Red Tape for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces Reservists to Lessen When Working Regular Jobs, Law to Be Revised in Diet Session

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:45 JST, February 18, 2026

Public servants who also act as reserve personnel with the Self-Defense Forces are expected to have an easier time balancing these two obligations due to a bill that the Defense Ministry intends to submit to the special Diet session that convened Wednesday.

Currently, public servants must take paid leave from their main jobs to engage in SDF duties. The new system will allow them to receive both their regular workplace salary and their compensation as reservists without having to use their paid leave.

The bill is aimed at helping resolve the shortage of SDF reserve candidates, by making it easier for public servants to work second jobs.

SDF reserve personnel are part-time national public servants in the special service. They hold regular jobs and are mobilized during emergencies or disasters to provide logistical support, among other duties.

Currently, a public servant who is also an SDF reservist must obtain permission from their workplace supervisor each time they are called to engage in SDF-related activities. The bill exempts them from this requirement if they obtain permission from their supervisor when becoming a reservist in the first place.

National and local public servants have an obligation by law “to give undivided attention to duty.” The bill will also give those who are SDF reservists a special exemption from this requirement.

Titled a “special draft law for SDF reserve personnel with second jobs,” the bill is a special measure under the National Public Service Law and the Local Public Service Law. It will also apply to SDF ready reserve personnel, who would be assigned to the front lines with SDF personnel during emergencies.