At distant ends of the Indo-Pacific, Japan and Australia have cooperated on simultaneous maritime training exercises.

In March, Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba completed a port visit to Sasebo in western Kyūshū before joining the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer JS Akizuki for Exercise Nichi Gou Trident.

Toowoomba and Akizuki conducted the exercise in the East China Sea at the same time as Australia hosted 17 partner nations for Exercise Kakadu off Australia’s east coast.

Kakadu’s roster included the JMSDF Mogami-class frigate JS Kumano. 

Meanwhile at Exercise Nichi Gou Trident, Surface Warfare Officer Lieutenant Max Pappin completed his first officer-of-the-watch manoeuvre exercise with a Japanese vessel and said the coincidental exercises proved reassuring. 

“It is comforting to know that while our crew and Akizuki are both training up here off the coast of Japan, we both have friends working together back home,” Lieutenant Pappin said.

“It is cool knowing we’re all connected right now in some roundabout way.”

Exercise Nichi Gou Trident is the premier bilateral maritime exercise between Australia and Japan. 

The aim of the exercise is to strengthen the relationship and enhance mutual cooperation and understanding between the JMSDF and RAN, with a focus on high-end maritime roles and capabilities.

'If there is ever any incident, operation or emergency, we will always be ready to work together as one united fleet.'

As part of the exercise, Toowoomba and the first-in-class Akizuki destroyer spent hours steaming in formation with expert skill, as both ships moved with one mind, proving that maritime excellence speaks any language.

Toowoomba is conducting this exercise as part of its regional presence deployment, having sailed from Australia in late January.

Exercise Nichi Gou Trident is not the first maritime engagement with the JMSDF for Toowoomba during this regional presence deployment. It successfully completed a replenishment-at-sea with JS Towada in late February.

Simultaneous exercises between the RAN and JMSDF – at home or further afield – will continue to strengthen the bonds between the two services.

“It helps us build our interoperability as a force. It allows us to be able to operate with many different nations, so if there is ever any incident, operation or emergency, we will always be ready to work together as one united fleet,” Lieutenant Pappin said.

Exercise Nichi Gou Trident is in its 17th year.

According to Commanding Officer Akizuki Commander Kiichiro Toyama, the exercise not only delivered practical training, but provided the opportunity to take away key lessons for the future.

“We both have young officers on board who need the training and skill in navigation. So this exercise is a great opportunity for our young officers to work together to improve their skills.”

“We need to increase our opportunities to work with the Royal Australian Navy in different tactical environments, as it is the only way to increase the reliability we have of working together in any situation,” Commander Toyama said.

Australia and Japan last conducted Exercise Nichi Gou Trident from October to November 2025 with HMAS Brisbane. Toowoomba previously supported Exercise Nichi Gou Trident in the Philippine Sea in November 2023.