As a last gesture of goodwill, Japan's departing Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) will be giving an additional 800 sheep as a gift to Iraqis living in the city of Samawah. Samawah is where the GSDF had conducted its first military operation outside of Japan's territory since the end of World War II.
Two years ago Japan wowed local Iraqis by introducing 110 sheep into the Iraqi populace. The gift was met with such enthusiasm that now Japan has decided to send even more sheep.
Explaining the first gift Captain Hiroshi Watanabe of the original 80 member GSDF contingent admitted that sheep were originally not the first choice. "You should have seen what (the Iraqi villagers) were trying to do with the cell phones we gave them," he said clearly embarrassed. "From observation we realized that what they really wanted were sheep."
Cpt. Watanabe added that to leave a lasting legacy—and meet the unexpected demand--the GSDF may increase the number of sheep included in the gift.