Waiting Slots in Nursery School

Shinzo Abe administration decides to delay the date of eliminating children who are waiting for entering nursery school to the end of FY 2020. While Abe has promised to do that by the end of FY 2017, enough room for those children has not found. Working mothers are suffering from scarcity of facility to leave their kids in daytime. Abe’s political agenda of mobilizing all the people including woman workforce still has a long way to go.

Abe administration made Waiting Children Elimination Acceleration Plan in 2013, which upheld a goal of eliminating children waiting for entering nursery school by increasing 400,000 slots for them. Asahi Shimbun found in its own survey that 14,481 children in 79 cities in Japan were waiting for entering nursery school at the beginning of this April. Setagaya District of Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture marked the biggest number of such kids, 861, followed by 849 of Okayama City and 617 of Meguro District of Tokyo. Setagaya maintained the top for four consecutive years.

That number does not include “hidden waiters.” Waiting children are who cannot enter nursery school in spite of their request. But, they do not include children who have specific preference on the school to enter, have entered school without governmental license, whose mother or father is in childcare leave or has stopped job search. With those hidden waiters, the number of waiting children is swollen to 43,357.

Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is redefining waiting children to include some whose mother or father is in childcare leave with a hope of returning to the job. Children with specific preference on the school are still excluded. But, there are a number of parents who prefer nursery school located along the way to their office or have another kids in different school. Redefinition is not the final answer.

Abe administration is making new plan for eliminating those waiters. With a hypothesis that the ratio of working woman in the age between 25 and 44 will increase from 72.7% in 2016 to 80% in mid-2020s, MHLW is going to find enough room to meet the greater demands. It considers introducing new system in which specialists of childcare can care those children in their own home.

The demand for nursery school is increasing faster than expected. With limited growth of salary, more families need double-income, leaving their children in daytime. Number of childcare experts is always in short. But, national government has been reluctant to redistribute the population from big cities to local cities where ample room for kids is. National policy is always focused on Tokyo or some urban area, leaving local community behind.

Missile Launch against G7

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched a missile from Wonsan, located in eastern coast of Korean Peninsula, to Japan Sea in Monday morning. The missile touched down at 300 kilometers north of Japan’s Oki Islands and 500 kilometers west of Sado Island. The identified point was in Japan’s economic exclusive zone. North Korea has been launching missiles in every three consecutive weeks. United States Pacific Command issued an initial analysis that DPRK launched a short-range ballistic missile that flew for six minutes.

It was the forth case that North Korea struck Japan’s economic exclusive zone. South Korean Ministry of Defense analyzed that it was a Scud missile targeting South Korea or Scud ER including southern part of Japan in its range. While North Korea has been testing missile launches to a high altitude and reentry into the atmosphere, Japanese Ministry of Defense did not find any specific phenomenon in its flying course.

It is likely that North Korea protested the outcome of Group of Seven Summit in Italy last weekend, in which the parties delivered a communiqué embracing necessity of putting higher pressure on North Korea. “Condemning in the strongest terms North Korea’s nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, we stand ready to strengthen measures aimed at achieving these objectives and strongly call on the international community to redouble its efforts to ensure the sustained comprehensive and thorough implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions,” described the Communiqué.

Japanese radio station, Radio Press, reported that Korean Central Broadcasting Station quoted a statement of a North Korean spokesperson that accused Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged G7 add pressure on North Korea. “It is foolish for Japan to regard our defensive measures as intimidation and activate their ambition of re-aggression on our land,” said the spokes person. “While we have only been targeting U.S. military facilities in Japan, the target will be changed, if Japan follows U.S. and takes adversary action to us.”

The area missile touched down is a place for crab fishery. Japanese TV reported the comments of fishermen who concerned missile strike on their boats. An alert system of Japanese government that disseminates information of launched missile through mobile phone, or J-Alert, was not operated this time. While the system was used only twice in North Korea’s missile launch, more people are worried about the possibility of the alert being too late. Anti-ballistic missile system is not fully reliable so far. Concerns in Japan are eventually spreading in Japanese society.

Third Longest Cabinet

The days Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has maintained his seat reached 1981 on Sunday, exceeding the period of a former administration led by his political mentor, Jun-ichiro Koizumi. Adding to the first period in 2007 and 2008, Abe administration became the thirdly longest one after World War II. The main reason of its long life is because there is no competitive political power.

In the poll operated by Asahi Shimbun last week, the Cabinet led by Abe kept relatively high supporting rate of 47%. Although Abe administration has been suffering from consecutive gaffs of Ministers or scandals related to school corporations such as Moritomo Gakuen or Kake Gakuen, which was run by definitive supporters or close friend of Abe, the rate did not decline so much.

