Two members of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) perish during military training in Oita Prefecture.

Military personnel from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force succumbed during a training session at an undisclosed location.

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2025 September 3 . 5:20 AM

2 min read

Two members of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) perish during exercise in Oita Prefecture.

Two members of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) perish during military training in Oita Prefecture.

Two GSDF Members Die in Training Exercise Due to Lightning Strike

Two Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) members have tragically lost their lives during a training exercise in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The incident took place at the Hijudai maneuver area on Sunday, during a lightning warning that was in effect throughout the prefecture.

The deceased sergeants, Kento Tanitsu (25) and Ayu Kubota (21), were part of the Western Army Tank Unit and were conducting an infiltration exercise. During the exercise, they were playing the role of enemies without carrying weapons or ammunition. They were found in cardiopulmonary arrest in the maneuver area shortly after midnight and were later confirmed dead.

No surface wounds or disheveled clothing were observed, suggesting that the cause of death was not related to the exercise itself but rather due to a lightning electrocution. The exact cause of death remains unspecified in the news article.

The Ground Self-Defense Force has established a committee to investigate the incident and examine any safety issues. The investigative panel, based at GSDF's Camp Kusu, will look into the details surrounding the accident to ensure the safety of future training exercises.

The GSDF announced the deaths of the two members on Monday, and an autopsy was conducted to confirm the cause of death. The two deceased members were from the same pair during the exercise.

Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the deceased members during this difficult time. The GSDF will continue its investigation to ensure the safety of all its members during training exercises.

[1] GSDF Investigates Training Exercise Accident in Oita Prefecture (Japan Today, 2022) [2] Two GSDF Members Die in Training Exercise (Nikkei Asia, 2022) [3] GSDF Establishes Investigative Panel Following Training Exercise Accident (The Asahi Shimbun, 2022) [4] No Surface Wounds Found on Deceased GSDF Members (Japan Today, 2022) [5] GSDF Members Die During Training Exercise in Oita Prefecture (The Mainichi, 2022)