ROK Confusion Goes On

Having received unprecedentedly broad anger from the public, President of Republic of Korea, Park Geun-hye, announced her intention of stepping down for the first time on Tuesday. Nevertheless, political conflict in South Korea does not show any sign of ceasefire, still struggling over impeachment of her. Prolonged confusion in South Korean politics makes Japanese governmental officials worried about implementation of accumulated bilateral agreements.

Prosecutors’ office in Seoul recognized conspiracy between Park and her long-time ally and indicted defendant, Choi Soon-sil, on handing confidential documents over or Choi’s coercive request of donation to a foundation. Park apologized on negative impact she put on politics in her press conference. “I agonized over what would be the right way every night. I would like to reveal my determination here today,” said Park.

However, South Korean politics was disappointed to her announced “determination.” Park told that she would follow the decision of Parliament on whether she should go or stay. “If the Parliament pave the way to contain confusion of politics of the nation in minimum and to hand my administration over stably, I will step down according to given schedule,” said Park.

The opposite parties in South Korea received her message as a strategy to avoid impeachment they were preparing. Doubting honesty of Park for resignation, three opposite parties keep on pushing the process to impeachment with some lawmakers against Park in leading Saenuri Party. Finding a sense of truth in the argument, the people in South Korea are still frustrated with Park’s handling of her scandal. It is unclear whether consecutive demonstration in Seoul will immediately be ceased.

Shinzo Abe administration in Japan is taking close look at South Korea. Japan is the chair country for trilateral summit meeting with South Korea and China scheduled on December 19^th and 20^th. While Abe has been designating the meeting as a springboard for his diplomatic policy, paralleling with the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin a few days before, it is not expectable for him to achieve any major progress in the trilateral relations.

Implementation of agreement on removing statue of comfort woman in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul is also worried about. If Park steps down, the agreement will lose its greatest driving force. Japanese Minister on Foreign Affairs, Fumio Kishida, could say nothing but “Both government need to implement the substances of agreement.” Discussion over Agreement on Currency Swapping, implementation of General Security of Military Information Agreement or cooperation for standing against North Korea is also slowing down.

Saving Time for Bills

Shinzo Abe administration made up its mind on Monday to extend current session of the Diet until December 14th. The leaders of Liberal Democratic Party required fourteen more days for some important issues, including ratification of Trans-Pacific Partnership or the bills for pension reform, to be passed. Some unexpected gaffes by some staffs of Prime Minister Abe in the Diet forced the leading party demanding unexpectedly long overtime. Political schedule within this year got tight, accordingly.

Abe had a meeting with President of Komeito, Natsuo Yamaguchi, on Monday, in which they agreed on extending the session, once planned to be ending on Wednesday, for fourteen days by a day before the top meeting between Japan and Russia in Abe’s home town. “Extending for fourteen days is appropriate, when we consider passing the bills for pension reform and TPP, with regard to important diplomatic schedule,” told Abe to Yamaguchi.

The discussion over pension reform was in confusion in the House of Representatives, caused by inappropriate speeches by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Yuji Yamamoto, which indicated coercive showdown for the pension bills before finishing discussion. Some LDP lawmakers thought that they might not have needed the extension, if Yamamoto had not made those careless speeches. Abe had to accept the requirement from LDP to compensate failures of a Minister in his Cabinet.

Careless speeches did not stop. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Koichi Hagiuda, who was known as a king of gaffe, accused the opposite parties as playing “rural pro-wrestling show,” making the opposite lawmakers furious. Minister on Okinawa and Northern Issues, Yosuke Tsuruho, supported discriminative wording of a policeman to the protesters in Okinawa, calling them natives. “I cannot decide the words as discrimination,” said Tsuruho, inviting broad criticisms.

The opposite parties are encouraged by own goals of Abe administration. “We oppose discussing bills that is against will of the people,” told Chairman of Diet Affairs Committee of Democratic Party, Kazunori Yamanoi. The opposite parties are planning to submit moves requiring resignation of Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, Yasuhisa Shiozaki, and Chairman of the Committee on Health, Labor and Welfare in House of Representatives, Hideki Niwa, both of whom are in charge of pension bills.

Focusing on the meeting with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Abe has no time to stay in a quagmire of lawmakers in the Diet. But, lacking concentration among his staffs, Abe administration looks like losing its power as it has been keeping. Dissolving House of Representatives is left as an ambitious option with high risk of steep decline.

Cyber Attack on JSDF

Some newspaper reported on Monday that Japan Ground Self-defense Force had been cyber-attacked by external someone. The target was high-speed information network with great storage capacity, called Defense Information Infrastructure, that connected GSDF bases and camps. A solid system developed by Ministry of Defense was breached with high-level information technology by organized groups. While exact scale of damage has not been determined, it is likely that internal information of GSDF was leaked.

