Readiness Force . The unit changed its name on March 26 , 2008 from SOG to SFG or the Special Forces Group . Training . Potential recruits to the SFG are drawn from Ranger - qualified personnel from the 1st Airborne Brigade . As such , all SFG soldiers are airborne qualified . For specialized training , the 1st Platoon have their freefall training under the 1st Airborne Brigade with the 2nd Platoon under the Japanese Maritime Self - Defense Forces . The SFG has a training facility inside the JGSDF Narashino , Chiba camp to conduct training on various techniques , especially on CQB tactics . Equipment . The SFGp has access to equipment used by the JGSDF , such as the Komatsu LAV s and Toyota Koukidousha s for transport and reconnaissance use . They also work in conjunction with the 1st Helicopter Brigade to provide mobility support , though they can be also deployed via C - 130 Hercules aircraft . Unit features . As part of regulating and protecting the identities of the various soldiers serving in the SFGp , their faces are hidden in balaclavas and cannot be revealed except with authorization from their commanding officers . It is said that personnel cannot enter certain areas of their Narashino camp , such as the SFGp barracks , unless they have the proper identification with them .