A unique and very impressing aircraft in the JMSDF is the Shin Maywa US-1A flying boat. The US-1A is the Search and Rescue variant of the PS-1 ASW flying boat. Twenty US-1's have been procured between 1975 and 2000 serving with the 71 Kokutai at Iwakuni which was formed on 1 July 1976. The eighth newest US-1s were in service at any given time. The US-1A is gradually being replaced by the US-2 which is a modernised US-1. Four have been constructed to date. One US-1A or US-2 is detached to Atsugi and usually changed after one week.

The replacement for the US-1A. Originally flown as the US-1A Kai, a modernised version of the original, it is now in low rate production as the US-2. This example is the second frame and still in test colour scheme. The first one has the "standard" red/white prototype scheme. All other US-2's will be in overall midnight blue colours.

211 Kyoiku Kokutai is responsible for training the JMSDF helicopter pilots. This picture captures all three types currently in use at their home base Kanoya. Elementry rotary training is conducted on the OH-6. Three different types served the Japanese Navy since the type entered service in 1973 including three OH-6J's, fourteen OH-6D's and now the OH-6DA. Today only a few OH-6D's are on charge. The OH-6D was gradually replaced by the OH-6DA and by the end of 2005 five OH-6DA's had been delivered. The OH-6 will be replaced by the EC-135T2 or TH-135 as it will be known in Japanese service. The first one was handed over to 51 Kokutai in December 2009 for testing and evaluation.

Seen departing Komaki at the end of the Open Day is this 23 Kokutai SH-60J, heading for home at Maizuru, a base rarely visited by spotters as it is a bit off the beaten track. 23 Kokutai is the third unit to transition to the SH-60K. The SH-60J in this picture is in the 'new' overall grey colour scheme as opposed to the original 'old' white/grey colours.

The SH-60J was the successor of the HSS-2B in the ship borne ASW role. Currently the fleet of SH-60J's is partially replaced by the SH-60K. Five Kokutai's are equipped with the Seahawk being the 21 Kokutai at Tateyama, 22 Kokutai at Omura, 23 Kokutai at Manazuru, 24 Kokutai at Komatsushima and 25 Kokutai at Ominato. This three-shipper was performing at the Tateyama open day of 2008 and are all in the old colour scheme.

The successor of the SH-60J, developed by Mitsubishi is the slightly longer SH-60K. Other changes include next generation rotortips and a more square observers window compared to the round bubble of the J version. This one is receiving the cold shower treatment to get rid of any salty deposits. The white herons in the trees in the background probably see this scene everyday.

To maintain a presence in the Arctic regions, Japan regularly sends its Polar Icebreaker Chirase to those shores. AGB-5003 is the third ship with that name, commissioned last year and is able to carry two CH-101's. Its predecessor, the S-61A was retired in 2008 and was operating with 21 Kokutai at Tateyama when not aboard the Chirase, the CH-101 is flying from Iwakuni with 111 Kokutai.