The news was disseminated from Kyodo News Agency. It reported that some highly ranked officers with JSDF recognized the case as truly serious and required immediate measures to defend the system. “I cannot answer each individual case,” told Deputy Director General in charge of information security, Masakazu Saito. MOD prohibited use of internet inside the whole organization after it realized that cyber attack.

Why was that highly closed system breached so easily? The hackers supposed to have sneaked into the system through malicious access to computers in National Defense Academy and National Defense Medical College. The system of those two educational institutes is connected with whole system inside MOD and JSDF, and also with academic network to which other colleges in Japan participate in. Although internal network of DII is separated from external internet communication, each personal computer has been used for both networks switching between them. Hackers seemed to have taken advantage of the weakness.

So, what is wrong with the case? Firstly, JSDF is likely to have given away its top secrets to potential enemy. It should obviously be an organized crime, which requires certain amount of human resource and money, not a crime for personal fun. Although the damage has not been determined, JSDF has to refresh its information, based on a notion that whole information was stolen.

More seriously, JSDF lost its credibility on information security. The information JSDF possessed was not only about itself, but something related to its allies. It is supposed that what the hackers really wanted was not about JSDF but United States Force, a part of which stationed in Japan. Although Japan signed General Security of Military Information Agreement with Republic of Korea last week, information security of JSDF proved to be as safe as it should be.

What JSDF has to do immediately are to determine what kind of information was leaked, to rebuild security system for top secrets and to enhance credibility of allies with close communication. Even how the government raises security system for national defense, it will be meaningless with vulnerable cyber system. Before changing interpretation of the Constitution of Japan, Shinzo Abe administration needs to restore basic quality of JSDF.

Lamenting Fidel’s Death

An outstanding figure of anti-American movement in Latin America, Fidel Castro, died on Friday. He was 90. Having led the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and defeating pro-American administration of Fulgencio Batista, Castro maintained socialistic government in a major Caribbean island for decades. Losing a great icon, Cuban government focuses on economic reform and accelerate reconciliation with United States.

Newspapers in Japan introduced Castro as a charismatic leader who confronted American Presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama, pushing the world into an edge of nuclear war in Cuban Crisis in 1960s, or restricted human rights under his cause for revolution. Leading regional integration against United State in Middle and South America, seen in Alternativa Bolivariana Para America Latina in 2004 or Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños in 2011, Castro disseminated such socialistic welfare policies as free education or medication in Latin America.

Asahi Shimbun introduced an argument that what made Fidel a socialist had been United States. While Fidel Castro sought normalization of the relationship with U.S. right after Cuban Revolution, U.S. broke up diplomatic relationship with Cuba and brought Bay of Pigs Invasion, trying to defeat Castro regime. Mainichi Shimbun introduced comment of a Cuban man that Fidel was their supreme leader and Che Guevara their idol.

Fidel Castro informally visited Japan twice. In 2003, he visited Hiroshima and appealed that the tragedy should never be repeated again. A former staff of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum remembered Castro as received sentiment of the sufferers of atomic bomb. For them, Castro did not look like a charismatic revolutionary but a kind grandfather telling about preciousness of peace.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe released a message, in which he expressed sincere condolence on the news of death of prominent leader after Cuban Revolution. On his meeting with Fidel Castro in Havana this September, he was impressed with emotional speech on international affairs. “He led the revolution to a success and contributed to building new country focusing on medication and education, opposing inappropriate economic blockade by United States,” told Chairman of Japan Communist Party, Kazuo Shii.

It is expected that Cuba will make slow progress to reconciliation with U.S. under the leadership of Fidel’s brother, Raul Castro. Although U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump, is negative on sudden improvement of bilateral relationship with Cuba, Castro’s death is not likely to ignite confusion in anti-American movement in Latin America. An era of socialistic movement there may have ended.

Pension Reform Showdown

Two leading parties, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, with orphan Japan Restoration Party, coercively passed bills for revision of pension system in a committee in House of Representatives on Friday, which included new rule for reducing reward in the future. Although the opposite parties demanded thorough discussion on the basic welfare system of Japan, the leading coalition forced to conclude it. It is business as usual for Shinzo Abe administration to rely on overwhelming majority when a discussion cannot see the end.

New rule in the bills was to reduce payment to the recipients of pension system, when wage of contemporary workers would decline. Under the current rule, amount of pension payment can be maintained when workers’ wage is reduced, if commodity price were rising. To stabilize pension system, Abe administration plans to introduce new rule of payment reduction in 2021. The existing rule of macroeconomic slide, in which the payment is going to be reduced by 1% every year, will also be reinforced in 2018.