One reason of strength of Abe administration should be broadness of support. The poll showed a fact that young agers were more supportive for Abe. The supporting rate in the age of 20s marked the highest in other ages, which was around 50%. Koizumi administration received the highest support from the age of 70s or older. It was even the same as the first administration of Abe.

It is a unique phenomenon for administration of Liberal Democratic Party, which has been enjoying firm support from old agers. After Abe’s second term started, jobless rate was actually declined, generating an expectation to stable life. Having experienced unprecedented devastation of East Japan Great Earthquake and explosion of First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, the people in Japan realize that they cannot see what is happening tomorrow. The support of Abe may come from expectation of maintaining status quo.

It was true that young generation or workers supported regime change from LDP to Democratic Party of Japan in 2009. However, their hope for DPJ turned to be a disappointment with wrong handling in recovery policy from the disaster or mishandling of decision making inside the party. As starting with low expectation, Abe administration enjoys stable support without critical decline.

The main reason of supporting Abe administration is “because there is no preferable possible administration,” which occupies one half of all. If Abe administration falls, it is likely that another opposite party will take it over. The people do not seem to like bringing political disaster by changing administration. On the other hand, supporting rate for Abe’s policy is as low as 20%. This tendency may cause apathetical attitude on the important issues including amendment of the Constitution.

Fighting Protectionism Approved

Group of Seven Summit meeting in Taormina, Italy, was concluded with the leaders’ declaration, which included firm intention to fight protectionism. Trying to protect protectionism or defying international commitment to tackle global warming, United States President Donald Trump was isolated from other leaders. Japan could not play a sufficient role as the bridge between Trump and other Western leaders.

The focus of the leaders in the last moment for wrapping up the meeting was whether they would include the words of opposing protectionism. Raising a slogan of “America First,” Trump had been reluctant to declare anti-protectionism, which might contradict to his domestic policy of revitalizing industry. But, free and open trade had been a fundamental cause of those developed countries to have the annual leaders’ meeting.

As a member of G7, Trump had to give in adding anti-protectionism to the declaration. “We reiterated our commitment to keep our markets open and to fight protectionism, while standing firm against all unfair trade practices,” describes the declaration. Acknowledging that trade has not always worked to the benefit of everyone, the declaration also takes care of the sufferers of globalism with commitment “to adopting appropriate policies so that all firms and citizens can make the most of opportunities offered by the global economy.”

It is fair to say that the leaders have kept their integration to be careful about inappropriate trade practices of advancing country represented by China. “We push for the removal of all trade-distorting practices – including dumping, discriminatory non-tariff barriers, forced technology transfers, subsidies and other support by governments and related institutions that distort markets – so as to foster a truly level playing field,” says the declaration. G7 targeted China of its steel export with low price.

The leaders urged Trump staying in the framework of Paris Agreement on climate change. “It is important for U.S. to exercise its leadership on the issue of climate change,” reportedly told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the meeting. While German Chancellor Angela Merkel revealed that they had a sharp discussion on the issue, news reports did not make clear of the details.

Abe recognized the meeting as the first opportunity for North Korean issue to be the top agenda of G7. As the matter of fact, Taormina Summit will be memorized as the debut of President Trump. While Japan has to maintain close relationship with U.S. for its security policy in volatile Northeast Asia, it is not clear whether Abe can keep on supporting that unilateralist President. Losing grip in G7 may be the interest of China or Russia. Trump might also be a representative of those two.

Bilateral Summit for Pressure

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had an one-hour meeting with United States President Donald Trump in a Sicilian town Taormina, Italy, taking opportunity of annual Group of Seven Summit meeting. Maintaining uniquely moderate relationship among the Western leaders, Abe and Trump shared the necessity of putting more pressure on intimidatory North Korea rather than accumulating dialogues. They also agreed on taking action for enhancing defensive posture of both nations.

At the beginning of the meeting, Trump expressed his recognition on North Korean issue that it had to be absolutely settled. Abe praised the attitude of Trump to strongly commit world’s security. Both leaders agreed on necessity of higher pressure on North Korea, importance of China’s role, cooperation with South Korea and concerted effort for denuclearization of North Korea with every country.

Abe welcomed strong presence of U.S. Navy with aircraft carriers around Korean Peninsula. “Regarding importance of U.S. military presence, I expect cooperation of U.S. Force,” told Abe in the meeting. Accusing consecutive intimidation of North Korea with missile launches or possible nuclear test, Abe required Trump close relationship for integration of G7 on the issue.

