Never Apologize

As the greatest event of his state visit to United States, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a speech at the joint session of U.S. Congress on Wednesday. He inserted reflection over the past war in the phrase reading “we started out on our path bearing in mind feelings of deep remorse over the war.” However, he rejected mentioning “apology” as former Prime Ministers, Tomiichi Murayama and Jun-ichiro Koizumi, did in their memorial statements. It is unlikely for him to express sincere remorse to Asian nations.

Enthusiasm over Abe’s speech in Japan was excessive. Newspapers introduced on the pages his entire speech with English translation. TV made live coverage in the midnight. Tokyo Shimbun criticized Abe’s unfairness in translation of his speech. While he used the same words of “deep remorse” as he included in Jakarta speech last week, Japanese translation of them was something close to “poignant remorse,” pretending to be more serious about history.

For Abe, the speech in the joint session of Congress was his great justification of his political stance. He wrote in his book about the days with his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. Riding on the back of his grandfather in a room of Prime Minister’s Official Residence, he reiterated saying “we oppose security treaty” as same as the chanting of protesters he heard from outside the building. He was instructed by his father, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Shintaro Abe, to say “we approve.”

That is why approving the security alliance between Japan and United States is important for Abe. Living with criticisms on security treaty with U.S. was days of infamy for Abe. To let the people approve Japan-U.S. alliance is not only a political agenda he embraces, but an important target of his family.

His elaboration on the history of the alliance included a serious misunderstanding. He described that criticisms on possible involvement in war stemming from revised bilateral security guidelines was wrong labeling and Japan had been peaceful without any war after having the security treaty with U.S. But, Japan has already been involved in a war of U.S. Prime Minister Koizumi decided to join Iraq War, even if it had been logistic supports, with wrong guidance of President George W. Bush on existence of weapons of mass destruction.

Whether his country will be dragged into unnecessary trouble does not matter with Abe. He just wanted to say that Japan was not so seriously wrong both in the wartime and post war era. Consequence will be apparent. His attitude only delays final solution of the problems between Asian nations.

Satisfied with Hospitality

They called it warm hospitality. President of United States Barack Obama welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his office building painted white in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. Obama showed Abe around memorial building for his adoring former President Abraham Lincoln the previous day. In the joint press conference after the business meeting, Obama called Abe “Shinzo” as he had supposedly been instructed by his staffs and extended a long monologue on violence in Baltimore that had nothing to do with Abe. The Japanese did not diminish sober image on Obama as businesslike.

Trying to look friendly nice guy, Obama inserted equivocal Japanese language, Konnichiwa, at the beginning of his remark in the joint press conference. When he was stressing the importance of their bilateral alliance, he said “otagai no tame ni,” with translation of “with and for each other.” No one in Japan watching the live TV footage understood why he used Japanese language in that part of his speech. Simultaneous translator of NHK was apparently confused with unfamiliar pronunciation delivered from his mouth.

Abe responded Obama with calling him Barack as the first word on his turn. The reason was obvious to Japanese audience. He just wanted to say he could call American President in his first name as former Japanese Premier like Nakasone or Koizumi did. Delighted with Obama’s escort to Lincoln Memorial the day before, Abe tried to introduce his conviction for international peace in the way Martin Luther King took a half century ago. “We have a dream,” told Abe, “that is to create a world abound in peace and prosperity.” But, U.S. was still on its way, far before achieving international peace, to the dream that one day even the state of Maryland would be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

For Abe, this state visit to U.S., for the first time these nine years, is an opportunity to prove the legitimacy of his security policy, which has been controversial reinterpretation of the Constitution of Japan. The hospitality of Obama must have been nothing wrong at all. However, the revised U.S.-Japan security guideline was an outcome of close consultation between their staffs. On the other hand, both government could not reach a final agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership as they had always been.

After all, Obama and Abe showed no leadership to settle crucial issues such as relocation of U.S. Marine base in Okinawa or how to deal with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The meeting was almost nothing more than a ceremony for appealing the world that they were as generous as talking in partner’s language or calling each other in the first name as humans do.

Insufficient Edition of Alliance

Japan and United States agreed on building “seamless” cooperative framework for security in East Asian region, where China was emerging as a possible superpower. Annoyed with Chinese ships hanging around Senkaku Islands, the Japanese government recognized significance of the agreement as firm cooperation in defending islands, while U.S. welcomed Japan to the world of global disorder. This historical change of alliance was being made without consensus of both nations in the level of citizen.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Japan agreed with U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense on revised Guidelines for Security Cooperation of both countries on Monday. The guidelines listed actual operations in five categories: peacetime including gray-zone situation before contingency, situation with important influence on safe and security of Japan, measures against attack on Japan, collective defense for situation on the third party that affects Japan’s existence and major disaster in Japan.