The opposite parties were against reducing payment with regard to poor situation of aged people dependent on pension system. “Abe administration does not see actual situation of aged people. If the payment is reduced, Japanese pension system cannot be working as it should be,” told Akira Nagatsuma, former Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare in a Cabinet led by Democratic Party of Japan.

Prime Minister Abe did not care about opposing opinions. In spite of the fact that the bill will actually reduce the payment, Abe insisted that the bill is to maintain the level of pension payment in the future. “New rule can secure fairness between generations and young agers will be comfortably support pension system for old agers,” said Abe in the discussion of Committee for Health, Labor and Welfare in House of Representatives.

As seen in every aspect of discussions in the Diet, Abe got short-tempered in the Committee. “If you do not understand my argument at all, this discussion is meaningless even how long we continue it,” said Abe. For him, lawmakers are at their seats only to approve his policy, making no difference from Kim Jong-un or some dictators in history. He participates in the discussion, answers to some questions, failing in persuading and rushing into showdown with majority power.

Politics is art of persuasion. Abe always pretends to be doing that, only resulting in failure. But, he has power of majority and do not hesitate to exercise it, especially in his second term. Consensus leaving discontents behind is vulnerable and tends to be turned down in the future.

LDP Blocks Agricultural Reform

As a collateral damage of death of Trans-Pacific Partnership, Liberal Democratic Party gave up its effort for reform of agricultural cooperatives. Newspapers reported on Friday that a project team in the party concluded its plan for the reform, which set no time limit to achieve it. One important political agenda of Shinzo Abe administration faced bitter setback.

Newspapers revealed a draft of the team for reform of National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, or Zen-noh, which included comprehensive revision of its mission and structure. Although a governmental commission for deregulation demanded Zen-noh of its fundamental restructuring, LDP lawmakers with interest in agricultural voters firmly opposed the reform.

While the commission required Zen-noh’s purchasing project, in which Zen-noh would intervene farmers’ purchase of machines or fertilizers, to be shrunk within a year, LDP project team dropped the time limit from the draft. To the proposal of halving the number of financial sections in Zen-noh within three years, LDP lawmakers also answered no. Plans for reforming management were left to Zen-noh’s voluntary efforts.

The commission regarded Zen-noh’s inherent role as promoting sales of agricultural products. For its purpose, it wanted Zen-noh to simplify its organization. LDP proposed that simplification through moving of human resource from one section to another. Procedure of cost-cut will be checked by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which is closely connected to farmers’ interest.

Abe has diligently been promoting agricultural cooperatives reform. “Reform of Zen-noh is cornerstone of agricultural reform. I need fundamental reform with a mind of establishing new organization,” told Abe in the meeting of the governmental commission. Chairman of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Section in Policy Research Council, Shinjiro Koizumi, was also active for the reform. However, LDP lawmakers made collective rebellion against reforming power.

It is apparently a consequence of Trump shock. United States President-elect Donald Trump declared to kill TPP on the first day of his presidency. While Abe thought agricultural reform is indispensable for introducing TPP to Japan, that agenda lost its cause. Strategy of Abe administration to promote Abenomics through the free trade framework was blocked by U.S. Lawmakers in LDP being worried about Abe’s determination to agricultural reform revitalized. Power balance between Abe and LDP may face little change.

Security Deal with Little Luck

The governments of Japan and Republic of Korea signed an agreement for sharing military information to deal with threat from northern part of Korean Peninsula, or General Security of Military Information Agreement, on Wednesday. In the midst of turmoil of Park Geun-hye administration with unprecedentedly major scandal, Japanese Ambassador to South Korea, Yasumasa Nagamine, and South Korean Minister of National Defense, Han Min-goo, signed in an undisclosed meeting in Seoul. Japanese government expect the deal to work for enhancing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s political agenda to expand military role of Self-defense Force.

Both governments made an attempt to sign it four years ago, when then-President Lee Myung-bak failed in persuading South Korean public and cancelled the concluding ceremony hours before it. Reminding of colonization by Japanese Imperial Army in World War II, the people in South Korea worried about advance of Japanese military into information network of their own country.

While both government and United States agreed on sharing information on nuclear and missile development of North Korea in 2014, Japan and R.O.K. could not share it because of absence of GSOMIA. “The agreement is very important in the time that cooperation between Japan and South Korea is getting important, when the issue of nuclear and missile of North Korea is a threat on different dimension,” told Japanese Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida. R.O.K. Ministry of National Defense announced that they would be able to share information obtained by Japan without detouring U.S., to enhance their ability of reconnaissance and to deter intimidation of North Korea with nuclear and missile.

With GSOMIA, Japan can expect sharing information on actual operation of U.S. and South Korea in a contingency in Korean Peninsula. If the people in the peninsula became refugees in a military confusion, Japanese government supposes that they need to do something with R.O.K. and U.S. government. New security legislature under Abe administration assumes that JSDF is going to rescue Japanese citizens in Korean Peninsula, when a contingency occurs. GSOMIA is expected to work for justification of new security legislation.

