I said they are not free; restricted by their constitution and the fact that their biggest market is the US
I didn't say we are free; we are free to the degree that we can make stuff homegrown and fight terrorism
It is not US that is privileged; they gave Japan the privilege
It is Japan that is privileged; given privilege by the US
Should be easier to digest now.
They are not obliged by constitution to buy American weapons, they can choose any origin at free will.
The matter is that, they either need top-notch american system which is already leased to them,or they can make it on their own at greater amounts and better quality which they need. This is a privilege given to Japan as a trustworthy ally,like privileges Turkey has received for being a trustworthy ally. In 2000s we were speaking about Aegis system to be purchased by Turkey along with top notch sensors.
The constitution which restricts their army size and operations are also imposed by their own people, ask some Japanese if they want a bigger Naval force, or air force you may hear half or more saying "no". Unlike WWII, Japanese people nowadays are pacifist so does their constitution.
Their armed forces can freely conduct any kind of operation, but how strange their neighborhood doesn't have terrorism. Like Turkey's 70s , there is only single threat and that is China (which was Soviets for Turkey,then)
They produce weapons to supply their needs in greater amounts and in fields which is profitable for the companies. Not to avoid embargoes like we do. The constitution doesn't restrict this, they are free to develop weapons but not free to export.
It is even stranger that American products are not privileged in Japan, neither American cars, foods. Japanese people tends more to consume their own products than exported even at some point one may wonder if there is nation-wide embargo on American products (which some foreigners have got the feeling when they visited Japan) ,but it is just an habit. South Korea,however, another country which US has only intervened but not defeated and took control over, people tends to exported especially American products a lot.
If Americans could enforce Japan to buy something, they would start from their industrial and food products, in total amount they would have given higher profits and income. In fact they have a trade deficit with Japan and arm sales only helps to close the gap.
I don't know what kind of "Japan" figure you have got in your mind, but their MPs, Prime Ministers or Ministers are not governed or taking directives by US. They have homegrown weapons, a decent technology which way above than average of what developed countries has got, which even in case of embargo they can produce their own weapons,or the equipment ,machinery which is needed to produce those weapons.
But learning is not bad, and easier to digest by learning.
en.wikipedia.org
Check out the Bor incident in the given link, The Japanese needed Security council's approval to supply ammo to South Korean soldiers at Bor, deployed for UN missions. And eventually they took, requested, the unused ammo back.
www.navalnews.com