Most of them looked to be measures for defending only Japan. However, U.S. would not have accepted unilateral agreement only benefitting the opposite. The true meaning of new guideline for U.S. is to let Japan involved in operations dealing with China. U.S. assumed that the Japanese would deal with threat from China by themselves with support of U.S. from background. In addition, Japan would be caught up with the quagmire in Middle East under obligation of collective defense, typically supposing a situation in need of sweeping floating mine in Hormuz Strait.

The point is whether new guidelines will be sufficient in possible events in Asia or the world. This bilateral agreement does not work for situation in South China Sea, where China has been building steppingstones with reluctance of Japan to be involved. China will easily notice U.S. intention not to be involved in small “rocks” called Senkaku, giving good reason for further advance. It is unclear whether the agreement will work for deterrence against China.

For this unreliable security framework, Japan paid a huge internal cost. By enabling collective self-defense, both governments completely broke down post-war pacifism of Japan. U.S. is only seeing short-term tendency of Japanese politics. However, right wing movement may spread with distorted nationalism in Japan, unleashed by reinterpretation, or amendment, of the Constitution of Japan.

Worst nightmare for U.S. may be Japan abandoning Western version of democracy and being closer to China for its survival. To maintain power in Asian region, U.S. needs to make sure that Japan will remain as a major democratic power sharing same values.

Uselessness of Party

Voters cast ballots for the second round of integrated local election on Sunday. While there were various agenda in economy, security reform or relation with neighbor nations, the results did not directly reflect approvals or denials to Shinzo Abe administration. Whether Abenomics was right or wrong, they did not have an alternative party, causing low rate in turnout. Parties are deteriorating Japanese democracy.

According to the data of Nikkei Newspaper, the party that obtained the biggest number in the elections for city assemblies except independents was Komeito, the coalition partner of LDP. Japan Communist Party and LDP followed it and Democratic Party of Japan lagged behind those three parties. Among huge number of independents, there must be candidates close to existing parties like LDP. However, the phenomenon showed a tendency of candidates avoiding negative response from voters on specific ideology or policy national parties upheld.

Among 295 city assemblies reaching to the end of members’ term, 3.58% of all the seats were determined without election, because running candidates did not exceed the quorum. 27 mayors out of 89 cities were also elected without voting. Being frustrated with daily news about political deterioration, however, politics for Japanese people is something to be done by someone. Not only disappointed to current politics, they think politics cannot be changed by election.

A few exceptions can be seen in mayoral elections in Tokyo. In Setagaya, incumbent mayor Nobuto Hosaka, former lawmaker with Social Democratic Party, turned down the challenge of a candidate supported by LDP and Komeito. Hosaka firmly appealed necessity of eliminating nuclear power plants. In Shibuya, Ken Hasebe with support of incumbent mayor defeated two candidates, one of which was supported by LDP and Komeito and another was by DPJ, Innovation and SDP. All major parties were lost to Hasebe, who declared to succeed gay marriage policy of the incumbent.

Those elections in Tokyo showed a candidate with unique policy could overcome political influence of parties. In other words, national parties cannot salvage small voices in local community. That separation between Tokyo and the local is harmful for democracy. Although political parties have to reflect local voices to national policies, what they are actually doing is backing up bureaucrats in Tokyo coercing their policies to local people, typically shown in Okinawa or Fukushima. Expectation to party is shrinking year by year.

Leaving Drone Two Weeks

A forty-year old man was arrested on Saturday with suspect of dropping a small four-propeller drone on the roof of the Official Residence for Prime Minister. Suspicion on him was forcible obstruction of business. What kind of business did he disturbed, anyway? According to the record of his blog, he dropped it about two weeks before. Prime Minister and his staffs had been in business as usual during that period until it was found. Actual crime the man committed must have been defamation on the government of Japan, which failed in commanding the air above Prime Minister’s head.

As if deriding at weak security and losing mind of law enforcement, the suspect, Yasuo Yamamoto, turned in to the police in Fukui on Friday. He admitted that he dropped the drone on the roof of Premier’s official residence and it loaded radioactive soil retrieved in Fukushima. He explained the motive as appealing necessity for getting rid of nuclear power generation. He left his house in Fukui on the 8th of this month and arrived Tokyo late at night. Then, he flied his drone to the dark sky before the dawn of next morning and failed in landing it on the garden of the residence. Losing his drone, he got back home.

The important fact was that Yamamoto had been uploading his attempts on his blog page. He reported the situation of his activity in Tokyo and the fact he lost his drone around Prime Minister’s residence. Police could not only find his writings, but the fallen drone on the top of the building for two weeks. Different from White House in Washington, D.C., Prime Minister’s residence had no watchmen on the roof.