People in South Korea are still feeling uneasy. They are firmly opposing an operation that JSDF will be landing the peninsula. Leaking of important information from North Korean deserters is another concern for R.O.K. government. But, President Park led the deal for enhancing national security in a situation unnecessary for taking care of supporting rate for her, which was uncontrollably low. It was a little luck for Abe administration.

TPP Is Dead

Soon after the world leaders of major economies agreed on maintaining momentum for organizing international free trade framework, the incoming leader of United States rejected that concerted effort. U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump, announced on his social networking account that U.S. will step out of negotiation of Trans-Pacific Partnership on day one of his Presidency. The Japanese people were appalled: What was the first meeting of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with Trump in New York last week, in which Abe insisted on keeping U.S. in TPP framework?

In his video message, Trump insisted on his determination for his campaign promise, Make America Great Again. “Whether it’s producing steel, building cars, or curing disease, I want the next generation of production and innovation to happen right there, in our homeland: America – creating wealth and jobs for American workers,” said Trump.

The first target was an international trade deal. “I am going to issue our notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential disaster for our country. Instead, we will negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores,” declared Trump. This was the announcement of killing TPP and going forward to bilateral deals, possibly with China or Russia, even leaving allies behind.

To activate TPP, six or more countries with 85% or more amount of gross domestic products in Asia-Pacific region is needed. U.S. occupies 60% of total GDP in the region. It will be impossible for current 12 countries on TPP to activate it, if U.S. withdraws. It is also very hard to reshape the deal to include U.S. led by Trump. Japanese newspapers reported that TPP wad dead.

Cancellation of TPP will damage economic policy of Abe administration, which growth strategy has heavily been relying on TPP deal. “TPP is meaningless without United States. Fundamental balance of interest will be broken down,” told Abe to the reporters. Abe tried to persuade Trump to come back to TPP in New York meeting last week. He praised Trump as a “reliable leader.” But, Trump appeared to be unreliable leader for Abenomics a few days later. Poodle-like approach to incoming President turned to be in vain.

The opposite parties in Japan have been furious on Abe’s coercive attitude for ratification of TPP. “It is clear that TPP will not be activated. The meaning of discussion over TPP will be collapsed,” said Chairman of Diet Affairs Committee of Democratic Party, Kazunori Yamanoi. Director General of Social Democratic Party, Seiji Mataichi, demanded halting domestic process for TPP. Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, rejected to comment on Trump’s announcement in the meeting of TPP Special Committee in House of Councillors on Tuesday. But, the leading parties still insist on ratification of the dead deal.

Fighting Protectionism

Leaders of twenty-one major economies discussed how to keep momentum of free trade in Lima, Peru. The Leaders Declaration of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation countered every kind of protectionism, based on the notion that the world biggest economy turned its back to free trade. Unexpectedly being the frontrunner of Trans-Pacific Partnership without a major follower, Japan insisted on the merit of free trade to protect its domestic interest in manufacturing.

Trump effect could also be seen in this international meeting, because the policies of United States President-elect Donald Trump were against the achievements of APEC, making anyone hard to imagine that Trump is going to be in a picture with other leaders of APEC one year later. “Following the path established in the Beijing Roadmap for APEC’s Contribution to the Realization of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) in 2014, we reiterate our commitment to the eventual realization of the FTAAP as a major instrument to further deepen APEC’s regional economic integration agenda,” says the declaration.

APEC insisted on its effort to maintain fundamental structure of international trade. “We remain committed to using all policy tools – monetary, fiscal and structural – individually and collectively, to strengthen global demand and address supply constraints,” the declaration tells. “At the same time, we acknowledge that economies need to reach out to all sectors of our societies to better explain the benefits of trade, investment and open markets, and to ensure that those benefits are widely distributed,” adds the declaration.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe worked for maintaining momentum of TPP. “TPP produces free and just economic sphere. The benefit of free trade, in which effort brings reward, will be realized by the nations,” stressed Abe in the meeting. Not mentioning economic gap among the people in Japan, Abe required the leaders to make effort for persuading the people who believed in a theory that free trade worsened income gap among the people.

But, the news report rather focused on the interest of other leaders in the diplomatic debut of Trump in the meeting with Abe last week. “That was a shower of questions from other leaders,” told the assistant of Abe in the delegate of Japan. The eagerness of Abe to have the first meeting with Trump was ironically an approach to an incoming leader who upheld determined protectionism.

