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|} is one of cabinet-level ministries of the Japanese government. As a result of a law enacted on December 15, 2006, it became a ministry on January 9, 2007. Prior to that, it was the Japan Defense Agency (JDA) (防衛庁, Bōei-chō). It is headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and is the largest organ of the Japanese government: in 2005, fixed personnel numbered 276,890, including 253,180 active troops. The Ministry of Defense, as cabinet-level ministry, is required by Article 66 of the constitution to be completely subordinate to civilian authority. Its head, the Minister of Defense, is assisted by a senior vice minister, two parliamentary secretaries, an administrative vice minister, eight directors-general, chief of staff of the Joint Staff office and three branch chiefs of staff. The highest figure in the command structure is the prime minister, who is responsible directly to the Diet. In a national emergency, the prime minister is authorized to order the various components of the Self-Defense Forces into action, subject to the consent of the Diet. In times of extreme emergency, that approval might be obtained after the fact. |