Japanese to Allow the Carriage of Armed Guards on Japanese Flagged Vessels ? - the Japanese Government is planning to submit a bill to the National Diet which will permit the carriage of armed guards on Japanese flagged vessels.    The Japan Times reported that the bill would permit the armed guards to operate on Japanese ships based on a commonly held view that their presence on other vessels in waters off Somalia has led to a sharp fall in piracy.      If this proposed legislation is approved, Japanese ships will be permitted to employ private security contractors to provide armed guards.