It Ain't Easy

Disappointment covered his face. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a meeting on Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Lima, Peru, taking opportunity of the leaders meeting for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. While Abe expected to pave the way to the peace treaty with settlement over dispute on Northern Territory occupied by Russia, Putin insisted on progress of economic cooperation without addressing territorial issue. Abe left words to the press: It’s not so easy.

As an introduction of the meeting, Abe welcomed Putin for the visit to Japan next month. They will have a meeting in Nagato, Yamaguchi, close to Abe’s hometown, on December 15^th, followed by discussion on economy in Tokyo next day. Putin evaluated progresses in bilateral dialogue after last meeting in September, in which they agreed on economic cooperation in eight points including energy production or technological cooperation in information technology.

While Abe showed his determination to make progress in the territorial issue, Putin was too cool to make Abe feel comfortable, refusing comment on the issue. Abe explained that they could exchange their opinion on Northern Territory at the second half of the meeting, which had been unable without individual credibility of both leaders. “Having been unable to settle for seventy years, negotiation over peace treaty is not so easy. Although we are paving the way to the conclusion, we need to climb the hills one by one,” said Abe to the reporters.

Abe told that he could realize actual way to make progress in the negotiation based on new approach after the meeting in September. Both governments had meetings over economic cooperation on officers’ level. Japan wanted to use economy as leverage for accelerating territorial negotiation. Some experts expected final solution in December and newspapers reported possibility of dissolution of House of Representatives early next year with positive impact of big achievement in Japan-Russia relations.

What had been in Putin’s mind was nothing but economy. Putin proposed mutual development in Northern Territory, including fishery or infrastructure, under Russian legislation. If Abe accept the offer as it was, it may mean recognition of Russian administration over the territory. Japanese officials know well about the intention of Russian side with no toleration on handing sovereignty over Kuril Islands.

Unfortunate enough for Abe administration, President-elect of United States Donald Trump cast shadow on the territorial issue. Russia does not need to worry about pressure from U.S. on the relation to Japan, because Trump expects direct deal with Russia regardless Japan. Russia does not have to make compromise with Japan for good control in Russia-U.S. relation. Expectation for progress next month is shrinking in Japan.

Ironical Absorption?

The Japanese are still wondering why the leader of modern democracy in the world has elected a man who ignored a fundamental principle of the people born equal or freedom of move beyond border. If it were a voting for popularity, Donald Trump would not have been raised for next President of the United States. One Japanese scholar on social science, Masachi Osawa, elaborated the phenomenon as “ironical absorption” on a page of Mainichi Shimbun.

Osawa resembled the movement of voting for Trump without firm support on the personality of the candidate collective crime of a cult group called Aum Shinrikyo in 1995. The members of Aum ridiculed their leader, Shoko Asahara, of his belief for Armageddon or creation of another world. However, they followed Asahara’s orders for chemical terrorism, while realizing it as fictitious conviction. That was somewhat close to the hidden supporters for Trump, believing themselves not as stupid as Trump or dismissing discriminative assertion of him.

In the interpretation of Osawa, ironical absorption is unconscious belief on a big shot, whom the followers deride in their mind. They are absorbed in someone without distinguishing joke from truth. Knowing discrimination to be politically incorrect, American people were tired of political correctness without preferable achievements. Eccentric speech of eccentric person should be working as a kind of catalysis for them.

Osawa sees frustration of the people with current economic system based on capitalism. “Inequality in capitalism is the most severe in all kinds of inequalities. For the people who lost job, whose income stays low, who are not needed or who are exploited, Trump looks like someone who can change the worst situation and does something abnormal,” argues Osawa.

Osawa does not expect any positive achievement in Trump’s policy like restriction of Islamic immigrant or denial of free trade. But, the choice of Trump is a road U.S. had to go through in the long run. Osawa predicts that U.S. will get back to the leftist side and a leader like Bernie Sanders will appear again. That movement can affect Japan, which is heavily depending on U.S. version of capitalism.

So, discussion over post-capitalism is inevitable in terms of ironical absorption. Osawa requires active discussion on how to build society after Trump phenomenon. As long as frustration with social gap remains among the people, demand for change will not be eliminated. This might be the beginning of a revolution.

Top Batter in Trump Diplomacy

Expecting first-come, first-served benefit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the room of United States President-elect, Donald Trump, on the top of a luxury tower in Manhattan on Thursday. They talked about friendship, golf or other chores of political leader, according to the information from Japanese media not based on official briefing. It was still not clear what was the benefit for Abe to meet Trump as the first national leader of the world after U.S. Presidential election.

Abe dropped in New York to meet Trump on his way to Lima, Peru, where the summit meeting of Asia-Pacific Economy Cooperation would be held. Security around Trump Tower was so heavy that Japanese media could not directly report the meeting. Abe left a comment that he was convinced in reliability of Trump as a leader. “It was a meeting in which I could have a conviction that Mr. Trump was reliable leader,” said Abe to the reporters. Trump was delighted with the starting of new friendship in his home, as he uploaded on his Facebook.