Yamamoto was formerly a member of Air Self-defense Force. After quitting his job at a firm in Fukui last summer, he was involved in his blog, in which he frequently uploaded negative opinion on resumption of nuclear power plants in Japan. Fukui has most reactors in its area in any prefecture. However, Yamamoto did not join anti-nuclear movement, calling himself a lone wolf.

Prime Minister’s Official Residence is actually working office of him located alongside of National Diet Building in Tokyo. It is surrounded by tall office buildings, from which windows people can easily see what is going on around the building Prime Minister is working. The drone incident revealed poor security around the center of political power of Japan. While the government is considering how to regulate the same kind of devices that can easily penetrate, others are approaching the core of Japanese government. What if they are not the Japanese, but foreigners?

Two Interpretations on Nuclear Security

Kagoshima Regional Court dismissed a lawsuit by the residents around Sendai Nuclear Power Plant owned by Kyushu Electric Power Company demanding suspension of resuming operation of two reactors in the plant. Against the argument of plaintiffs that new regulatory standard on nuclear power generation was insufficient, the court concluded the standard had no irrationality. The decision was totally different from the decision made by Fukui Regional Court on Takahama Nuclear Power Plant two weeks ago. There is still no reliable criterion about nuclear power generation in this land devastated by crucial accident four years ago.

Twelve plaintiffs living in Prefectures of Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Miyazaki claimed that possible maximum quake calculated by Nuclear Regulation Authority was not valid, because four nuclear power plants in Japan experienced five earthquakes that exceeded the maximum. They required KEPCO stopping the resumption of two reactors planed for July.

Chief Judge, Ikumasa Maeda, dismissed the argument with his recognition that new standard considered regional specifics. On possibility of catastrophic eruption of volcano around the plant, Maeda realized very few possibility of it. “I cannot see any concrete opinion of experts that indicate growing danger,” told Maeda. He concluded that safety measures for Sendai Plant were achieved.

The sentence invited broad questions on judicial analysis on nuclear safety. The sentence of Fukui Regional Court recognized five cases of exceeding possible maximum quake as evidences of unreliability for the calculation. The significance of Fukui’s decision was acknowledgement of “personality right” of residents for their comfortable life, which was prioritized over economic activities. It refused shying away from the responsibility of judicial branch for making decision on slight possibility of the same level of accident as in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.

KEPCO is looking forward to resuming the reactors in Sendai as soon as possible. However, thirteen nuclear power plants out of fifteen in Japan are in the process of lawsuits requiring suspension of resumption. Power companies have been putting pressure on plaintiffs requiring deposit for compensation for a possible loss with extending resumption, if they would win the lawsuits. In the testimony in the court, KEPCO demanded the deposit for ¥550 million for a day caused by stopping two reactors in Sendai. Power companies do not hesitate blackmailing people for their nuclear power generation.

Difference Matters

In the speech commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of Bandung Asia-Africa Conference in 1955, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a speech to the world that Japan would be contributing peace and prosperity in forward looking manner. On the recognition of history during and after Second World War, he expressed “deep remorse” without mentioning “aggression” or “apology.” So, what did he want to say about the remorse?

His speech was focused by some countries as a draft of his speech in United States Congress later this month or seventieth anniversary statement in this summer. In his address in Jakarta, Abe stressed injustice of unilateral advance with military power, based on his recognition of power projection of China in East and Southeast Asia. “We should never allow to go unchecked the use of force by the mightier to twist the weaker around,” told Abe.

The possible question was “So, what did Japan do in the war?” That was because he needed to say something about the deed of Japan in the war. “And Japan, with feelings of deep remorse over the past war, made a pledge to remain a nation always adhering to those very principles throughout, no matter what the circumstances,” said Abe in the speech, partly following the phrase in Murayama Statement in 1995.

But the point was not about “deep remorse.” It was whether Abe would recognize the history as Japan’s aggression and apologize about it, which both Murayama Statement and Koizumi Statement in 2005 included. Abe rejected that. He just expressed “feelings of deep remorse over the past war.” It was unclear which aspect of the war did he feel remorse. Was it the decision of opening war against United States, maneuvers by military section of the government of Imperial Japan, or something else? The biggest problem of his speech in Jakarta was that he invited new skepticism on his remorse over Japan’s aggression, which had already been a fixed concept among historians.

China and South Korea was apparently not satisfied with Abe’s speech. South Korean Spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep regret” on Abe speech. “We hope Japan to be careful about concerns of the countries around and deliver message directly facing the history,” told Chinese Foreign Minister, Wan Yi. Abe’s speech seemed to have achieved nothing in the relationship with those important neighbors.

