Wide AngleSeason 7, Episode 2 of 7 : Japan's About-Face
Granted unprecedented access to Japan's "West Point" -- the National Defense Academy -- "Wide Angle" captures a remarkable window into the military's shifting role in post-war Japanese society. Since WWII, Japan's pacifist constitution has mandated a strictly defensive force. But the line between defense and offense has blurred, and Japan's military budget is now the fifth largest in the world. With troops in Iraq and sophisticated new fighter jets, Japan is reconsidering its rules of engagement. This program follows Academy cadets preparing for possible overseas deployment and meets a group of peace demonstrators -- including atom bomb survivors -- on a two-month march dedicated to keeping Japan's troops at home.
