Military Use of Study

An elite university in Japan decided to unleash military study, abolishing a part of post-war study guideline settled in reflection of supporting development of weapons in the wartime. The Graduate School of Information Science and Technology in University of Tokyo replaced the sentence prohibiting military use of study “without exception” to allowing “dual use” of study both for peaceful and military purposes. While argument over whether the change meant lifting the ban, it was unnecessary for the university to make a step forward, if it had not been willing to explore military study.

The graduate school has been involved in advanced study on artificial intelligence of robots. It revised its Guideline of Science Study last December, adding an expression that “In study, there is a concept of dual use between peaceful and military, and the study would be promoted with deep recognition on that double meanings.”

Under totalitarian regime of wartime Japan, academic institutes were mobilized for improving weapons and military equipments. Regretting that history, the Boarding Council of University of Tokyo agreed with prohibiting all military studies in 1959. Along with some opportunities for study being supported by military, the university repeatedly reconfirmed its policy of not involved in military study.

Under Shinzo Abe administration, Japanese government began to reach academic community for military reinforcement. Promoting cooperation with universities was written in the National Defense Program Guideline in 2013. Ministry of Defense came to appropriate defense budget for study in universities. According to Tokyo Shimbun, University of Tokyo sent two professors to national project for advanced study. After revision of the study guideline, the Graduate school is going to participate in a robot contest hosted by United States Department of Defense in June.

Border between peaceful and military use of technology has been blurred year by year. Some highly effective materials for fuel cell of car wheel are possible to be used for military clothes. Some scholars receive money for those studies from the government. It is important for scholars to draw a line occasionally.

However, if the university would continue prohibiting military study, it does not have to abolish the words for strict prohibition from the guideline. Even if it wanted to define “dual use,” it is possible to add a sentence of no use for military as a reconfirmation. Exhausted by poorly funded environment of study, scholars tend to be easily lured by money offers. Abe administration is also making “strategic use” of national budget for academic communities.