Very next day of Abe speech, three ministers of Abe Cabinet visited Yasukuni War Shrine, irritating China and South Korea again. Abe made no effort to refrain them from visiting the shrine, in spite of his authority to do that. Lack of seriousness for improving the relationship disturbs the efforts of ordinary citizens to be closer each other.

Smiles Tell

The biggest thing they exchanged was smile. Taking opportunity of the sixtieth anniversary summit commemorating Bandon Conference in 1955 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday. Japanese media focused on improvement of the bilateral relationship shown in frequency of their meetings held again in five months from the last one. Because of fundamental difference of expectation on the meeting, they performed as if they were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting without any substantial achievement.

TV reports kept on comparing footage of the greeting of two leaders with the last meeting in Beijing. Xi accepted Abe in a hotel room with delighted smile, making clear contrast from sober appearance and hesitation to face Abe in the last one. Newspapers ran a headline stressing that they had agreed with improving the relationship, in spite of complicated issues between them.

Why did Xi showed a smile to Abe? It would be interpreted as winner’s smile. Xi was apparently satisfied with success in establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank with all the major countries except United States and Japan. For the Chinese, those active participation was a clear endorsement of the world that Asian champion in international finance was China, not Japan staying behind America. Xi was generous enough to offer Abe early participation of Japan to the new framework.

So, why did Abe also smile? The reason was not about international politics, but domestic one. Abe has been exposing himself to harsh criticisms inside Japan on his negative handling in relationships with China and South Korea. Even U.S. blamed him of rigorous attitude in interpreting post-war history. The message in Abe’s smile was “Well, I can meet him, you know, and maintain good relationship with U.S.”

Their smiles do not guarantee future progress. Abe is going to deliver a statement for the seventieth anniversary from the end of war this summer, which can deteriorate the bilateral relationship with lack of appropriate expression on the past. Xi will face internal pressure of accusing Abe as a revisionist leader along with the events everywhere in China commemorating the seventieth anniversary of victory in the War against Japan.

While improvement of the relationship will work for the Chinese as an evidence of leadership in Asia, Japan will gain nothing from it, because the progress will be nothing more than recovering something missed. If Japan’s huge gamble called Abenomics fails, it will be a nightmare for the Japanese.

Mutilation of Security Legislation

Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito agreed on the basic concept of new security legislatures on Tuesday. In the latest session between negotiators of both parties, LDP accepted firm insistence of Komeito on requirement of agreement from both Houses of National Diet for the activities of Self-defense Force in advance. That was an only achievement Komeito secured. In the situation of exercising collective self-defense right and supporting friend troops for protecting Japan, the legislations do not strictly demand any approval from the Diet before the operation. Mutilated laws are supposed to be passing the Diet this summer.

In the discussion of those two leading parties, new legislatures include International Peace Supporting Act, Important Affective Situation Safety Securing Act and amendment of Military Offensive Situation Law. They reached a structural agreement of those legislatures before the final agreement between Japan and United States on revised security guidelines later this month.

International Peace Supporting Act is to enable the government of Japan to send self-defense force anywhere for logistic support as it did in U.S. operation in Afghanistan or Iraq. To avoid delay of dispatch with political struggle, LDP was reluctant to include the provision for Diet’s approval before the order. Komeito needed an achievement in the coalition to persuade voters in the ongoing campaign for local elections.

The achievement of Komeito was nothing but to pretend itself to be standing still in the coalition. It was proved by the fact that other legislatures were mostly mutilated. In the dispatch of self-defense force with other two laws, Prime Minister, as the supreme commander, needs to get the approval from the Diet. But, he or she can also do that with an ex post facto consent in emergency. It does not work as a brake against discretional use of force by the government.

The leading parties are supposing a case of exercising collective self-defense in the operation of self-defense force in Hormuz Strait to support U.S. military. However, admitting collective self-defense right is not needed for supporting other force, but for protecting members of self-defense force from arresting by Japanese police after coming back from foreign land. Supportive operation is possible enough in current laws. U.S. has to understand that security legislature considered in Shinzo Abe administration is needed not for maintaining the alliance, but for implementing the unprecedented agenda of Prime Minister Abe.

Being a Beast of Burden

A project to rewrite traditional viewpoint of Japanese Prime Minister on recognition of past war is waning. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed his negative opinion in delivering Prime Minister’s statement at the seventieth anniversary from the end of World War II, if it would be making no difference from former statements. Skepticisms not only from China or South Korea, but from United States deterred Abe taking political adventure of revising history the world had already embraced.

In a satellite TV program of Fuji Television, Abe reiterated that he wanted to release his original idea on World War II, not just succeeding the official statement of former Prime Ministers. He raised reflection on the war, progress as a peaceful nation, determination for contributing peace for region or the world and how Japan would be for the future as the important elements in the statement. “How my idea makes difference is important,” told Abe, “If it is saying the same old things, the statement will be unnecessary. It will be a story about copying and delivering, or renaming.”