They also talked about the situation in South China Sea, where China was taking unilateral advance. Abe supported U.S. Navy’s presence in the region and Operation Freedom of Navigation with expectation of close cooperation in East China Sea, where Chinese ships was sticking around Senkaku Islands of Japan. “Deterrence of U.S. Forces is the key for the stability of the region including Southeast Asia,” told Abe. Abe also revealed his intention to promote bilateral dialogue with China.

In terms of maintaining free trade, Abe was persuasive to Trump. “I’m going to refer to the importance of free and fair trade in G7 Summit meeting,” said Abe, receiving support from Trump. But, there was no discussion over including “countering protectionism” in the leaders’ declaration of G7 Summit. They avoided getting into the details of Trans-Pacific Partnership or bilateral free trade agreement, on which their opinions would not match.

Trump supposedly needed moderate relationship with one of the G7 leaders for maintaining U.S. leadership. Free trade is one of the main concepts of G7 framework. Fair trade is something Trump has been insisting on to attract his domestic supporters. Abe seemed to bridge those two standpoints by including expression of “free and fair trade,” which would still be unsure to be successful.

Chief of Staff Goes Too Far

In the midst of sharp arguments over amending Constitution of Japan, the top officer of Japanese Self-defense Force inappropriately joined the discussion and went too far. Chief of the SDF Joint Staff, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, welcomed the discussion of writing the status of SDF in Article 9 of the Constitution, which had been proposed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a press conference at Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan on Tuesday. Self-defense Force Law prohibits political activities of SDF members.

Kawano knew well about the provisions of Self-defense Force Law or other legal requirement to SDF. “On the discussion of Prime Minister Abe to change the articles of Constitution, I think it is inappropriate for me to say something in my standpoint, because amendment of Constitution is highly political issue,” said Kawano to the question about Abe’s argument. But, he added some words as a member of SDF. “If I could say as a member of SDF, I think it would be something thankful for me that a provision about status of SDF is clearly described in the Constitution,” said Kawano.

Article 99 of the Constitution obligates the public officials to respect and uphold the Constitution. In the discussion at Commission on the Constitution of House of Representatives, Kiyomi Tsujimoto with Democratic Party accused Kawano of his approval of constitutional amendment. In terms of civilian control, Kawano’s comment seemed to have gone too far. “He needs to be fired, because his comment opposed civilian control,” said Tetsushi Inoue with Japan Communist Party in the Committee on Diplomacy and Defense in House of Councillors.

Article 61 of Self-defense Force Law restricts SDF members to take political activities except exercising voting rights, run for election or take seat in political organization or party. Article 86 of Executive Order for Self-defense Force Law defines political activities as upholding or opposing specific policy in order to influence political direction. The opposite parties argue that Kawano’s comment has violated those points.

Even the ranked officers in Ministry of Defense thought the comment inappropriate as the top of SDF. But, Abe and his close staffs basically rely on Kawano in analyzing security situation. MoD postponed the date of Kawano’s retirement, once scheduled later this month. Abe or Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, looks like trying to keep SDF officers supportive for the major political agenda of amending Constitution of Japan.

Document Exists

A nonexistent document was found. Former Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, or MEXT anyway, Kihei Maekawa, revealed in the interview to Asahi Shimbun that he received a document of memorandum indicating a senior staff in Cabinet Office urged MEXT to support establishing new veterinary division of Kake Gakuen with a wish of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Maekawa revealed his impression that their policy was politically distorted.

Establishment of Faculty of Veterinary in Okayama University of Science was approved by MEXT in January. The university is hopeful in starting new curriculum next April. Although establishment of new faculty of veterinary had strictly been restricted, the university was successful to do that for the first time in these 52 years. Moreover, the process of approval was too fast to be reasonable. The opposite parties argue that friendship between Abe and Kotaro Kake, the chairman of school corporation Kake Gakuen which runs Okayama University of Science, accelerated the process of the approval.

The existence of the document was exclusively reported by Asahi last week. Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, dismissed the existence of the document, doubting it to be “a sort of anonymous muckraking document.” Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Hirokazu Matsuno, confirmed that such a document did not found from the Ministry after quick investigation in the organization.

Maekawa resisted the process of investigation that denied existing document. Asahi obtained eight-page document in A4 size, which described that a staff in Cabinet Office told a staff with MEXT about intention of “the highest level in Prime Minister’s Official Residence.” Maekawa remembered that the document was presented by his staff last fall. He had six meetings with his staff on the issue of establishing new veterinary faculty and received a document titled “Reference from Cabinet Office on Establishing New Veterinary Faculty” in the meeting on September 28^th.

