Idealism Prevailing

Idealism without realism is utopianism. Realism without idealism is populism. Main players in the world politics sought idealism in 2013, which faced a lot of difficulty in want of realism. In this race, the winner should be who introduces realism in its idealism. It is too early to call the name. Japan, however, must be one of the countries that have not found the way.

Reelected President of the United States, Barack Obama, tackled the universal health care, which had been one of the greatest political goals for a former community activist in Chicago. To make this Obamacare work, the President needed to exercise his political power to persuade the opposites. Failing in this critical effort as a political leader, Obama introduced sharp quarrels between the aisle of the Congress over Affordable Care Act and brought the third longest federal governmental shut down in U.S. history in October.

Chinese new President, Xi Jinping, set a political goal in achieving “China Dream” one month after he took the seat in March. After the defeat of the Opium War, China has been suffering from suppression of the world powers. “Dream” supposedly meant to regain self-determinative foreign policy. However, China was not good at constructing cooperative international order, and has been intimidating its neighbors with assertive behaviors. Different from Obama, Xi is failing in persuading the outer world.

Russia is hoping to rebuild the great union as it once showed after the Great Depression. The dream of European Union is to establish a stable community in the continent to mark a period on its history full of conflicts. People in Arab nations are protesting existing regimes to achieve democratic society. All those efforts are covered by pessimisms stemming from their internal political elements.

In Japan, Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, tried hard to persuade both the nation and the world that Japan can be re-boosted as one of the greatest economy in the world, the concept which the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry cannot stop loving. However, the myth is turning to be empty promise with unevenly distributed wealth. Although the first two arrows, monetary and fiscal policies, gave people an image that the economy is forwarding to a certain target, the third arrow, growth strategy, already looks ineffective with a little expectation in delegulation.

Believing in his political basis as eccentric conservatism and indifferent unilateralism, Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine, the decision which not only invited resentment from China and South Korea, but provided allies with negative images, typically represented by U.S. “disappointment,” of his lack of realism in international politics. Japan is still dreaming its own revival.

Food Safety in Jeopardy

Six years after the scandal of dumpling made in China, Japan seems to have caught up with China in terms of deteriorated food safety. Aqri Foods Company, a subsidiary of Maruha-Nichiro Holdings, announced that it would be recalling 6.3 million packs of frozen food delivered from a factory in Gunma, because malathion, an ingredient of fertilizer, was detected from some of them. The company doubts a possibility of intended injection of poison by someone. The Japanese can no longer deride anxiety of Chinese foods.

The announcement was made following a number of reports that had accused strange flavor of the products these months. In the investigation of Aqri Foods, the poison was specified as malathion. According to the company, that was not a material existed in the factory, the fact that indicated a possibility of crime.

The company recalled ninety kinds of frozen foods including pizzas, pancakes, croquettes or gratins. Since Gunma factory has been the main force for the company, the products, including licensed goods for major retailers, had been distributed to all over Japan. Aqri estimated total amount of the cost for retrieving to be ¥1.3 billion.

Japan would have been a country extremely sensitive for food safety. When ten people suffered from dumpling made in China six years ago, the people showed hysteric response to Chinese foods. Exacerbated by longtime skepticisms about vegetables, meets or fish from China, Japanese people were furious about management in factories in China. Against the delay of information disclosure by Chinese government, the people accused China of failed oversight of the government.

Chinese government found the incident as resistance of a factory worker who had been frustrated with his low wage. However, it was last July when the trial of this case started. It is possible that the government of China has been buying time for appeasing Japanese public. Time schedule of the trial is still not clear. Consequently, a lot of people turned their back to the foods from China.

The same thing may happen on Japanese food products, if the government of Japan cannot make thorough investigation in Aqri case. In spite of strict regulation laid for all kinds of products, foods in Japan have little transparency in terms of where they came from. Companies can always conceal information about foods with deliberated effort of disguise. There was a series of scandal of fake origin in foods in luxurious hotels this year. It is not only imported foods, but also domestic foods, that is losing confidence of consumers.

Unprecedented Moral Hazard

Tokyo Electric Power Company made new business reorganization plan. It aimed to get rid of current virtual government-owned situation by early 2030s. To achieve that, the company assumed to raise utility charges without any plan for separating current occupation both generation and supply of electricity, to be provided with tax money for compensation for decontamination caused by the accident in Fukushima, and to resume nuclear reactors in Niigata without reliable security guarantee. The government is approving it early next year. This is unprecedented moral hazard.

