Japan’s Defense Ministry to Add Fully Private Rooms in Barracks – 15m² for Both NCOs and Enlisted Personnel
October 3, 2025 – Government & Organizations
The Ministry of Defense announced plans to expand the introduction of fully private rooms in Self-Defense Force (SDF) barracks. The new room types will include units equipped with private baths/showers as well as simpler private rooms without such facilities.
Previously, the standard size of barracks rooms differed by rank: 10m² for enlisted personnel (“shi”) and 15m² for non-commissioned officers (“so”). Under the new plan, all service members, regardless of rank, will be provided with 15m² private rooms.
The modernization program will not only upgrade living quarters but also improve entrances, sanitary facilities, and increase the use of wood materials to create a “warmer, more comfortable” atmosphere compared to the conventional institutional design. Construction work on the new barracks is scheduled to begin as early as fiscal year 2026.
The SDF barracks construction standards were revised in April 2024. As part of the optimization and renewal of 283 facilities nationwide, including garrisons and bases, the new standards will be applied. This initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve working conditions and make the SDF more attractive, in line with Japan’s three key defense documents: the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program.
The new design will allow personnel to choose between:
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Private rooms with unit bath/shower and toilet facilities, similar to standard hotel single rooms.
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Private rooms without bathroom facilities, offering a larger living space instead.
Even in training barracks that still use shared rooms, partitions will be introduced to provide a greater degree of privacy.
In addition, common areas such as entrances and washrooms will be redesigned, with improvements in cleanliness, ventilation, wall coverings, and wood finishing. The goal is to create barracks that reflect a softer and warmer living environment, while ensuring high standards of sanitation.