Japanese media mainly interested in two diplomatic issues, Trans-Pacific Partnership and bilateral security alliance. Mainichi Shimbun reported that Abe “seemed” to have explained how Japan-U.S. alliance contributed to peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region and insisted in the importance for maintaining free trade regime through TPP, to which Trump straightforwardly opposed in his Presidential campaign.

The experts in Japan on security issues focused on the fact that next Presidential National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, was sitting aside of Trump in the meeting. One official in Japanese government expected maintenance of traditional concept on security with notion of importance of Japan-U.S. alliance. For them, importance of the alliance implies not requiring Japan heavy burden for keeping U.S. deterrence in Japan as Trump reiterated in his campaign.

It could merely be a demonstration for Trump to ensure that he was able to deal with diplomacy, choosing a poodle-like allied leader for his first counterpart. Exchanging expensive golf gears, the performance looked like successful in convincing American people of his ability to sit and talk calmly. Trump took advantage of the opportunity for diplomatic debut not only for himself, but Flynn who was reportedly picked to NSA as soon as the meeting convened.

The opposite parties in Japan were frustrated with less information delivered. “Prime Minister has a responsibility for explaining what did he talk on TPP, which is discussed in the Diet now,” told Chairman of Diet Affairs Committee of Democratic Party. Communist Party also wondered what was talked on U.S.-Japan security, TPP or Paris Agreement on climate change. Achievement in the meeting is still unclear.

Changing Course to Amendment

Following the upper House, Commission on the Constitution in House of Representatives resumed the discussion over constitutional amendment on Thursday. Although conservative and restorative Liberal Democratic Party firmly argued that Constitution of Japan was coerced by General Headquarters of United Nations right after the World War II in House of Councillors, they backed off that argument in the lower House. Media recognized it as an effusion of seriousness for breaking the Constitution down.

LDP members of the commission did not emphasize their long-time argument of illegitimacy of the Constitution. “While it cannot be denied that GHQ was involved in legislative process of Constitution of Japan, basic principles of it has been settled among the people,” said Former Minister of Defense, Gen Nakatani. Nakatani proposed to succeed fundamental principles of the Constitution, sovereignty on the people, pacifism and respect for basic human rights, to the future.

It was Prime Minister and President of LDP, Shinzo Abe, who said that Constitution of Japan was created by twenty-five members of GHQ in a short period and it would be proper for us to discuss changing it. While LDP members of the commission in House of Councillors followed that notion, some in House of Representatives made different description. “Though it might not have been excessive, I cannot stand with an argument for repealing the Constitution for that reason,” said Hajime Funada.

After LDP changed the rule for presidential election, which made extension of Abe’s term possible, momentum for early settlement of constitutional discussion has been lost. Abe expected LDP lawmakers to carefully discuss the theme without connecting it to political struggle. Argument of coerced process is highly unpopular in its political ally, Komeito.

Opposite Democratic Party wants to slow down the discussion under the leadership of Abe administration. “Modern constitutionalism is to protect freedom or rights of the individuals. The draft of LDP shakes Japanese pacifism by establishing national defense force with collective self-defense right, erodes respect of basic human rights by changing ‘public welfare’ into ‘public benefit’ or ‘public order,’ and jeopardize sovereignty of the people by posing new obligation on the people for superiority of the state,” told Koichi Takemasa. DP required making a basic ground for the discussion for brewing consensus between the parties.

Constitutional Discussion Resumes

Commission on the Constitution in House of Councillors resumed its discussion on Wednesday after nine months of intermission since February. It was the first discussion after Shinzo Abe administration achieved two-third majority in both Houses in the election this summer. While lawmakers with Liberal Democratic Party criticized Constitution of Japan, Democratic Party refused amendment under the leadership of Prime Minister Abe.

After party representatives explained their official standpoint, the members of commission made free talks. LDP lawmaker, Masaharu Nakagawa, required amendment of Article 9, which defined unique pacifism of Japan. “I think that the Japanese start realizing this constitution as insufficient for protecting themselves, their families, region or state,” said Nakagawa. He insisted that preamble had to be changed and adding new human rights including right for environment, improvement of election system or autonomy and financial support for private schools are needed.

Some conservative lawmakers dismissed current Constitution as coerced by General Headquarters of United Nations right after the end of World War II. To this traditional idea of LDP, Komeito opposed, although it consisted a part of leading coalition. “It is never unilaterally coerced,” told Makoto Nishida. The fact is that Japanese parliament passed the Constitution of Japan with some changes after receiving a draft presented by a committee in GHQ. Approving validity of current Constitution, Komeito upholds reinforcement of Constitution of Japan.

