This is the catchphrase. At Tsukijo Air Base, which protects the skies of Western Japan, there is the first female pilot of an F2 fighter jet in the history of the Air Self-Defense Force. We followed her day and night as she goes through the harsh training that is always close to danger. In November, an air festival was held at the Tsukijo Air Base of the Air Self-Defense Force in Chikujo Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, and about 68,000 people who came to watch the magnificent show in the sky were thrilled. ■ Visitor: "I'm glad I met you. Thank you." ■ 2nd Class Air Lieutenant Misaki Mizukoshi (27) "Thank you. I look forward to working with you in the future." There was a woman who asked for an autograph and a photo. This is 2nd Class Air Lieutenant Misaki Mizukoshi (27). This year marks the 70th year since the Self-Defense Forces were established, and she is the first female pilot of an F2 fighter jet. ■ Mizukoshi: "There are still not many women in fighter jets, so I want to challenge myself to see how far I can go." Mizukoshi was assigned to Tsukijo Air Base in July of this year. She started work before 8 a.m. on this day. After making coffee with skill, she sharpens each pencil used by her colleagues. This is the young soldier's morning routine. ■ Mizukoshi: "Because it's easier to write in small spaces when it's sharp." ■ Lt. Col. Ogimoto Kenji: "Well, it's posture. It's the same as grooming when you're going on a flight." ■ Mizukoshi: "You're right." Mizukoshi pilots an F2 fighter jet with distinctive blue camouflage. Mizukoshi is the only woman in the Air Self-Defense Force who can pilot an F2 fighter jet. She goes through training dressed in a special suit and other equipment weighing approximately 14 kilograms. ■Mizukoshi: "Please." ■Mizukoshi: "Two, tally (I saw the enemy)." ■Ogimoto: "You can't shoot if you can't see two planes (one friendly and one enemy)." ■Mizukoshi: "Tally, two, two insights (I can see both friendly and enemy)." The F2 pilots at Tsuiki Base fly at a maximum speed of Mach 2, twice the speed of sound. The maximum load is 9G, nine times the force of gravity, and the pilots' entire bodies are subjected to this load. They hone their skills by repeating harsh training flights that last for about an hour, day and night. At Tsuiki Base, which protects the skies of Western Japan, fighter jets are prepared to take off within five minutes 24 hours a day in case of an emergency. ■Training: "Scramble!" Pilots and aircraft maintenance personnel run at once. This is in preparation for a "scramble," when fighter jets are scrambled to respond to a suspicious aircraft. Last year, there were 778 scrambles nationwide. Their main duties are to warn foreign aircraft that are suspected of violating Japanese airspace or have entered Japanese airspace to leave. ■8th Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Shunsuke Akagawa: "First of all, the Self-Defense Forces must be a strong presence to prevent emergencies. We train 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to be able to respond to illegal activities in the air." Mizukoshi recently moved to a government housing unit outside the base. One of his hobbies is cooking. He sits down to eat with pilot Ryota, whom he married last year. ■Reporter: "When do you feel like your work is done?" ■Mizukoshi: "When I get home, take off my flight suit, and throw it in the laundry basket." Originally from Nara Prefecture, Mizukoshi was passionate about basketball during his school days. He became interested in pilots when a friend showed him a video of the Blue Impulse during his high school days. ■Mizukoshi: "I was attracted to the mixture of beauty and danger, two opposing forces, and that's what made me want to become a pilot." Instead of pursuing her previous goal of becoming a physical therapist, after graduating from university, she enlisted in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. After four years of rigorous training and exams, she paved the way to becoming the first female F2 pilot. ■Mizukoshi: "I think one of the things I wanted to do was do something different from the people around me. I chose the F2 fighter plane to become the first woman." ■Azuma Tomonori: "Hook it up, and look at even just one plane right away." ■Ogimoto: "You'll be told about the enemy's position and its formation. If it's like this, which one should I aim for?" ■Mizukoshi: "This way." The training for this day was aerial combat between fighter planes. After many detailed discussions, they moved on to the flight. ■Ogimoto: "Okay, let's go." The sky was covered with thick clouds that blocked the view, and they couldn't see the fighter planes around them with their own eyes. ■Mizukoshi: "Two, blind (I can't see the enemy)." ■Azum