Starting in 1973 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force received 154 F-4EJ Phantoms that were based on the USAF F-4E. 138 of these aircraft were manufactured under license by Mitsubishi who produced the last F-4 Phantom II. Several changes were made to the F-4E to make it an F-4EJ. Basically it had any offensive weapons removed but eventually these restrictions were lifted and the aircraft were updated with missiles and the latest electronic equipment.

In 1973 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) began receiving the first of 154 F-4EJ Phantoms. 138 of these aircraft were manufactured under license by Mitsubishi who produced the last F-4 Phantom II. In 1984 an F-4EJ modernization program labeled KAI was begun. The J.A.S.D.F 8th SQ Black Panthers, 3rd AW is one of 2 squadrons stationed at Misawa Air Base. In 2003 the Air Combat Meet held at Misawa was won by F-4EJ Kai 57-8354 from the 8th Squadron. The ACM is similar to the NATO Tiger meet.