The government salvaged the ailing company by capital injection worth $100 billion in July 2012, holding 50.1% stock share with voting right. Since then, the company has been laid under virtual ownership of the government. The new reconstruction plan sets a goal to reduce the share to the extent of getting rid of governmental control in early 2030s. It also divides the company between the one for ordinary power company and another company only working for disaster relief. The relief company will be located in an evacuation area in Fukushima to make its determination clear.

The biggest problem is the plan is fundamentally dependent on tax money injected into the company. It will be used for decontamination of the land around broken First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and establishing intermediate stock facilities for radioactive debris in evacuation area. There is no explanation about why taxpayers need to compensate for that manmade disaster caused by careless notion of no blackout happening. Tax holders and banks are responsible for the bankruptcy. In this case, they are overwhelmingly supported by tax money. This is a distorted capitalism.

With no complete roadmap for dismantling broken reactors, emitting contaminated water to the Pacific Ocean, and paying compensation for suffered people, TEPCO assumes halted nuclear reactors in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata next July. For the purpose of rebuilding its balance sheet, the company is committing further immoral business taking people hostage. The company and residents around the plants ignore the voices of Fukushima: Once accident happens, they lose everything.

It is true that the disaster could not be relieved only by the efforts of TEPCO. People who accepted benefit of power generation are partly responsible for the disaster. In those regards, injection of tax money was inevitable. However, why should stockholders and banks be protected by the government? How can a business entity resume an operation that are uncontrollable for human being, while suffered people still living in shabby temporary houses and worrying about health of kids? This is not a problem about responsibility of a private company, but about civilization in Japan.

Balance Sheet of Approval

The Governor of Okinawa, Hirokazu Nakaima, finally approved the request of the Government of Japan to start the process of landfill in Henoko coastal area in Nago City, Okinawa, for constructing alternative facilities of Futenma Marine Air Base, which is to be removed for reducing burden of the people in the island. While Ministry of Defense was extremely delighted with this progress in Futenma relocation, Nakaima showed cynical smile indicating the process not to be so easy. It is unclear who is the winner.

In the negotiation with Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, Nakaima get some possible benefits for Okinawa. They were shortening the time for removing Futenma from nine and a half years to five years, returning Camp Kinser within seven years, negotiating new agreement for environmental investigation inside U.S. military bases with reviewing U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, and future efforts to accumulate the budget for Okinawa development. Nakaima appreciated those promises as outstanding effort by the national government.

However, it is U.S. who decides when Futenma and Camp Kinser will be closed. Abe only promised Nakaima to make effort to have a talk with U.S. for that, with no actual perspective of getting those happen. As for review of SOFA, U.S. has been dismissing any possibility of revising provisions of the agreement. There is no reason that Abe can do what a number of former prime ministers tried and failed. As long as SOFA is not changed, it is always possible that U.S. officials reject fulfilling new agreement. Future financial support for Okinawa will be assured only when it is actually done.

From the perspective of politics, Nakaima paid a high price by accepting the landfill request. Most people in Okinawa were furious about governor’s decision, because it would encourage the governmental plan to locate Futenma alternative facility on Henoko. Campaign promise of Nakaima in 2010 was that he would remove Futenma Base from Okinawa. Hundreds of people surrounded the office of Okinawa local government, accusing Nakaima’s decision as a betrayal.

Because of deteriorating health condition, Nakaima will not run for next election. So, it is ok for him to be criticized by his former supporters, if he does not care about his legacy as the governor. However, politics is sometimes said as the supreme moral. Even if next governor will finally decide whether Futenma will be ousted from Okinawa, it is morally irresponsible for Nakaima to escape from his duty to assure the way how the island can get rid of excessive burden.

One Step toward War

Completely ignoring his responsibility for improving the relationship with China and South Korea, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday. While he justified his visit as praying for war victims and reassuring no-war resolution, the closest ally, the United States, expressed “disappointment” on his careless behavior. Abe has obviously spent his political capital for being honest to his core conservative supporters behind him.

In the press conference right after the worship, Abe stressed his intention to pay respect to the victims, to maintain Japan’s determination not to resort to wars, and not to harm sentiments of the Chinese and South Korea. But, he also revealed his recognition that his visit might be causing problems inside and outside of Japan. One gunshot on a man, even without intention of killing, may be called murder. Knowing the impact on the neighbors, he rather visited the shrine. Abe’s behavior cannot be said to be an intimidation.

Chinese Foreign Minister, Wan Yi, called away the Japanese Ambassador to China, Masato Kitera, and send rigid objection against Abe’s visit. Japanese Vice-Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Chinese Ambassador to Japan safety of the Japanese in China. Japanese business entities in China are expecting negative actions of Chinese consumers. “It was anachronism that deeply undermine stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia,” told the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yoo Jinryong, as the representative of state.

