Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reviews members of the Japan Self-Defense Force (SDF) from an open car during his visit to Hyakuri Air Base, north of Tokyo, Oct. 30, 2005.

    TOKYO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Japan's ground, air and maritime self-defense forces (SDF) will be under an integrated chain of command starting from Monday, local media reported.

    The SDF's new chain of command stipulates a 500-member joint staff office headed by the joint chief of staff, who will be under the Defense Agency director general, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.

    Gen. Hajime Massaki became the SDF Joint Staff Chief, a new position set up as the SDF staff chief of the integrated operations. Massaki formerly held the position of chairman of the SDF's Joint Staff Council, according to Kyodo News

    One of his tasks to convey commands of the Defense Agency director general to the three arms of the SDF.

    The establishment of an integrated command "signifies a major change in the way the 260,000-strong SDF operate," the paper said in an editorial.

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    The integration of command is aimed to meet the rapid changes in Japan's security environment and to ensure smooth operation in the troops' overseas missions such as international peacekeeping and humanitarian activities, the paper said. Enditem