Maekawa revealed Asahi that he felt political pressure from the document. “Anyone can be careful about it. I cannot say that I did not feel pressured,” told Maekawa about intention from “the highest level.” Maekawa regretted his weakness in resisting the pressure from Cabinet Office, which had requested MEXT not to deal with the issue.

The opposite parties are going to accuse Abe of his possible distortion of educational policy. Democratic Party is requesting testimony of Maekawa in the Diet to investigate political intervention on Kake Gakuen issue.

Terrorism Promotes Crime of Conspiracy

The news was reported an explosion in a concert venue in Manchester, United Kingdom, in Monday morning. It was developed to be a suicide terrorist attack plotted by Islamic State. U.K. Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced the rise of alert level against terrorism to the highest level. Backed by people’s deep concern on terrorism, Shinzo Abe administration was successful in passing a bill in House of Representative with introduction of crime of conspiracy in the name of deterring terrorism.

U.K. police counted 22 deaths and 59 of the injured in the explosion, including children who were enjoying the concert of American singer, Ariana Grande. Media reported that the incident was suicide terrorism by a young man named Salman Abedi, 22, who were born in an immigrant family from Libya. Targeting a concert of American popular musician in Europe reminds of assault on American heavy metal band concert in Bataclan Theater in Paris in 2015.

Japanese TV and newspapers focused on the victims including children and teenagers to emphasize the tragedy. They reported the death of an elementary school kid who had been a big fan of Ariana Grande. As Grande had a major popularity in teenagers, the concert became a soft target for the terrorist. Mothers tried to protect their kids inside or outside of the concert venue.

The terrorist targeted the audience going out of the hall after the concert was ended, because security could be loosen. While security measures were tight for the audience at the entrance, terrorist could be sticking around outside of the building after the event was ended. Even video cameras set in the streets could not avoid the terrorism targeting soft targets.

Shinzo Abe administration has been announcing that no country in the world cannot escape from terrorist attacks, as a reasoning of enhancing security measures with reinterpretation of Constitution of Japan. Several hours after the arrival of the news of terrorism in U.K., the leading parties passed the bill of revised Organized Crime Punishment Law, which enable the police arrest the people before activating a crime.

Consecutive terrorisms overseas have been following wind of Abe administration, which tended to expand governmental power over ordinary people. But, every terrorism has a political message. Anti-terrorism measures have to include an idea how we can avoid being targeted. The uniqueness of security measures in Japan rests on the emphasis on giving arbitral power on the government, not studying what terrorism is about.

Launching against Pressure

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched a ballistic missile from the region in the north of Pyongyang around Pukchang on Sunday afternoon. The missile flew 500 kilometers to the eastward, reaching 560 kilometers of altitude, and touched down on Japan Sea, just out of economic exclusive zone of Japan. United States and South Korea identified it as the new type of middle-range ballistic missile called Polar Star 2. The launch showed firm defiance of North Korea against international pressure on its missile and nuclear development.

North Korea had launched another ballistic missile a week ago. In spite of deployment of U.S.S. Carl Vinson, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier, to the sea area around Korean Peninsula, North Korea demonstrated its determination of not giving in U.S. Trying to deter further intimidation of Kim Jong-un regime, U.S. Navy is sending U.S.S. Ronald Reagan to enhance its presence.

Japanese government realized that the launch of Polar Star 2 was a test of possible attack on U.S. military base in Japan. If the missile were launched with ordinary angle, it would fly as far as 2,000 kilometers, which range did not include Guam, 3,500 kilometers away from Korean Peninsula. Polar Star 2 was distinguished from Mars 12, an inter-continental ballistic missile which would target the mainland of U.S.

North Korean leadership evaluated the test of Polar Star 2 as successful. Having watched the test, Kim approved the plan of actual deployment of the missile with a hope of active production of it. North Korean newspaper reported that the missile was launched with technology called “cold launch,” igniting it in the air after the shooting, with new type of high-output engine run by solid fuel.

U.S. Trump administration was disappointed with the intimidation. Rex Tillerson insisted that U.S. pressure on North Korea was still in a primary phase, warning Kim regime that continuous test for nuclear development would not be the way toward their security or prosperity.

Shinzo Abe administration convened a meeting of National Security Council. “It was ruining international effort for peaceful solution of this issue and intimidation to the world,” told Abe after he ordered his staffs to deal with the issue in a resolved manner. His orders were something ordinary, including making effort to collect information and keeping Japanese people informed, confirming safety of aircrafts or vessels and being ready for unexpected events. Abe administration looks like getting accustomed to consecutive intimidation from North Korea.

TPP without U.S.

