Misa Matsushima, the first Japanese 'top gun' female

She finished her training two days ago. Today she will be named a combat pilot. He admiration for jet pilots born as a child with the film "Top Gun". In Japan, women make up 6.4% of the troops.


Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) – Blazing a trail in the sky for other women, this is how Misa Matsushima, the first female "top gun" in Japan, will celebrate her official entry among the fighter pilots of the country's Air Self-Defense Force (Asdf).

Matsushima, 26 and originally from Yokohama, is the first female lieutenant. Two days ago, the young woman completed her training to fly F-15s and today will be officially appointed as a combat pilot. "I have admired the fighter pilots ever since I saw the movie 'Top Gun' - she commented to the local media - while I was in primary school.

I hope to continue to fulfill my duties not only for myself, but also for other women who want to follow this path in the future ". Yesterday, during a ceremony for the end of training at the base of the Asdf in Miyazaki prefecture, the lieutenant expressed the desire to "become a full-fledged pilot as soon as possible, with no difference from men".

Mitsushima will start piloting the F-15 in six or 12 months, after further training that will prepare her to intercept the aircraft that are introduced in the Japanese air space.

In 1993, aviation opened all positions to women with the exception of pilots of military jets and reconnaissance aircraft. The latter limit was abolished in 2015, allowing Matsushima to join the elitist group. Three other aspirants are in training. At present, women represent only 6.4% of the 228 thousand Japanese self-defense forces [the Japanese army is defined as "self-defense" because the pacifist Constitution prohibits the creation of an army, ed.].