In January 2013, less than one month from the beginning of the second Abe Cabinet, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, announced that Abe would be delivering Abe statement at the seventieth anniversary in 2015. That was an idea of overwriting Murayama Statement in 1995, which admitted Japan’s colonial rule in Asia and expressed deep remorse and apology. Suga told that Abe Statement would be future-looking and fitting the twenty-first century.

As reaching the anniversary in this summer, China frequently requested Abe Statement to follow the viewpoint of former Premiers, indicating a possibility of making this issue another trouble in East Asia. U.S. responded to this issue to avoid unnecessary instability in the region. The true reason for U.S. Congress, supposing Chinese possible reaction against boasting of Japanese Prime Minister, to accept Abe’s request to have a speech at Joint Session was to contain Abe’s interpretation of history within the concept of former ones.

Realized as a troublemaker in Northeast Asia even by an important ally, Abe is having lesser options in his agenda. He reluctantly met with Governor of Okinawa to demonstrate his effort to improve the relationship between Tokyo and Okinawa. It was likely that he felt the frustration of Washington with no progress in relocation of U.S. Marine Airbase in Futenma. Government of Japan still discusses Trans-Pacific Partnership not in the context of geopolitics, but protecting national interest in free-trade framework. Under the leadership of a historical revisionist closing eyes to the world, Japan is becoming a beast of burden.

Walk This Way, Broadcasters

On Friday, Liberal Democratic Party held a hearing from Japan Broadcasting Corporation, or NHK, and TV Asahi about current doubts on fabrication of a program or unusual criticism on Shinzo Abe administration. Although it was a closed meeting, no one believed that the action was not aimed at oppressing inconvenient reports against the administration. Paying no attention to the criticism on deteriorated democracy, the administration is going further to be involved in media censoring.

NHK ran a documentary program called “Close Up Gendai,” in which it accused a new type of theft with false name obtained through religious ritual and deceived financial corporation to get money. But, the broker who instructed the man for the theft revealed that he was told by a producer of NHK to pretend to be a broker. The program was doubted as a fiction.

In “News Station” of TV Asahi, former bureaucrat in Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Yoshiaki Koga, abruptly interpreted the program and started denouncing Abe administration of bashing on him. He raised a panel reading “I am not Abe,” resembling the movement supporting French magazine assaulted by terrorists, “Je suis Charlie.” Koga believed that the end of his contract as a commentator in the program for the day was a result of pressure from Prime Minister’s Official Residence on TV Asahi.

At the beginning of the hearing, Chairman of Strategic Committee for Information and Telecommunication of LDP, Jiro Kawasaki, told that he held a doubt that the programs had twisted the truth. Kawasaki indicated to the reporters after the meeting that LDP would consider participating in Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO), which was run by NHK and private broadcasting stations for voluntary maintenance of moral obligation. As broadcasters hesitate in protesting aggression, Abe administration advances into detailed contents of TV programs.

Article 4 of Broadcasting Law demands every station to be politically neutral. The provision was determined with reflection of wartime intervention of the government in broadcasters, which was coercively to be supportive for the administration. Incident in NHK or TV Asahi was not made by a purpose supportive for specific political power.

If LDP intervenes in the programs of broadcasting station, it will be a violation of Broadcasting Law that requires political neutrality. In this administration ignoring the supreme law, Constitution of Japan, violation of a law for communication might be a trivial issue. But, this tendency will put Japan one step away from the world community of freedom and democracy.

Exporting Trouble in Democracy

Japan is not a country with rich natural resources as well as in land. That may be why the Japanese are serious about obtaining as much share of a pie as possible. For an outdoor party under cherry blossom with office colleagues, young businessmen occupy unnecessarily a huge space for their colleagues. They will be applauded, or even rewarded with more salary, by their boss. This loyalty is important for a Japanese to broaden the field of his life in this highly competitive society. Embarrassingly, he sometimes causes trouble with foreign people.

One article written by a German correspondent in Tokyo invited broad criticism on bureaucracy in Shinzo Abe administration. A correspondent of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Carston Germis, revealed hidden approach of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to the editorial staff for accusing Germis’s articles critical on Abe administration in his article on monthly magazine of Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan.

Japanese Consul General in Frankfurt visited a senior foreign policy editor in FAZ and complained about Germis’s article on Abe’s historical revisionism and raised an argument that China was taking advantage of those criticisms on Abe. “Pulling out a folder of my clippings, he extended condolences for my need to write pro-China propaganda, since he understood that it was probably necessary for me to get my visa application approved,” wrote Germis

Germis clearly denied that motivation with reasons that he had not needed to get visa from China. There was no evidence that the Consul General had provided with correct information. It is possible that the Japanese diplomat has undermined Japan’s national interest by planting foreign nations a sense of deteriorated democracy in Japan stemming from his inappropriate approach to foreign media.