Ministers of eleven countries, which had signed for participation in an ambitious free trade pact Trans-Pacific Partnership, agreed on Sunday to move ahead witho
ut United States led by firm protectionist President Donald Trump. They are going to design the actual contents of the pact by November, hoping early activation of TPP. But, the stance of each party to the pact is not integrated so far. While they realize the need of TPP to deal with economic advance of China, TPP countries still embrace a fundamental question: What can we do without U.S. anyway?

The ministerial statement reconfirmed “strategic and economic significance of the TPP highlighting its principles and high standards as a way to promote regional economic integration, contribute positively to the economic growth prospects of its member countries, and create new opportunities for workers, families, businesses and consumers.” Urging U.S. to return to TPP, the parties focused on achieving progress in the leaders’ meeting in November, taking opportunity of the summit meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

The statement did not refer to the possibility of TPP’s activation excluding U.S. While Japan hoped to lead the negotiation in a framework without U.S., most countries had not decided how to deal with TPP without U.S. The agreement so far was to activate TPP as early as possible and urge U.S. coming back soon. “We could reconfirm the commitment of eleven countries for early activation,” told Japanese Minister for Economic Vitalization in charge of TPP, Nobuteru Ishihara.

By recognizing the necessity of maintaining TPP, the countries could avoid drifting of the pact. However, the members fragmented with each national interest. Expecting increase of export of agricultural products, Australia and New Zealand are relatively positive on promoting TPP. But, Canada and Mexico are reluctant being against U.S., not to stimulate the economic giant in reviewing of North American Free Trade Agreement. Economically minor countries such as Vietnam or Malaysia hope to review past agreements, because they have been expecting to advance in American market.

Having decided to join the framework, leaving behind farmers’ frustration, Japanese government has no option except promoting TPP even without U.S. But, non-U.S. TPP will be too weak to build up a high standard free trade framework against economic advance of China in the region. Even if it can be successful in economic context, it will still be hard to achieve strategic goal of containing China.

Emperor Frustrated with Conservative Argument

Mainichi Shimbun reported on Sunday that Emperor Akihito was deeply shocked by an argument of conservative members in the experts meeting on Emperor’s abdication, which had been requiring Emperor nothing but praying for the nation. Akihito was also disappointed with the argument of temporary legislation of abdication only applied to him. Misunderstanding or ignoring true intention of the Emperor, Shinzo Abe administration is paving a way for Akihito to retire at the end of next year.

Abe administration established the meeting for discussing abdication after Akihito announced his willingness to retire from official works, concerning his insufficiency caused by aging. Six experts selected by Abe submitted their conclusion this April that was recommending special law only applied to Akihito, defying the option of changing Imperial House Law required by Constitution of Japan.

Through the discussion over the issue, the conservatives have basically been negative on abdication itself. In the hearing last November, some conservative scholars such as Professor Emeritus of University of Tokyo, Sukehiro Hirakawa, or Professor Emeritus of Sophia University, Shoichi Watanabe, argued that Akihito did not need to abdicate by dealing only with ritual ceremony and reducing his burden like visiting and encouraging devastated people in Tohoku. “The value of Imperial House rests on being succeeded and praying. It is questionable to think other things as the role of emperor,” told those conservative scholars.

Mainichi quoted frustration of the staffs of Imperial Household Agency. “His Majesty deeply regretted it. Didn’t they know what His Majesty has been doing?” told a staff of IHA to Mainichi. One who had long and close relationship with Akihito told Mainichi that the argument was rude to the Emperor. One senior staff of IHA recognized the conservative argument as totally dismissing Akihito’s lifestyle. “His Majesty does not praying abstractly. Facing the people one by one becomes blood and flesh of praying for their peace and comfort. Without those activities, his praying will be empty,” said an IHA senior staff.

The conservatives misunderstood the issue on two points. Firstly, Emperor’s role of praying is a concept of Imperialism in the time its authority was connected with religion. Now, authority of Emperor comes not from religion but Constitution of Japan which defines Emperor to be the symbol of the state. Another is that praying is not so easy as they think. Before Grand Harvest Festival every year, Emperor has to clean up his body with hot water. For aged Emperor, there is not difference between praying for the nation and playing his role as state symbol.

Unilateral Procedure for Crime of Conspiracy

Dismissing consistent protest of the opposite parties, Liberal Democratic Party and other subsidiary parties passed a notorious bill of revised Organized Crime Punishment Law, which enable law enforcement section to arrest people with suspect of crime of conspiracy before activating a crime, in Committee of Justice in House of Representatives on Friday. The bill is expected to pass the House next Tuesday and approved in this ordinary session of the Diet. Through the discussion in the Diet, Shinzo Abe administration failed in removing fundamental concern that the police could arrest innocent ordinary people only with suspect of preparing for a crime.