One unexpected result for Abe was strong opposition from U.S. The Embassy in Tokyo released a statement, which said “the United States is disappointed that Japan’s leadership has taken an action that will exacerbate tensions with Japan’s neighbors.” Staffs of the government of Japan was shocked by the fact that the statement was endorsed by the headquarters of the State Department in Washington, while they once underestimated it as a message solely from the Embassy. That showed the innocence of the Japanese about negative image on Japan in foreign countries. They simply regard Japan as one of the greatest economies.

It became mostly impossible for Abe to solve the problem in the relations with China and South Korea. His selfish behavior alienated himself, making distance from his colleagues in Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, neighbor counterparts and U.S. leaders. It is the ordinary people in Japan who suffer from an imprudent leader, even though it is a consequence of elections.

Birthday of Abe Administration

The Cabinet of Shinzo Abe celebrated one-year anniversary on Thursday. His economics brought Japan certain sense of optimism, which would anyway not assure sustainable growth. His politics showed brutality with nuclear options in the Diet to pass bills in the name of security enhancement. It is undeniable that his politics has been rooted in small groups, which affiliate to minority in the society. The direction of Japan led by Abe is still not clear.

The trend of stock market and foreign exchange has been preferable for Japanese exporters. While PM insists on his success in economic policy, saying “Look, mood of Japan has been changed,” actual economy is not filled with good news. The impact of “extra-dimensional easing” was limited within few weeks after the announcement of the Chairman of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda. Most moves of the markets were caused by recovery of American economy. Accordingly, capital investment and wage has not been raised sufficiently, reflecting anxiety of employers of small and mid-size businesses.

Satisfied with optimism in the society, Abe took on his own issues, as an outstanding advocate in conservatism, including laying stricter control on security information. People understood that a law for protecting classified information obtained by foreign countries. What the people protested against was the way Abe passed the law. Ignoring opposite opinions, hasting the process of the Diet and paying few attentions for opinions in the testimonies, the legislature passed in an extraordinary short time. That reminded the people of the history of Japan, in which the government oppressed them with arbitrary amendments of Public Safety Maintenance Law.

Diplomacy as a whole has not effectively worked. Taking no viable action against China’s assertive activities in East China Sea, namely around Senkaku Islands, the relationship with China has deteriorated rather than when Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, definitely damaged the relationship by purchasing Senkakus in September last year. His “value-oriented” diplomacy spread expectations for further economic cooperation in Asian nations, with a few positive effects on international politics.

However, political support to Abe is still high, mainly based on hopes for economic growth. The turning point may come in April next year, when the rate of consumption tax will be raised from 5% to 8%. If the economy shows steep decline with disappointment to Abenomics, power of the administration may suddenly decay.

Old Style Redistribution of Wealth

As one result of expectation-oriented economic policy initiated by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the budget plan for FY 2014 swell to the extent of ¥96 trillion, which marked the greatest amount ever. The main reasons were social security, infrastructure and security. Among them, increasing spending on social security would be inevitable, because of natural increase of the old agers. However, infrastructure and security were a reflection of political arbitrariness drawn by Liberal Democratic Party. With this unreasonable return to old budget structure, the amount of national debt keeps on inflating.

The margin the government will get by raising the rate of consumption tax next April is supposed to be used for social security. While the government explained that all amount of that margin would be injected into social security budget in FY 2014, it will actually be a replacement of debt, which has been a part of resources until FY 2013. No one can expect any qualitative improvement in social security. The people have to keep on worrying about their future.

What drove the old style lawmakers in LDP crazy was disaster prevention budget. In the name of preparation for future natural disaster, the government allowed various menus for construction projects. They included the budget for preventing agricultural damage by boars, deer or monkeys, enhancing role of national parks and low-carbon projects. The government and LDP call those earmarked projects “homeland strengthening.” But, how can we regard getting rid of boars from farmlands as the preventing measures of disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis or storms, anyway?

Security measures included buying MV22 Ospreys, Global Hawks and increasing personnel of Self-defense Force and Coast Guards. While it is obvious that the concern is mainly about assertive actions of China in East China Sea, this is a consequence of poor diplomacy toward China, with no effective impact on improving the bilateral relationship. In addition, Abe wants to pave the way for constitutional amendment through accumulating facts of necessity for broader military abilities.