It is not rare that Japanese diplomats are active in explaining Japanese viewpoints even as lobbyists. In Southern California, Consul General in Los Angeles keeps on telling local officers that Japanese government did not involved in recruiting comfort women, protesting against powerful lobbying of Korean-Americans around. But, Germis asserts that approaches of Japanese bureaucrats to foreign media have really been increasing in Abe administration.

It is apparent that Abe administration is promoting policies of putting national government over the people, as seen in oppression on Okinawa. Bureaucrats must be needed for that promotion. They are aware of their broader role in it. To achieve more field for their activity, more power in Japanese government and higher position in the hierarchy of Japanese society, bureaucrats show loyalty to Abe’s political agenda and work hard without any requirement from politics, even trampling democracy.

Making Okinawa Matter Worse

The regional leader of Okinawa expressed firm opposition to the national leader over self-determination in people’s ordinary life. After four months of rejection, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe accepted an offer of Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, to meet and discuss the relocation plan of Futenma Air Base of United States Marine Corp to Henoko coastal area in Nago City, Okinawa. Although the meeting produced no concrete agreement, the fact that Onaga directly send people’s opinion to Abe had a great significance for some points.

Firstly, Onaga’s words were clear and straightforward. “I will never let you construct new base in Henoko,” told Onaga, “and do not insist on a fixed idea that Henoko is an only place for it.” It was not the dialogue between political leaders in a polite and constructive manner, but an exchange of denouncements boxing fighters right before gonging.

Secondly, Onaga expressed his frustration against Abe administration with historical viewpoints. “We have never offered any land of Okinawa for U.S. bases in the past. Futenma or any other land was confiscated with guns and bulldozers. Having taken the land away from us, you say that the base is obsolete, it is the most dangerous in the world so that we need to owe it, or we have to offer alternative plan. Nothing is unreasonable than this,” said Onaga. His comment was based on the history of Okinawa as a sacrifice stone of Japan. Japanese government fought the biggest ground war in Okinawa to defend the mainland and left it under U.S. administration when Japanese mainland resumed its sovereignty with San Francisco Peace Treaty. Now, 74% of all U.S. bases in Japan are still concentrated in Okinawa.

Lastly, Onaga demanded Abe to tell U.S. President about the situation of Okinawa in the summit meeting later this month. While Japanese government has been posing pressure from America on Okinawa, it has never send the message from Okinawa to Washington. Knowing that Abe would not do that, Onaga is planning to visit Washington after Abe’s visit and ask changing current plan. The message of Onaga to Abe was “I will do that, if you do not.”

Abe reiterated official comments of the government. “Henoko relocation plan is the only option. We can agree with removing danger around Futenma Air Base. It is not be tolerated that Futenma will stay forever,” told Abe. Those statements had no effect of persuading the people in Okinawa, because Henoko relocation plan had already become a symbol of Japan’s oppression for them. Abe is simple making matters worse.

Looking Up Boost

Leaving two major customers, Japan and United States, flight AIIB took off the airport with fifty-seven passengers from all over the world. “The captain has turned off the fasten seat belt sign. However, we recommend to keep your seat belt fastened while you’re seated” was the figurative announcement from Chinese Ministry of Finance. On the ground, the Japanese are discussing whether the decision of not boarding was right, waiting for next flight.

Adding seven countries, including Sweden, South Africa or Israel, at the last moment, Chinese MoF proudly emphasized the popularity of new international financial framework, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Initial capital will amount to $100 billion. China will be the biggest donor for it. Former Alternative of Executive Director for China at World Bank, Jin Liqun, is expected to be the first governor of AIIB. It is undoubtedly China-led financial system.

Japanese government recognizes the move of Chinese government as a challenge against existing order led by U.S. The volume of founding members, which looked like catching up Asian Development Bank with sixty-seven members, amazed everyone in Japanese financial community. Newspapers followed China’s motivation for the bank, focusing on Silk Road Economic Belt. With the initiative, China is expecting to enhance communication between east and west end of Eurasian Continent.

Nikkei Newspaper reported the process how Japan abandoned being initial member of the bank. According its series of stories, China approached Japan urging participation to the bank. Top leaders of other nations, such as India or Germany, also recommended Japan to be involved in. Leaders of Japanese government, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, firmly believed that major European countries would not join, which was later proved to be a crucial misunderstanding. The paper unequivocally described the reason of Japan as consideration for American unwillingness.

