By March 12, SDF personnel were en
route to the damaged prefectures, but
their access to the coastal communities
was slowed by blocked
highways. In the days following the
earthquake and tsunami, nearly
half the personnel of Japanese
SDF, 100,000 personnel, were
dispatched to undertake response
activities. Gaining access to remote
communities and clearing road
access became the priority, with the
SDF taking the lead and U.S. military
providing logistical support in
“Operation Tomodachi” (Operation
Friend). The US provided personnel
and “across the beach” access
using military landing craft and air
boats to transport heavy equipment
for debris removal. SDF forces with
both domestic and foreign search
and rescue teams took on rescue
and body recovery from areas
flooded by the tsunami