A Secret Transmission
In a world where numerous radio transmissions fly around us, there are some signals whose purpose remains entirely unknown, such as the “UVB-76” or more commonly known as “The Buzzer.”
This Russian shortwave radio has been continuously emitting a buzzing sound since the Soviet era, gaining popularity among the ham radio community due to its mysteriousness.
The incomprehensible voice messages that pop up every few years just exacerbates the eeriness, but a similar radio broadcast exists in Japan called the “Japanese Slot Machine.”
Named from unique idling format resembling that of a pachinko slot machine, this signal is operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for unknown purposes.
It was first discovered in 2001 by foreign listeners, and is said to be transmitting from two locations – Ichihara Station (Chiba Prefecture) and Kushikino Station (Kagoshima Prefecture).
The signals are consisted of encrypted digital data and remains undeciphered to this day, raising wild conspiracy theories including extraterrestrial messages.
For Overseas Agents?
So, what exactly is this secret radio used for?
As a military organization, JMSDF using encrypted radio signals is hardly surprising, but it is unlikely they would utilize it during normal missions.
The low-frequency band used by the Japanese Slot Machine is less susceptible to interference from weather conditions and can reach long distances with low-power transmissions.
On the other hand, the amount of information that can be transmitted and overall radio quality is limited compared to high-frequency bands.
Taking these factors into account, it is difficult to imagine JMSDF favoring an old-school radio over satellite communication unless there is a plausible reason.
Indeed, the Japanese Slot Machine’s discovery in 2001 coincides with the JMSDF starting refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. But, there is little reason for the JMSDF to use such low-frequency signals during anti-terrorist operations.
Others have argued that it is used to communicate with submarines or secure a specific frequency band.
Among these speculations, the most persuasive one is the number stations theory -sending orders to overseas agents by broadcasting random numbers.
Though number stations are heavily used by by North Korea, it is possible that the Japanese government is engaged in similar espionage activities abroad.
Despite post-war Japan’s unfavorable reputation in the intelligence field, agencies like public security agencies have actually achieved considerable success in counterintelligence during the Cold War.
Considering these facts, it would not be surprising if Japan attempted to infiltrate potential adversaries using secret agents. If so, the Self Defense Force would certainly be involved as a prime candidate, and the Japanese Slot Machine may be issuing encrypted directives to such operatives.
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