Japan will keep on watching how the governance of AIIB will be determined. Discussion for agreement of establishment will be lasting until the end of June. Quota of initial capital, voting right in board of governors or policy for investment will be the focal points for Japan and U.S. While it is unlikely that current financial order topped by United States will immediately be overturned, relative decline of U.S. power in world order will become clearer than ever, if AIIB is working as an alternative of existing order. Japan cannot making its mind between old boss and new leader.

Bureau Chief’s Good Job

It was like a routine story of yakuza movie, in which a boss of mafia comfort his man who had committed a murder in a conflict against rival family, been arrested and detained for years as a scapegoat of the organization and released from the jail. Former Bureau Chief of Sankei Shimbun in Seoul, Tatsuya Kato, was released from South Korea on Tuesday. His first assignment in Japan in these nine months was visiting Prime Minister’s Official Residence and meeting with Shinzo Abe. The words Abe casted on Kato was “gokurousama,” or “good job” in English, which a yakuza boss would always use in that situation.

Seoul Central Regional Prosecutors Office indicted Kato with a crime of defamation of character, accusing his column article about scandal of President Park Geun-hye at the time of a major ship accident. The office barred Kato leaving the country last August and he had to attend trial in Seoul without going back home in Japan. “My pleasure is that questions are done in Japanese language,” told Kato to media reporters in Narita Airport, right after arriving Japan on Tuesday.

It was obvious that the law enforcement of South Korean government was excessive intervention in freedom of speech. Foreign correspondents in Seoul and Tokyo delivered statements demanding Kato’s release. United States government, with or without request from Japanese government, also had expressed concern on the treatment of the issue. Japanese newspapers reported that the release was based on a diplomatic consideration, notifying Park’s visit to U.S. late this year. South Korean Ambassador to Japan told that the decision was a signal of better relationship.

For Japan, Kato’s case became diplomatic solo homer with careless pitch of South Korea. Abe deleted familiar expression of “sharing fundamental values like freedom or democracy” from reference on South Korea in his annual policy speech to the Diet. Opposite parties criticized Seoul along with Abe, making opportunity for cooperation beyond the aisle. “It was naturally right in our point of view,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, on the decision of releasing Kato.

Abe must be delighted with the consequence Kato brought for diplomatic improvement with South Korea without any compromise from Japan side. “Take care of your health in following trials in Seoul,” told Abe, literally requesting further contribution to Kato. It is not usual for a man who was released from foreign countries to see Prime Minister. If Kenji Goto would have released from Islamic State, it was not clear whether he could meet with Abe and be rewarded on his hard experience. One concern is Japanese reporters’ crime in South Korea in order to get an opportunity to meet with Prime Minister of Japan.

Prosperity of Human Rights

Here came another unequivocal warning from the judicial branch on Japanese modern life dependent on uncontrollable technology on Monday. Fukui District Court sentenced Kansai Electric Power Company to stop the process for resuming two reactors in Takahama Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture. It stressed insufficiency of safety standard laid by Nuclear Regulation Authority. The decision literally dismissed the allowance by the authority for resuming its reactors. It appeared to be a sharp opposition between executive branch with specific interest and judicial branch standing on the side of ordinary people.

The sentence was very clear on the reason why the nuclear power plant could not trusted. It raised five examples of nuclear power plants in Japan, experiencing major earthquakes that had exceeded the assumable limit designed by each power company the latest decade. “The standard set by NRA was too loose to be rational and trustful, even if a plant passes it,” told the Chief Justice, Hideaki Higuchi.

Specifically on Takahama, Higuchi raise a list of negative elements, including possible breakdown of cooling capability with loss of external electric supply or vulnerability of used fuel rod pool. He also required fundamental revision in assumption of the greatest quake and necessary measures to acquire it and reinforcement of the pool to obtain efficiency for water supply in emergency.

Higuchi delivered a sentence to halt operation in Oi Nuclear Power Plant last year. Due to the appeal of KEPCO, the sentence was not finalized and the plant is in a situation of waiting for resumption. In the sentence on Takahama, however, the plaintiffs demanded provisional disposition and the court responded to them with their desirable conclusion. KEPCO cannot resume those reactors in Takahama until another court overturn the decision based on the dispute from the defendant.

KEPCO was appalled by the decision. “The game was extended endlessly,” told one officer of the company told Mainichi Shimbun. Chief Cabinet Secretary ignored the sentence, asserting that the safety standard of nuclear power plant in Japan was the strictest in the world and he well not change the course for resumption. Experts reiterated that the standard was scientifically appropriate.