Abe allowed those excessive interests, because he believed that would lead to economic revitalization. However, they only contribute to major corporations, like Toyota or general construction firms, and do not work for small businesses, especially new ventures. Deregulation efforts have still been in half way. Total amount of newly issued national bonds will be ¥41.3 trillion. Although the number is smaller by ¥1.6 trillion than the amount last year, it is still big when it is considered that the introduction of higher consumption tax rate will contributing ¥4 trillion increase in national budget.

Beyond Rule of Principles

Japan does not export weapons. However, it will provide troops in a foreign country with bullets for guns. Does it make any sense?

The government of Japan decided to pass out ten thousands of bullets to South Korean troops in their activity as United Nations Mission in South Sudan. According to the government officials, it was based on a request from U.N. with concern of shortage of bullets for 5.56 millimeter guns in Korean troops. Japan is regarded as an only country that has the same type of bullets. Japanese government explained that it would definitely be an urgent humanitarian assistant.

In the U.N. Peacekeeping Operation Participation Act 1992, Japan can do material assistance to U.N. operation. However, former administrations have been rejecting to provide with weapons or bullets, even with a request from U.N. So, this was a major policy change for the government.

The fundamental restriction for weapons export has been “Three Principles on Weapons Exports” in 1967. That prohibited providing with weapons to Communist nations, countries with sanction by U.N. and in actual conflict. Although the principle was amended for not exporting to all countries in 1976, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda made a major change in 2011, which exceptionally paved the way for the export for the purpose of peace and humanitarian effort, or for international joint development and production.

It is unclear why the troops of South Korea became in short of bullets, and how is the situation in their operation area in South Sudan. The government of Japan is categorizing this case as another exception of the Three Principles without detailed explanation about those points. Accumulating exceptions without clear reasons is typical way for bureaucracy to castrate rule of law. This time, the government reiterated no time for consideration for assessment. Who can realize that Japan is restrictive on weapons export, while it is exporting ten thousands of bullets, anyway?

It is an irony that South Korea needs Japan’s help. There have been overwhelming arguments to protest Japan’s remilitarization in South Korea. However, providing with bullets for South Korean troops will definitely encourage remilitarization of Japan, because it will loosen its self-restriction. Criticizing Japan’s reinterpretation of the Constitution for allowing exercise of collective self-defense right, while demanding bullets for themselves, is nothing but a double-standard. South Korea at least needs to explain why they fell in a situation of shortage of bullets.

Emperor and Politics

The Emperor of Japan celebrated eightieth birthday on Monday. In the press conference, His Majesty emphasized his commitment on protecting the Constitution of Japan. Uh-oh, didn’t it completely contradict the standpoint of Abe Shinzo administration, which has been deriding the Constitution about the provisions of renouncing war and possession of military force. Since the Constitution requires the Emperor to follow advice and approval of the Cabinet, no political difference must not appear. After all, which was wrong: the Emperor or the Prime Minister?

In the conference, the Emperor picked the World War II as the most impressive event in his life. “It was really heartbreaking when I remind of young people, who had a various hopes in their future, had lost their lives,” he said. On reconstruction process, he showed his idea that the Japanese has reconstructed current Japan by establishing the Constitution of Japan regarding peace and democracy as precious, and by exercising a lot of reforms. “I deeply thank,” he told, “the efforts made by many people to rebuild exhausted land by the war.”

From the reporters, there was a question about the relationship between politics and royal family. That was understandable enough, because there were at least three opportunities in which the relationship of them was broadly argued. Those were banzai call by Abe and his colleagues to the Emperor at the end of the ceremony of Sovereignty Resumption Day on April 28, Princess Hisako Takamado’s attendance to general meeting of International Olympic Committee in Buenos Aires, in which Tokyo won Olympic 2020, and handing the Emperor out a letter about situation of sufferers of the East Japan Great Earthquake by Councillor Taro Yamamoto.

Citing the Article IV, which determines that the Emperor has no power related to government, His Majesty stressed his restriction of activities as the Emperor. However, he added that “Sometimes it is difficult to judge,” and he said he would consult with the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency at that situation.

The point is that the Emperor is one of the biggest advocates of democracy in Japan, and strictly abiding by the Constitution, even if Abe and other right-wing colleagues hated the Constitution as forced by America. Although it was not clear whether he was skeptical about the assertive policy of Abe administration, the Emperor was willing to be restricted within the provisions of the Constitution, with a hope of maintaining peace. If Abe moves to change the article to make the Emperor the head of state, and it causes turmoil inside and outside Japan, it is highly skeptical that the Emperor will support it. So it is Abe who should be accused as changing status quo by power.

