?The National Defense Program Outline? set forth on October 29, 1976 (the 1976 NDPO) introduced the ?Basic Defense Force Concept? as the course of Japan?s defense force. The introduction process of the concept has been described, on many occasions, as if the so-called ?Kubo Concept? by Takuya Kubo had been formally adopted and incorporated into the 1976 NDPO in a straightforward manner. In reality, however, several interpretations emerged and coexisted in the process of formulating the Basic Defense Force Concept, such as an interpretation based on the Kubo Concept-like ?beyond-the-threat theory,? an interpretation based on ?counter low-threat theory? similar to the ?Constantly Maintained Defense Force? deriving from the ?N Study Group,? and an interpretation based on Seiki Nishihiro?s ?validation theory,? the view that linked the preceding two interpretations.