![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students listen to instructions during rifle training at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force High Technical School on Sept. 17, 2014 in Yokosuka, Japan.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-7.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
Playing soldier isn’t what many Japanese kids today grow up doing. After its brutal march across Asia was halted by the Allies in World War II, imperial Japan accepted a U.S.-written constitution that limited its armed forces from engaging in offensive action.
Despite these constraints, some young Japanese are eager to serve their country. Each year, 4,500 students apply to gain admission to the sole high school run by the nation’s army, which is known as the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Only 300 applicants gain admission.
Nearly all of the JGSDF High Technical School’s students pursue army careers. They could well see more action. In July, Japan’s hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushed a reinterpretation of Japan’s war-renouncing constitution that would allow the nation to engage in what’s called collective self-defense, or the ability to defend allies that are under attack.
But all that war-gaming is in the future. As photographer Chris McGrath shows, life at the JGSDF High Technical School, which opened in 1955, is a mash-up of boot camp and science fair. Students build robots then retreat to bunks in Spartan dorms. There’s plenty of marching, plus the rigor of Japanese martial arts like judo. What could be more enticing for a patriotic young Japanese?
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students listen to instructions during rifle training at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force High Technical School on Sept. 17, 2014 in Yokosuka, Japan.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-7.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students sleep in a dormitory.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-19.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School A student cleans a hallway floor ahead of the day's training.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School First grade students assemble at first light to receive the day's training schedule.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students work on a problem during IT class.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-17.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students work on a robot during robotics classes.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-8.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students stand to attention while the schools song is played over loudspeakers during track and field training.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-18.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students get dressed ahead of the day's training.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students from first and second grade put on their boots at the end of the day's classes.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-12.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School First grade students begin marching practice.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-14.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School First grade students practice marching ahead of the day's marching competition.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-5.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students practice using their rifles during first grade rifle training.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-4.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School First grade students take part in rifle training.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students salute their teacher after finishing rifle training.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-16.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students lineup to be served lunch at the school cafeteria.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-6.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students eat lunch at the school cafeteria.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-3.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School A student grapples with his teacher during Judo classes.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-9.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students take part in wrestling classes.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-15.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School First grade students listen to a teacher at at the end of the day's training.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-20.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Daily Life At Japan's Only Self-Defense Force High School Students do pull-ups during a moment of free time at the end of the day's training.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/japan-self-defense-force-school-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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