As seen in previous Diet procedures in important bills, the leading parties cut off the discussion halfway and unilaterally proceeded to the voting. The scene reminded of obsolete scenario of a soap opera. One LDP member of the Committee orally submitted a move to conclude the discussion and required the Chairman Junji Suzuki, who was with LDP inevitably non-neutral, to have voting on the bill. While Committee members with the opposite parties rushed to the Chairman not to declare the voting, Suzuki demanded standing-ups of the members positive to the bill. The opposite lawmakers chanted that the voting was void.

The greatest talking point of the bill was whether the law was needed or not. Abe administration has been trying to persuade the public with necessity of punishing crime of preparing terrorism to ratify United Nations Convention for Preventing Organized Crime. As far as the Convention was not designated to prevent terrorism, the opposite parties argued that the Japanese government could ratify the Convention without punishing “crime of preparing terrorism or other things.” Because Abe administration could not make definite argument of necessity for it, the opposites doubted that the law enforcement authorities were creating new room for arbitral investigation on its designated target, which could include innocent people.

The staffs of Abe administration have been explaining that ordinary people with no relationship with criminal organization could not be punished, because such people would not be the object of investigation. The opposite parties argued that the people could not be determined as suspects before they were investigated. Fundamental question on the government is whether they fully reviewed the failure of pre-war Japan, which police arrested a number of innocent people with suspect of anti-government activities. It looks like that Japanese law enforcement authorities are resuming its arbitral power on criminal investigation.

Curious on Impeachment

Newspapers in Japan reported with curiosity United States Department of Justice’s appointment of former Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert Mueller, to special counsel to investigate the relationship between Donald Trump campaign in U.S. Presidential election last year and Russia. Imagining possible impeachment of highly strange President in U.S. history, the Japanese are closely watching what is going on in U.S. politics. Stock market in Tokyo has shown disappointment on the young U.S. administration.

The appointment was reported in Japan as a rebel of DoJ against coercive intervention of U.S. President in the investigative organization. Asahi Shimbun emphasized urgent move of DoJ, in which Deputy Attorney General, Rod Rosenstein, reported their decision of appointing Mueller to White House only 30 minutes before the announcement to the public. Asahi quoted Rosenstein’s statement that the decision was made “based upon the unique circumstances” with public requirement of independent investigation.

It is supposed that Rosenstein has attempted to restore his honor as a watchdog of law. Rosenstein recommended Trump earlier this month firing of FBI Director, James Comey, with suspect of weak attitude in dealing with mailing scandal of Hillary Clinton, the action which invited firm criticism from Democrats in the Congress. “This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!” screamed Trump in his tweet.

Japanese media is focusing on how this issue would be developed to the impeachment of President. It was reported that Trump was suspected to have requested FBI to end their investigation on relationship between former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, and Russia, the action which would cause fundamental erosion of legitimacy of Trump’s Presidency. The word of “special prosecutor” even reminds Japanese people of historical scandals including Watergate, Whitewater of inappropriate relationship between President Bill Clinton and his female intern, Monica Lewinsky.

Tokyo Stock Market showed temporary confusion with potential risk of Trump administration. On Thursday, Nikkei Average marked ¥360 of drop from the day before. To avoid risk in foreign exchange, investors bought Japanese yen, raising its value up to ¥110 for a U.S. dollar in Tokyo. Stock price of Japanese exporters declined with negative speculation in foreign exchange. “Now, Trump himself is the risk,” told a trader in the market.

Requirement from Supreme Level

It is discovered that there is an official document which indicates involvement of Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe in a governmental decision of establishing new faculty of veterinary in a school called Kake Gakuen run by Abe’s close friend. The document discloses a request of Cabinet Office to Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, or MEXT anyway, for permission of establishing new faculty, backed by supreme power of the executive offices. It is suspected that Abe has inappropriately exercised his executive power to do a favor for his close friend.

Asahi Shimbun made an exclusive report on it in Wednesday morning. The document obtained by Asahi was titled “Summary of Arrangement with a Senior Staff with Cabinet Office” made by a MEXT staff. It recorded the time of meeting as 18:30 ~ 18:55 of Monday September 26^th in 2016. In the meeting, the attendee from Cabinet Office urged MEXT to make the shortest schedule for opening of the school in April 2018. “This is what the supreme level in Prime Minister’s Official Residence is saying,” said the senior staff of Cabinet Office. “Supreme level” inevitably means Prime Minister.

The senior staff also put pressure on MEXT. “You have no choice of ‘impossible.’ If you do not make the official work as early as possible, you will have to take responsibility for it. It needs to be brought to political decision soon,” the document records. Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga questioned credibility of the document, saying “What kind of a document is it? Does it determine the day and time or organizational section of making it? A document of ministry is not ordinarily so.”

