New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Furthering military ties and joint coordination in anti-piracy operations will figure prominently when Defence Minister A K Antony and Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor undertake separate visits to Japan and Israel from tomorrow.

Antony's visit will be the first by a cabinet minister to Japan after the new Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) government was formed, Defence Ministry officials said here today.

He will hold talks with his counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa to review defence interactions between the two countries and also discuss global and regional issues of mutual interest.

Apart from talks on joint army, navy and air force exercises, the two sides would discuss exchange of officers and soldiers to military academies and training establishments of both countries.

Already, the two countries' navies are coordinating efforts in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden to share the burden of patrolling in the sea brigand-infested waters.