>>923 The National Defense Medical College graduated its first class with women in March 1991, and the National Defense Academy of Japan began admitting women in 1992.[22]
The first female in the JSDF to achieve star ranks (admiral and general) is Hikaru Saeki, who became JMSDF Rear Admiral on 27 March 2001.[23] She was followed by Michiko Kajita and Keiko Kashihara, who were promoted to JASDF Major Generals in 2007[24] and 2011 respectively.[25]
JMSDF Captain Ryoko Azuma became the first woman to command a warship division in March 2018.[26]
JASDF First Lieutenant Misa Matsushima became the first woman to qualify as a fighter pilot in August 2018. At that time, the total number of military women in Japan was 13.707, only a little less than 6% of the total force.[27]