The opposite parties accused Abe of his involvement in the decision for the school. A lawmaker with Democratic Party, Yu-ichiro Tamaki, argued that the plan of establishing the veterinary faculty could have been promoted with strong pressure from Prime Minister in a Committee of House of Representatives on Wednesday. Minister of MEXT, Hirokazu Matsuno, explained that the Ministry had been restraining from establishing new veterinary faculty regarding supply and demand. Tamaki argued that supply of veterinarians were currently sufficient.

The biggest point must be the fact that Abe and the Chief Director of Kake Gakuen, Kotaro Kake, kept close friendship for a long time. First Lady, Akie Abe, has been the Honorable Principal of a kindergarten run by Kake Gakuen since June 2015. It is likely that Prime Minister Abe will deny his involvement in the decision, attributing it to voluntary favor by bureaucrats. But, it was necessary for the political leader to always check what his staffs were doing and use his power to avoid inappropriate decision. Abe did not do that in a case his old friend was related. The opposite parties accuse Abe of being in a same kind of scandal as South Korean ex-President Park Geun-hye committed.

Engagement of a Princess

Imperial Household Agency confirmed on Tuesday that Princess Mako, 25, the elder daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, is preparing for engagement with her school friend in International Christian University, Kei Komuro. Her parents, as well as her grand parents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, recognize Mako’s relationship with Komuro. Mako and Komuro are expected to be having wedding as early as next year.

It will be the first wedding in four grandchildren of Emperor Akihito and in Royal Family since Noriko, daughter of late Prince Takamado, married with the son of Chief Priest of Izumo Grand Shrine in 2014. Mako is going to announce her engagement and after some ceremonies of engagement, scheduling of wedding and greeting to Emperor. Actual date for those events has not determined.

Mako has maintained her close relationship with Komuro for five years, since she met him in her college. While Komuro works for a law firm, he studies legal management at the graduate school of Hitotsubashi University. As Prince of the Sea 2010 in City of Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Komuro has been known to be a fresh and smart young man. Having experience of living abroad, he fluently speaks English and hopes to have a diplomatic job.

A female royal family has to leave Imperial House when she gets married. Royal Family will be reduced to 18 after Mako’s marriage. Cabinet led by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda concluded the discussion over creating matrilineal Imperial family for female royal family to stay in the house and continue to work for the family in 2012. But, Shinzo Abe administration is reluctant to discuss it, supported by conservative groups that uphold paternal system of Imperial House.

It is likely that marriage of Mako will accelerate that discussion. On the news of Mako’s engagement, a staff in Prime Minister’s Official Residence realized necessity of considering a way for female royal family to continue official works for Imperial House. Emperor Akihito has only one grandson, Prince Akishino’s son Sakihito. It is concerned that Imperial House will be hard to be maintained when Sakihito will succeed throne, because of consecutive departures of female family.

While Abe administration has concluded the discussion on special law for abdication of Emperor Akihito, the issue of female royal family has been left behind. Conservative scholars argue that matrilineal family cannot be tolerated, because it does not have any example in Japanese imperial history. The conservatives hope to increase male families in any way.

Modern Version of Silk Road

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a two-day international meeting for his economic initiative called One Belt One Road in Beijing. While China appeals its significance of making peace and prosperity under Chinese leadership, major economies including United States or Japan are still skeptical on true intention of Beijing. A modern version of Silk Road is possibly a new framework for Chinese hegemony in Asia.

One Belt One Road is an initiative for economic cooperation to promote infrastructural development of the country along the ground or maritime corridor that resembles the ancient trade route between the East and West, Silk Road. In the meeting in Beijing, 29 national leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other over one hundred representatives participated. “We are making new model of economic cooperation through building One Belt One Road,” declared Xi in the opening ceremony.

China did not hesitate offering bargaining chips. Xi pledged additional 100 billion Chinese Yuan for Silk Road Fund established in 2014 for implementing the initiative and another 60 billion Chinese Yuan for monetary support for developing countries. “We are not intervene internal politics of other nations and not exporting or coercing social system or model of development,” insisted Xi, trying to make difference from Western model of economic cooperation, mainly led by U.S.

Xi administration embarked on this initiative in 2013, when Asia-Pacific countries were negotiating for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was proved to be a rule-making effort against growing China. Under its economic leadership, China hopes to cast its influence to the Asian nations through building roads, power plants, railroads or ports. For financial implementation, China established Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, new financial organization competing with Asia Development Bank led by U.S. and Japan. China seems to be building a new economic block to save its wealth.