Taking Advantage of U.S. Tapering Policy

Responses of Japanese media on the announcement of U.S. Federal Reserve Board of Governors to taper its bond-buying was quite positive with a perspective that it would have preferable impact on Japan’s economy. Actually, Tokyo Stock Market rallied, marking the highest price in these six years, and investors bought U.S. dollar selling Japanese Yen in Tokyo Foreign Exchange. However, the future of Japanese economy is not so hopeful as it temporarily showed with the sign of U.S. economic recovery.

Nikkei Shimbun emphasized return of money from emerging market to developed countries. It focused on the rise of stock price in developed countries such as in Japan and European Union. On the other hand, India and China showed clear decline with a calculation that strong dollar increases the burden of emerging markets. Nikkei explained the positive response of markets had two aspects. One was that U.S. economy had been recovered to the extent it could be tapering quantitative easing, and another was that Fed would be careful enough to maintain low-interest policy as long as needed.

Asahi Shimbun highlighted sharp contrast between U.S. and Japan. It introduced the words of the Chairman of Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, which was “Markets accept the Fed’s decision as preferable. U.S. economy is stable and the policy of Fed is working.” Having little negative impact on Japan market, the newspaper expected further monetary easing without any regret. If the economy shows a negative sign right after consumption tax hike next April, there may be an additional monetary easing.

Expecting positive attitude of BoJ on further easing, markets predict weaker Japanese yen against U.S. dollar, which will work preferable for Japanese exporters, namely carmakers. While monetary policy keeps on swelling, fiscal policy is still going positive for issuing new bonds, making little improvement on fiscal structure. The government of Japan is assuming the same level of national bonds in FY 2014 as in FY 2013.

In the decision making meeting, BoJ unanimously decided to maintain the bold monetary easing policy introduced in April, while making no change in the assessment of domestic economy trend as “moderately recovering.” Although the impact of U.S. policy change was limited, consumer spending is not increasing as it showed in earlier this year. Fundamental condition of Japanese economy is far from the situation of stable growth. If the trend stays as it is now, there can be criticisms on Japanese money-oriented economy policy, especially from European governments. No one in Japanese economic leadership talks about exit strategy, as long as the economy shows positive sign.

Consolation Money from Government

The Cabinet led by Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, decided a policy change in reconstruction from nuclear disaster in First Fukushima Generation Plant. Although the government has been saying that all refugees should get back to their home someday, new policy is based on a notion that there will be some who cannot do that. Nevertheless, most people do not feel strange about the change, because former policy was apparently making no sense. So, are they satisfied with new policy? Definitely no. That is because the government has shown no clear vision about the future of Fukushima. New policy is, in short, an offer of consolation money to Fukushima.

The policy offers compensation money for repairing houses for the people returning home, and for building new houses abandoning former ones. Additional money will be provided to whom gets back home soon. On the other hand, compensation for mental damage will be cut off one year after coming back home. So the government is saying that “Well, that is all we have. It’s up to you whether going back or keep on escaping.”

Is it enough for victims to decide whether they will go back or not? For the people to return to their hometown, it is necessary that the town will be reformed for people’s life. Schools, hospitals, town offices or shops need to restart their works. However, there is no vision for that so far.

The biggest reason is radiation omitted from the broken nuclear power plant. The government is planing to lift the evacuation order for the residents in the area where radiation level is between 1 and 20 millisievert per year. People are still worried about low-level exposure to radioactive materials, because even the limitation for workers in nuclear power plant is 5 millisievert per year. “Why do we ordinary people have to live with higher radiation than the workers in plants?” is a question of the people in Fukushima.

While it shows a limitation of money spending for victims, the government does not show any limitation of money pouring into Tokyo Electric Power Company. It decided to put ¥2.5 trillion for decontamination efforts in Fukushima, which should be done by TEPCO. It is also planning to spend ¥1.1 trillion for establishing intermediate facility for stocking radioactive debris, without any clear vision of building final facility in somewhere in Japan.

Those measures are all based on tax money collected from ordinary people in Japan. The government is too enthusiastic in saving TEPCO to take sufficient measures for people suffered from an accident caused not only by natural disaster, but manmade error.

Not Predicting Public Office Breakdown

If an earthquake with magnitude 7 occurs directly under Tokyo metropolitan area, 23 thousand people will die and it will cost ¥95 trillion or $922 billion. The Central Disaster Prevention Conference in the Cabinet Office released its estimation on the impacts of great earthquake, which is with a likeliness of 70% within next thirty years. Although it is apparent that the functions of national capital need to be distributed to other areas in Japan to avoid fatal shutdown of the state, politicians and bureaucrats are ridiculously reluctant to take measures.

