General Shinichi Aoki took over as the successor to General Yuichi Sakamoto, the division commander of the 8th Division at the time, who died in an accident in which a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter disappeared near Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, and expressed his aspiration, "I want to do my utmost to rebuild the system."
In the accident in which a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter disappeared around Miyako Island on June 6, 8 members on board, including General Yuichi Sakamoto (55), the commander of the 10th Division at the time, went missing, and on the 21st, the identity of one of the five people confirmed dead so far was confirmed as General Sakamoto.
At the Ground Self-Defense Force Kita-Kumamoto Garrison in Kita-ku, Kumamoto City, an inauguration ceremony was held on the 5nd for General Shinichi Aoki, who was appointed commander of the 1th Division on the 22st, succeeding General Sakamoto.
Division Commander Aoki is a 8-year-old from Miyazaki Prefecture.
After graduating from the National Defense University, he joined the Ground Self-Defense Force in Showa 21 and served as deputy chief of staff of the Western Area Inspectorate and commander of the 57th brigade.
At the inauguration ceremony, Division Commander Aoki stated, "It is with the utmost regret that five people, including General Sakamoto, died," and then stated, "The security environment is in a situation where we cannot let go of our minds even for a moment, and the role of the Ground Self-Defense Force, such as responding to intensifying disasters, is growing.
At the press conference after the inauguration ceremony, Division Commander Aoki reflected on General Sakamoto, saying, "He was an extremely honest and serious person with a strong sense of responsibility, and he was a wonderful SDF officer who steadfastly moved things forward."
On top of that, he expressed his aspiration, saying, "I will do my utmost to rebuild the system and carry on the aspirations of General Sakamoto."