While China hopes over 60 countries to participate in the initiative, those countries represent only 30% of world economy. U.S. or Japan refrained from sending top leader to Beijing with reluctance of helping enhancement of Chinese hegemony. India is highly skeptical on China’s close relationship with Pakistan for building a route between western China and Indian Sea through Pakistan.

Japan has not completely realized where Xi administration is going to. While Japan has not determined how long it should take distance from One Belt One Road, Japanese corporations are worried about being left behind of new development business in Asia. Politics and economy are contradicting each other as always seen in the relationship with China.

Launching Possibly New Type Missile

Defying consecutive international pressure for abandoning its intimidation, North Korea launched a ballistic missile to Japan Sea in Sunday morning. As supposed with its achievement of reaching over 2,000 kilometers of altitude, the missile can be a new type of that, indicating improvement of North Korean missile technology. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea announced that the missile test was successful.

The missile was launched from around Kusong, located in Northwest of Pyongyang in the early morning. It flew for thirty minutes, reaching 400 kilometers away from eastern shore of Korean Peninsula, the point which was out of Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Japanese Minister of Defense released a comment that the missile was possibly a new type of one, analyzing with the result of reaching 2,000 kilometers of altitude.

It was the first missile launch of North Korea since last attempt in late April. “Consecutive missile launch by North Korea is significant threat against our nation and violates the resolutions of United Nations Security Council. I strongly protest North Korea,” announced Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe convoked meetings of National Security Council in Prime Minister’s Official Residence.

The missile seemed to have taken lofted trajectory, which was in an extraordinarily high altitude to make the missile accelerated in its terminal phase for not being intercepted. North Korea might have disclosed its capability of raising the missile to 4,000 kilometers of altitude. While an official in Japanese government commented that North Korea was improving its missile technology, United States Pacific Command found the trajectory not matching that of inter-continental ballistic missile.

What was the message from North Korea this time? There was an international conference in China, which was for selling Chinese international economic initiative called One Belt One Road. It is highly possible that Kim Jong-un regime tried to damage international leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who had recently been negative on North’s intimidation with nuclear and missile development. North Korean must have been embracing bitter sentiment against China-U.S. relationship getting closer.

New administration led by President Moon Jae-in had to rethink its diplomacy mainly based on dialogue with North Korea. South Korean government is accelerating its development of anti-ballistic missile defense. Japan has nothing but to make closer communication with U.S. and South Korea. “Exchanging information with U.S. or South Korea, we are doing our best to maintain safety and comfort of Japanese people,” explained Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga.

Compromise on Crime of Conspiracy

Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and Japan Restoration Party agreed on a draft of revised Organized Crime Punishment Law, which included a concept of crime of conspiracy. While Komeito and JRP had been reluctant to resume the old concept of punishing crime of conspiracy in Imperial Japan, which would enable the police arresting the people before activating organized crime, LDP persuaded them to join the coalition for enhancing governmental authority. Other opposite parties argue that anti-terrorist measures, the greatest cause of introducing crime of conspiracy for LDP, can be taken without such a law.

The agreement was brought with minor changes for compromise. The chairmen of Committee of Diet Affairs in each of those three parties reconfirmed that they would promote the bill with modification of adding supplemental provisions for disclosure of process of summoning criminal by police and definition of investigation using global positioning system. Three parties hope that the bill will pass House of Representatives by next Thursday.

Excessive coercion of confession by police in investigative interview to the suspect had been a serious problem of violating human rights. Revised Criminal Procedure Law, going to be activated in June 2019, demands the police to visualize its investigation with recording the scene and sound of interview in the cases under citizen judge system and independent investigation by prosecutors. The draft by three parties requires the law to include crime of conspiracy for the visualization.

Supreme Court decided that it was illegal for police to make investigation using GPS without search warrant from the court and requested to make new law for GPS investigation. Receiving the argument of JRP, which wanted to give “minimum weapons” to the organization of law enforcement, LDP made a compromise to add supplemental provision for urging new law for GPS investigation.

Experts question that visualization of investigation or GPS investigation is not related to crime of conspiracy. Ministry of Justice has already introduced voice or video recording of investigation to the suspect. Supreme Court has demanded new comprehensive legislation for GPS investigation, including crime of conspiracy. One scholar found that the draft did not settle the problem of crime of conspiracy that could be broadly applied to innocent citizen.

Fundamental question is that crime of conspiracy does not necessarily work for preventing terrorism. Shinzo Abe administration keeps on explaining that crime of conspiracy is needed for the success of Tokyo Olympics in 2020. For the administration, punishing innocent people may lead to the success of the sports event.