Fire would cause 70% of the deaths. It is likely that electric heaters covered by combustible materials fallen from walls or closets ignite fire in every houses after blackout, caused by the quake, would be recovered. Fires may lead to a greater catastrophe, when it spread to gas supplying networks laid underground all over the metropolitan area.

Economic impact can be paralleled with annual budget of the nation. One half of economic losses may stem from breakdown of houses and offices. The rest would be brought with paralyzing of economic activities. Supply chain including transportation system will be cut down and stock market will not work with long time loss of electricity. Although major companies are positive in making plans for disseminating offices and factories to other area in Japan, small and medium size companies cannot afford to do it.

The most ridiculous is that the estimation does not predict shutdown of the Prime Minister’s residence, where situation room is located. “Land base of central Tokyo is stable and there will be less opportunity for public office buildings to suffer from the quake,” the report unbelievably said. Not learning from September Eleven when President George W. Bush considered to command in anywhere else far from the White House, the government of Japan does not prepare alternative PM Office. The lesson of the Great East Japan Earthquake was that the unpredictable could happen.

Bureaucrats are highly reluctant to live in rural place, where their career as elites makes no difference. A number of national college students want to be bureaucrats, because they can live in Tokyo forever. So, they have little idea to transfer their offices from Tokyo. In spite of the National Diet Transfer Law was activated over twenty years ago, the government has not decided where functions of the capital should be moved to.

A crucial problem of this bureaucracy is their mindset of infallibility. Their minds consist of a notion that the unpredictable will never happens. Some believe that they can survive even if all the people are eliminated. Mammoth was terminated because their tusks were too big. Japan may be terminated with too big bureaucracy.

Isolated Governor Steps Down

The Governor of Tokyo, Naoki Inose, submitted a letter for his resignation to the Chairman of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly on Thursday. After consecutive question from the assembly members on his reception of ¥50 million from a hospital group, Tokushukai, Inose realized that he could not escape from his guilty. That will never be a final solution of the money scandal. Looking into how he decided it, one can find complicated connections between politics and the money scandal.

In June 2012 when he was a vice-governor, he required Tokyo Electric Power Company to sell its own hospital at the annual stockholders meeting. The Metropolitan Government of Tokyo is one of the biggest stockholders of TEPCO. TEPCO decided to sell it on October. Tokushukai joined the auction of buying the hospital this summer, but failed. Those are the facts.

The explanation of Inose made no sense in many ways. He said that he had not talked about the hospital, when he received the money from Tokushukai last November. However, there appeared to have been a conversation about the hospital, as confession of arrested families of Tokushukai was revealed. It is guilty in Japan for a government person to receive money from someone who has an interest on something to what he/she has authority.

The main reason why Inose turned his attitude to stepping down was an advice from former Governor, Shintaro Ishihara. Inose met Ishihara on Tuesday to consult about his future. Ishihara recommended resignation, because Inose seemed to be impossible to make credible explanation on receiving money. But, Ishihara was the Governor when Inose required TEPCO to sell the hospital. Didn’t Ishihara have responsibility to oversee what his vice-governor was doing?

Ishihara had visited the office of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hours before Inose made his mind up on Wednesday. Ishihara and Abe agreed with the notion that Inose needed to step down. Abe showed his wish for quick solution not making the scandal affect to preparation for Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020. Looking at harsh investigation of assembly members of Liberal Democratic Party, which once supported Inose at gubernatorial election last year, Abe cannot be said to have nothing to do with paving the way for Inose’s resignation.

After all, Inose was nothing affective for everyone in current authoritative powers. TEPCO must have been frustrated with oppressive governor who required selling its property. His scandal was inconvenient for Ishihara, who has been doubted about his own relationship with Tokushukai. Abe wanted to save the Olympic, to which he devoted great energy. No one wanted to help Inose.

Emergency Landing or Crash

A helicopter affiliated with Atsugi Base of the United States Force fell down on a clamed land in Miura city, Kanagawa, in the afternoon of Monday, injuring two of the four men aboard. Although there was no damage on residents, Japanese media, as usual, criticized delay of information from U.S. military. While all media dealt the incident as emergency landing, it is still not clear that the incident was actually so or a crash.

The helicopter was MH-60S Seahawk, which was a carrier-borne aircraft of U.S.S. George Washington. According to fire department of Miura city, one crew explained that they had been unable to control the aircraft due to malfunction of devices. Newspapers and TV reported the body of helicopter laid on the soil, which propeller was removed and broken. The scene obviously described that the accident was not an emergency landing, but simply a crash. Nevertheless, Japan media reported it as emergency landing, along with the announcement from the authority, making contrast with Stars and Stripes describing it as a crash.

