[Skybird]

A "couple of carriers"...?
I dont think so. Way roo personnel and ressoruce-intensive, consideirng they must be protected by escorts, manned with crews and pilots.
And China is obsessed with neutralising carriers' efficiency.

Japan is a high tech country. It loves robots. And thats what I expect to see: plenty of robotized platforms, in the air, on the sea, under the sea. Also long range missiles and cruise missiles, drones. Submarines. Also, amphibious land forces to defend the islands of theirs.

Also, Japan opened its labour market more and more in recent 20 years. It had to, since it lacked he needed employees its economy demanded - and this although every fourth pensioneer of theirs still works until age 80, due to age poverty. This tells me they will find it hard to fill all slots in the increased military they plan for.

Comparable problems in Taiwan, btw., which also had to increasingly allow foreign employees into the country to maintain its eocnomic boom