Special Boarding Unit The is a special forces unit established by the Japanese Maritime Self - Defense Forces on March 27 , 2001 in response to a previous spy ship incursion that occurred on the Noto Peninsula in 1999 . The unit was created to perform similar roles to those undertaken by American Navy SEALs and the British SBS . Its structure is based on the SBS . They are based in Etajima , Hiroshima . Their field involves maritime anti - terrorist duties , including operations where arms are known to be involved . However , their duties and responsibilities overlap with those of the Special Security Team , the Japan Coast Guard ' s counter - terrorist unit . Since the SBU is a special forces unit , any kind of matters regarding acquisition of information on personnel , training and weapons are forbidden since they are highly classified . Its operators are seen publicly with balaclavas on to protect their identities . History . After a failed Japanese Maritime Self - Defense Forces mission to stop North Korean spy ships that were in the territorial waters of the Noto Peninsula , the SBU was established with its headquarters based in Etajima , Hiroshima . The unit had conducted some covert training in Etajima without any public knowledge after its creation , including exercises on boarding tactics to enter ships . Training was completed in 2000 , a year after the SBU was created . A reported ship that illegally entered Amami Ōshima was seen nearby , which led to the mobilization of the SBU . The ship , however , was said to have been scuttled while the unit waited for orders from the Japanese Defense Agency . The unit had made its existence known to the public during a training exercise , which involved the deployment of Howa Type 89 - armed SBU operators via RHIBs and SH - 60J helicopters . When the unit was created , it had requested training with the US Navy SEALs , but had not been able to do so due to schedule problems . To resolve this , the SBU had requested training assistance from the SBS to help in founding the unit . However , they have lately been also trained by the Navy SEALs . Due to the nature of their duties and responsibilities , an amendment had been passed to raise their salaries . It was announced recently by Yasukazu Hamada that the SBU will be possibly deployed for its first mission to Somalia to engage in anti - Somali piracy operations . SBU operators had left Japan on March 14 , 2009 deployed on board the " Murasame " - class destroyer JDS " DD - 106 Samidare " and the " Takanami " - class destroyer JDS " DD - 113 Sazanami " . Prior to the SBU ' s overseas deployment to Somalia , the unit had practiced alongside Japan Coast Guard units in simulating a raid on a pirate vessel played by JCG officers without any warning shots fired by SBU operators off the coast of Kure , Hiroshima with a total of 250 people participating , 60 from the JCG . It was suggested that the SBU could have participated in military operations in Iraq alongside the US military ' s naval special forces in case of a hostage rescue mission involving Japanese nationals . Controversy . Controversy had interrupted from the SBU involved when a Japanese Maritime Self - Defense Forces cadet had died during a supposed training exercise prior to admission to the unit , which had consisted of 15 levels of unarmed combat training . The JMSDF has refused to provide more details on the incident , calling them classified material . However , a special committee was established to determine whether the cadet ' s death was either under murder or an accident . Investigators of the Criminal Investigation Command had assessed the incident . Reports on the incident have classified the events as a case of bullying by senior JMSDF sailors against junior sailors . But the committee had suggested that the deceased cadet was killed accidentally after receiving a right hook punch by his 14th opponent during the exercise , specifically to the chin . A JMSDF official has told reporters that even though similar exercises are done by other elite forces , the incident itself can be considered as a severe case of bullying . A statement from the JMSDF Staff Office had suggested that the cadet had died in an accident in the course of the exercise . The trainer was fined ¥ 500 , 000 for his negligence . A report released to the public by the JMSDF concluded that the " dangerous drill was conducted under trainers who were ‘ ‘ not skilled enough to guide sailors ’ ’ and ‘ ‘ failed to take precautionary measures to ensure safety . ’ " 21 officers were punished as a result of the incident . Foreign relations . The SBU has been involved in matters involving Asia - Pacific Defense , with representatives sent to the Asia Pacific Defense Forum Summer 2002 and the Asia Pacific Defense Forum 2004 . Formation . As of 2012 , the SBU has four platoons with one main headquarters . Weapons and equipment . It is known that the SBU uses the HK MP5A5 and the HK MP5SD6 as their primary submachine guns . Their service rifles is the Howa Type 89 , while their sidearm is the Sig Sauer P226R . Sniper rifles were purchased for the SBU under the 2004 defense budget under the JMSDF , but the model has not been revealed to the public . The sniper rifle used is the M24 Sniper Weapon System . The SBU has access to the use of RHIBs in maritime operations while SH - 60J helicopter s are used for aerial insertions during shipboarding missions . Training . SBU candidates are schooled at the Naval Academy Edashima for around 36 weeks including the Special Security Program , which is taken for a year and 3 months before one is recruited to the unit . The basic education is done at the school while the rest is done with the unit prior to recruitment . The SBU does exchange training with the ROKN SEALs .