While the place was three hundred feet away from residential area, there was no victim among the civilians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent U.S. Embassy in Japan a regret on the accident. U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, visited the city office of Miura next day and apologized about the accident and promised further investigation for prevention of another accidents. Concerning negative sentiment against exclusive investigation of U.S. military on their accidents in Japan, U.S. force and Japanese police exercised joint operation in controlling the area around broken helicopter.

However, delay of disclosure was raised as usual in this accident. The first report to Kanagawa prefecture was not from U.S. force, but from a witness of the crash. U.S. Force reported the accident ten minutes later and the information about the type of the aircraft was provided three and half hours later. The guideline for improving exercise of Japan-U.S. Status of Force Agreement requires immediate report on an accident as soon as it is found.

Frustrated with delay of information disclosure, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, mentioned possible request for reviewing the Agreement on Tuesday. However, it is unlikely for U.S. government to accept it, because the Agreement is nothing strange from the agreements with other nations, including Germany or South Korea. The accident showed the inability of Japanese government in securing ordinary life of the people, while it had been emphasizing the necessity of oppressive legislation in order to protect people’s lives.

National Security Strategy

The Cabinet led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe determined National Security Strategy for the first time in the history of Japanese government. The strategy is, in short, enhancing capability of Self-defense Force to counter potential threat of China and North Korea. In the concept of the strategy, the people are subdued under control of the government. It is fair to say that Japan started preparing for war, which the nation must once have abandoned as a measure of solving international conflicts.

On China, the strategy notifies the equivocal expansion of military capabilities. “Based on its unilateral argument incompatible with international legal order, China is showing an attitude that can be recognized as forcibly changing status quo,” it criticized. North Korea is described as a problem of the world society as a whole. “Development of ballistic missiles with capability of reaching the mainland of the United States, downsizing nuclear weapons and attempts of loading them on missiles are making the threat on regional security substantially serious,” it argues.

To counteract those problems, the strategy required easing regulation on weapons export. Practically abolishing three principles for arms export, prohibiting arms sales to countries of communism, with sanction by the United Nations, or in international conflict, the government is setting new standard of arms export. It also stressed strengthening diplomacy, constructing comprehensive defense posture, securing territory, maintaining maritime security, enhancing cyber security and so on.

Reminding of the pre-war regime, the strategy strangely inserted patriotic sentences requiring the nation of fostering love for the country and homeland. Overestimating threats around, the administration is trying to overturn people’s sovereignty into sovereignty of bureaucracy. It definitely leads this nation to be separated between leaders and followers. That is what they want.

To enhance military leadership, the cabinet also reviewed National Defense Program Guideline. To achieve integrated operation of the Self-defense Forces of ground, sea and air, it created a concept of integrated mobile defense power, in which they possess sufficient quality and quantity to enhance deterrence and manageability. Supposing China’s landing on small islands in border area, namely Senkaku Islands, the guideline plans to establish amphibious mobile groups. It is nothing but a preparation for actual collision with neighbor countries.

Without precisely elaborating intention and capability of China and North Korea, the renewal of security strategy will raise tension in the region.

Big Buy of Real Estate

It is an unprecedented real estate project by the national government of Japan. Ministers of Environment and Reconstruction offered the Governor of Fukushima buying huge land around broken First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant to preserve land for “temporary” facilities to storage radioactively contaminated debris. The residents who sell the land will not be able to return home for decades at least. Two years and eight months after the accident happened, the national government at last embarked on controlling the area forever as in Chernobyl.

The land necessary for the facility project is as big as 4,700 acres. The government wants to buy it with $10 billions from landlords in the towns of Futaba, Okuma and Naraha, where no residents had return back to the houses. The facility will be able to contain 12,300 cubic feet of contaminated debris, including soils scraped from towns, grasses and leaves collected from the forests or cloths with which they wiped their houses and buildings.

With no place to stock the debris, decontamination has been making slow progress. Building stock facilities has been the most necessary measure to guarantee the people in Fukushima stable life without fear of radioactive effect. Most people expect apparent improvement in the decontamination effort after the facilities are built.

Because the land will be used mainly for the facilities, residents around need to get other places to live. Most people have been living outside of the towns in temporary houses or already decided not to get back home. It becomes more difficult to maintain local community in the way they had before the accident. It is even possible that those three towns will disappear from the map of Japan.

It even is unclear whether the facilities are really “temporary.” They are recognized as stockyards until radioactive debris will be sent to other places for final solution. But there is no viable plan for it so far. The government promised that it would make a law for determining building final facilities outside of Fukushima prefecture. Since it is a story for decades later, the implementation is quite not guaranteed.