DP is skeptical on necessity for constitutional amendment to deal with current issues related to the Constitution. Tetsuro Fukuyama wanted a condition for initiative of referendum only when the people firmly requested with notion of serious situation making constitutional amendment inevitable. Shinkun Haku refused discussion over constitutional amendment, while leaving inappropriate interpretation of Constitution of Japan in new security legislation. Japan Communist Party and Social Democratic Party opposed amendment itself.

One major talking point was LDP draft of amendment in 2012. Because of its radicalism for reinforcing state power and restricting human rights, LDP is backing it off from the discussion. Nakagawa denied LDP’s intention to propose it to the commission. But, Haku remembered that Abe praised the draft as a new form of constitution in twenty-first century. While LDP lawmakers dismiss current Constitution as Utopian concept, they require restoration of state power over the people. The discussion lacks the viewpoint on what point the Constitution of Japan is really in short of.

Wanting Death of Troops

The Cabinet led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided on Tuesday to add “rushing rescue” to the peace-keeping operation of Japanese Self-defense Force in South Sudan. Although such mission had been recognized as unconstitutional, because of its aggressive nature to kill enemies for protecting friend troops, Abe administration changed the constitutional interpretation for new legacy of restoring old value in pre-war era. This is a leadership that hopes the people to be killed for a cause of nation.

Rushing rescue is a unique concept for Japanese Self-defense Force to help friend troops under attack of enemy in international security mission. While that kind of military mission had been recognized as use of force in foreign country, which was interpreted to be violating Article 9 of Constitution of Japan, that renounced war as means of settling international disputes, Abe administration was willing to dismiss the notion for degrading value of the Constitution disliked by the conservatives.

In the conceptual guideline for new mission, the government emphasized that rushing rescue would be exercised as a possible temporary measure in an extremely limited situation with urgent requirement. “Although it is a mission with danger, Self-defense Force can exercise its own unique capability,” described the guideline. It insisted that JSDF cannot refuse responsibility, when it is capable for helping friends.

The opposite parties realize that new mission as a benchmark of abandoning pacifism of Japan. “This is very dangerous and causes collapse of pacifism we have been embracing,” told Chairman of Diet Affairs Committee of Democratic Party, Kazunori Yamanoi. A lawmaker with DP, Yuichi Goto, revealed that the document on last visit of Minister of Defense, Tomomi Inada, to Juba, South Sudan, to see security situation was painted black to conceal the fact she knew.

There is a growing concern among the Japanese about death of JSDF troops in engagement with terrorists or anti-governmental militia, when they exercise rushing rescue in PKO operation. To escape from criticisms on jeopardizing Japanese citizens, Abe and other leaders reiterate “oath of mission.” Every member of JSDF takes it in the beginning of their career, in which they declare to finish their mission regardless danger.

In the logic of political leaders, JSDF members can die for the cause of nation, because they know what sacrifice is. Abe seems to think that sacrifice is necessary for Japan to be a normal country. However, no commander in the world hopes his men to die. This is an extremely rare leadership sending troops to be killed.

Sharp Division over Abdication

The Experts’ Meeting on Abdication of the Emperor made the second hearing from six experts, including scholars, journalists and a bureaucrat. While two of them approved abdication of Emperor Akihito, the rest of four opposed it. The conservative notion on superiority of status of the Emperor did not approve erosion of Imperial power. Akihito’s willingness for unusual retirement created a stir in long-lived Imperial system of Japan.

Katsumi Iwai, who reported demise of Showa Emperor Hirohito, realized that life-time throne was cruel for Emperor as a human. “I understood the words of the Emperor as a presentation for living retirement when he would face a limit caused by aging,” told Iwai, opposing having Regency, special legislation for abdication or reducing official events.

Nobuo Ishihara, former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in Noboru Takeshita Cabinet and following six ones, upheld special law for abdication applied to Akihito. He proposed abdication in heavy mental or physical illness or serious accident and prescribing actual age for abdication.

Others firmly opposed abdication. Hidehiko Kasahara, Professor at Keio University, opposed any changes in current system. “Co-existence of former Emperor and incumbent Emperor brings degradation of integrative power of Emperor and ‘symbol of national integration’ will be a nominal concept,” said Kasahara.

Shoichi Watanabe, Professor Emeritus at Sophia University, proposed to deal with the issue through existing system of Regency. “It was a merciful description that the Emperor rejected Regency, because he hoped to work in the sight of the people. But, it would be enough for him to pray for the state and the people. Emperor’s job is prayer,” argued Watanabe. Yoshiko Sakurai, a conservative journalist, also approved Regency.

