History
During the early 20th century, Japan needed a way to watch its borders. The coastline is very long, so they created groups to keep a close eye on the water. These guards were in charge of spotting ships that should not be there. They worked closely with the navy to make sure the country stayed safe from threats. When World War II started, the work of the coastal guards became much more important. They helped find enemy submarines that were trying to sneak close to Japanese islands. Their reports allowed the navy to move ships quickly to where they were needed. It was a very big job that required watching the sea at all times of the day and night. After the war, the organization of Japan's sea defenses changed a lot. Many of the older groups were replaced by a new, more modern coast guard. This new group focuses on saving people at sea and stopping smuggling. They still use the lessons learned by the old guards to keep the water around Japan safe for everyone to use today.