The government of Japan has been telling that all refugees would be returning home some day. The policy of buying lands is a big change, forcing the residents to abandon their homes. True meaning of this policy change is that an unpredictable nuclear disaster can create sterile soil forever. Promoting resumptions of halted nuclear power plants fundamentally contradicts with the solid fact of danger of nuclear reactors.

It’s the Economy, Stupid

In the Clinton for President 1992 office in Little Rock, there were three slogans hung on the wall: “Change vs. more of the same,” “The economy, stupid,” and “Don’t forget health care.” While it was not clear that similar version of the two of them, “China vs. more of the same” and “Don’t forget America” were in their strategy, “The economy, stupid” must be the primary message of Association of Southeast Asian Nations toward Japan. In the leaders meeting in Tokyo, Japan could not achieve an agreement with description of “air defense identification zone.”

The joint statement stressed an agreement on reinforced cooperation for free aviation and securing safety of private airlines. It also noted the importance of solution for conflict with peaceful measures and of cooperation for free and safe navigation in the sea and air, regarding problems of China’s assertion for territory in East and South China Sea. However, it did not specifically target the issue of ADIZ set by China in East China Sea, with consideration of some nations that had close ties with China.

In the press conference, Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, required China dismissal of the zone, which might only erode Japan’s status, if China would keep on ignoring that massage. Abe meanwhile requested a top leaders meeting with China to talk frankly. Unrealistic messages will undermine his credibility in diplomacy. Concerning further antagonism, Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, urged Japan to have good relation with China, saying it as critical for the future of the region.

Good news for ASEAN was Japan’s commitment to $100 millions for Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund, which would be used for supporting ASEAN economic integration by 2015. Japan also announced its official development assistance worth $20 billion for five years in infrastructure for disaster prevention. For unimpeded economic development, Asian nations expect consecutive assistance from Japan. For Japan, ASEAN nations are alternative choice of investment to unstable China. Economic relation between Japan and ASEAN is getting tighter than ever.

So, it’s economy for ASEAN when it sees the future of its relationship with Japan. Even how Abe emphasizes “value diplomacy,” of which some may remind wartime cause of Japan aggression, Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere, the words will not remain in the mind of Asian leaders. According to a report of Asahi Shimbun, Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said “Can you tell it the United States, too?” when he was asked by an Japanese official of stopping submission to Chinese government of flight plan in the ADIZ. If Japan loses economic grip on Asian nations, its political standpoint in the region will steeply decline.

Urgent Execution

As facts appear, it gets clear what is going on in North Korea. The despotic leader, Kim Jong-un, executed his suspected uncle, Chang Song-thaek, with extreme urgency after sentencing death penalty. Newspapers in Japan predict stricter tyranny of Kim, unleashed by disappearance of his guardian. Well, obstacle was removed. Can he lead that mostly failed country, anyway?

Korean Labor Newspaper released a picture on its webpage, which showed Chang entering in military courtroom. Hanging head, looking pale and his arms held by court officials, Chang was supposed to be harshly lynched. Media in South Korea found that he was shot to death soon after sentenced in the tribunal.

All those open cruelties on him must be lessons for potential enemy against concentrated power in the regime. There are thousands of people in the regime, who are categorized as close to Chang. They are going to be the target of purge. Three thousands of people were stripped of ranks, ousted, or executed, when Hwang Jang-yeop, one of the closest aides of the national father, Kim Il-soon, exile himself to the South in late 1990s. There will be more number of victims this time.

This cruelty will bring the nation back to the governance of terror, along with consecutive show trials and open executions. Because the suspicions on Chang included inappropriate activities using his political power, the leadership will strictly accuse “injustices” in the regime to reinforce its political basis. That is how that tyrannical regime has survived. To maintain Kim dynasty, the leaders sometimes excluded family members of Kim. It is a big question that how two brothers of Kim Jong-un will be treated in North Korea.

By removing bad factor of corruption, North Korean economy needs to be better than past years. However, there is no positive sign of improvement. With strict regulation on economic activities, namely in the area close to the border with China, merchants are disappointed to the slowdown of modernization of North Korea’s economy. Introducing China-like economic reform, which China has been seeking as a way for engaging the North to the world economy, is losing ground with current political disturbance.

Losing a guardian who was against assertive diplomacy with nuclear tests and missile launching, Kim Jong-un is going to be aggressive on intimidating neighbor countries. But the situation in Northeast Asia has quickly been changed by China’s maritime assertiveness. Even if the North adopts traditional brinkmanship policies, there is no guarantee to achieve a preferable result. Then what are they going to do?