Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 53 minutes ago
If you look at the JS Izumo, it has a flat deck, an island superstructure on the side, and it carries aircraft. To the rest of the world, it is an aircraft carrier. But in Japan, it is legally classified as a "Helicopter Destroyer" (DDH). Why? Because Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution bans "offensive weapons," which technically includes aircraft carriers.
Footage: Shutterstock
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
If you look at the JS Izumo, it has a flat deck, an island superstructure on the side, and it carries aircraft. To the rest of the world, it is an aircraft carrier. But in Japan, it is legally classified as a "Helicopter Destroyer" (DDH). Why? Because Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution bans "offensive weapons," which technically includes aircraft carriers.
Footage: Shutterstock
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