But, the court was on the viewpoint of human rights. The sentence stressed the notion that possible danger of nuclear accident violated personal right. Higuchi required the standard to be based on the fact the Japanese had seen after the accident in Fukushima and dismissed the standard of KEPCO on Takahama to be “expectation on rareness of severe accident.” People are watching closely other decisions on other plants.

Japan Loves Hillary

It was just like an appearance of a Kabuki star on stage. Japanese media enthusiastically reported an official announcement of a Democratic candidate, Hillary R. Clinton running for U.S. presidential election next year. Major newspapers reported the news on the front page, just like telling new viable candidate for Japanese Prime Minister was found. It was disappointedly not that. Strange Hillary fever reflects baseless expectation of the Japanese for her to be next President of the United States.

Newspapers introduced Clinton as a former first lady of Bill Clinton administration and a former Secretary of State in Barack Obama administration, who firstly visited Japan in her tenure. As Secretary of State, she actually announced that Senkaku Islands were within the realm of Article 5 of U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, which was distortedly recognized by the Japanese as U.S. guarantee of siding Japan in a military collision between Japan and China. Media organizations look crazy about finding a connection between Japan and Clinton.

Asahi Shimbun ran a headline of “It’s Your Time,” a phrase which Clinton used for urging U.S. people new action. Mainichi focused on her performance of selling freshness, quoting her statement of introducing her new grandchild, new mail account and willingness for new relationship with media. Yomiuri reported negative aspect of her with episodes of her image of aloof or cold, indicating the paper’s expectation for Republican president. Tokyo quoted her comment of “Everyday Americans need a champion. I want to be that champion” in English, that might risk losing subscribers who had not obtained good score in English class.

Basically the expectation of the Japanese is for the first female president in U.S. But they will not be satisfied with any woman presidency. She needs to be typical white American woman with blue eyes and blond heir. Hillary passed that unnecessary test. Most male in administrative position in media organizations believe that Hillary is cute girl, embracing an image of her in younger age, which men who worked for her in Whitehouse or State Department never experienced.

The Japanese are happy enough to care for a political leader in other nations. Hillary’s standpoint close to Japan as Secretary of State was not for the Japanese, but for her political standpoint in U.S. The episode does not guarantee her unchanged engagement with Japan in her possible presidency. Republican Presidents have traditionally been closer to Japan than Democratic ones.

If Hillary could not make her presidency next year, the Japanese will disappointed for a day. They will not care it next day, anyway. That is why the news about Hillary in Japan is not political, but gossip.

Rather Defeat Than Winning

Quadrennial local election day appeared to be a driving force for the leading party. Liberal Democratic Party won all ten gubernatorial elections on Sunday. Party leaders including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were satisfied with the result, recognizing it as following wind to his political agenda. However, victory for LDP could not come without steep decline of Democratic Party of Japan. Weakness of the opposite parties diminishes diversity of Japanese democracy.

Structure of ten gubernatorial elections was unusually advantageous for LDP. Four winners out of ten received support from both LDP and DPJ. DPJ could not raise its own candidate in other four elections. Only two elections were actual battlefields between LDP and DPJ, in each of which DPJ lagged behind. All ten winners were incumbent governors. It can also be said that voters chose stability of politics by succeeding current situation, rather than strongly support LDP.

LDP also won four out of five mayoral elections in ordinance-designated cities, while DPJ took only one, Sapporo. In Forty-one prefectural congress elections, LDP took the first place in all congresses except Osaka. Voter turnout was extremely low, marking the historical lowest in four gubernatorial and thirty-seven congress elections. No voting was taken place in around thirty percent of all constituencies of gubernatorial congress elections, because of no candidate beyond designated number of seats.

Leaders of LDP expressed their hope for next election, especially election of the House of Councillors next year. “We are seeing the achievement of Abenomics. It will be a momentum for the election net year,” told LDP Secretary General, Sadakazu Tanigaki. But, its coalition partner, Komeito, reduced its seats in local elections. In Osaka, it reduced the seats in prefectural congress. Komeito is annoyed with reputation of abandoning to be a peaceful party by supporting Abe’s security agenda.

DPJ is in jeopardy of elimination, while the leaders are refusing to admit. “It was a great achievement that we won in Sapporo mayoral election, in which the leading and the opposite collided. We recognize this victory for a step to revitalizing our party,” told DPJ Secretary General, Yukio Edano, in the statement. This comment was intentionally distorted the overall results, ignoring the decline of the party not only in national elections, but in local elections. If the party cannot play a role for scooping people’s opinion against LDP, DPJ is valueless in its existence.

It was unclear whether it was victory or defeat for Osaka Restoration Party. Although it kept the biggest status both in Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City congresses, it is still not clear they can achieve the reform of merging the both governments later this year. Its leader, Toru Hashimoto, seeks support from Abe with his conviction of constitutional amendment, which Abe strongly wants.