Akira Imatani, Professor at Teikyo University, realized abdication as fundamentally difficult. “One problem is how the people see retired Emperor. It is possible that the retired Emperor has superior power than actual Emperor. We need to be careful on abdication,” told Imatani. He proposed temporary deputy for the matters of the state for aged Emperor.

The experts’ meeting is going to have another hearing later this month, wrapping up the talking points next month and making proposal on this issue next spring. It looks difficult to find one single answer on the abdication in the condition that opinions of experts are clearly separated. If the experts leave the problem for politicians, failing in finding a conclusion, political use of Imperial system can unexpectedly be possible.

Major Actor Gives TPP Up

Newspapers in Japan reported that Barack Obama administration gave up ratification of Trans-Pacific Partnership. In a telephone press conference, a White House staff explained that the leaders in Congress had demanded discussion over TPP to be done with next administration, which indicated impossibility of Obama administration to conclude the ratification. Nevertheless, the leading parties in Japan still pushing the Diet to pass TPP ratification bills, expecting survive of TPP.

Obama administration had been expecting the ratification in a lame duck period of Senate and House, regardless public opinion of supporters for Congress members. However, Deputy Security Advisor for the President, Ben Rhodes, told that TPP should be a focus between Congress and next President. U.S. newspapers reported that Obama had abandoned the ratification before the end of his term.

Mainichi Shimbun quoted a comment of Deputy National Security advisor, Wally Adeyemo, in which he insisted on significance of TPP in terms of economy and security for U.S. But, the Presidential election this month proved fundamental frustration of manufacture workers with the free trade deal, which would cause further job losses with advance of foreign carmakers including Japan. Being a choice of Japanese advance in U.S. market or China in Asia-Pacific region, TPP was too unpopular for American workers to be ratified.

While TPP is dying in U.S., Japanese government still keeps on hoping that free trade deal. “Taking every opportunity, I would urge the member countries including United States to end domestic procedures,” said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a session of House of Councillors. The bills for ratification had passed House of Representatives. Giving up TPP can damage credibility of the administration.

For Japan, death of TPP affects other free trade deals like Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in Asia-Pacific region or Economic Partnership Agreement with European Union. Based on high level free trade standard of TPP, Japan has been requiring ambitious goal for those pacts. While Mexico still hopes to activation of TPP without U.S., Australia expects RCEP to be an alternative.

For Abe, TPP is one of the few hopes in his economy policy, in which Abenomics loses its credibility with delay of reaching an inflation target. But, Japanese government did not persuade its public in the aspect of security in Asia-Pacific region, staying in economic merit in trade. If U.S. chooses bilateral deal with China, either on economy or security, Japan will be left behind in the game of great powers.

23 Years in Prison for Drunk Driving

It is not about James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. Two cars were apparently competing each other with speed of over 100 km/h in the street. One of two cars hit a car with five passengers and killed four of them. Two devils on the cars escaped from the street without recuing the victims. The court sentenced twenty-three years in prison to each of two defendants, recognizing conspiracy of two drivers.

It was not a traffic accident, but a serous crime. Ryuji Tanikoshi and Ryuichi Komi was driving each of their cars with extremely high speed on the main street of Sunagawa City, Hokkaido, at the night on June 6^th last year. They ignored red light on a crossroad and entered without reducing the speed. Then, Tanikoshi’s car crushed a wagon driven by Koichi Nagaoke with his wife and three children and following Komi’s car dragged one body for 1.5 kilometers in its escaping drive. Tanikoshi got drunk at the time.

It was unusual that the court applied crime of conspiracy to two persons driving different cars. “Following increasing of speed by one, another accelerated its car. Both were sharing an intention to pass the crossroad with high speed ignoring red light,” concluded Judge of Sapporo Regional Court, Katsumi Tajiri. Tajiri recognized the case as “unprecedentedly evil.”

In the past interpretation of laws on car accident, each driver was responsible for his/her own car. From that viewpoint, Komi might have not as responsible for killing four families as Tanikoshi was. According to testimony of their friend on their cars, Komi and Tanikoshi were talking about each other, saying “Ryuichi goes fast” or “I can’t make it faster, no more.” The court recognized it not as an accident with negligence, but intensive crime to apply heavy penalty.

The families of victims have been demanding the heaviest penalty for the incident. “I was relieved, and want to tell past children the end of our struggle,” said Chieko Hirosawa, mother of Nagaoke. She also insisted that the incident was never forgettable. The lawyer for victims praised the decision as acceptable for any citizens. But some friends of the victims thought that twenty-three years in prison would not be so long, considering what they did.

The incident was not a crime of racers addicted to speed, but of hooligans ignoring rule of society for their fun. Both defendants did not show sincere regret on their deeds and kept on excusing themselves, denying conspiracy of each other. City of Sunagawa legislated new local law to eliminate drunk driving, warning young drivers on serious consequence of taking alcohol.