Delay in Monetary Policy Again

Shinzo Abe administration seems to have abandoned its famous agenda of targeted inflation within two years from April 2013. While it has already passed this April, Governor of Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, kept on explaining that Japanese economy was reaching the goal. Now, any explanation cannot be accepted by anyone and the scenario of revitalizing Japanese economy is collapsing.

In the policy meeting on Friday, Bank of Japan postponed its goal of achieving the growth of commodity price by 2% from “the first half of 2016” to “the second half of 2016.” This was the second correction of the time for the goal, following the announcement in this spring. Urged by Abe, Kuroda launched “quantitative monetary easing in different dimension” of 2% inflation within two years in April 2013. Everyone interpreted Kuroda’s words as achieving the goal by April 2015. However, it became sure that the goal would be delayed to the spring of 2017.

Kuroda was eloquent in elaborating the situation of economy that became unable to reach the goal. “It was mainly affected by downward preference of energy prices, especially a major decline of oil price since the summer of 2014. A lot of unpredicted things may happen with volatility in and out of Japan,” told Kuroda in his press conference. You’re right, Mr. Governor. But didn’t you include that possibility, anyway?

Kuroda was devoted in defending his policy. He stressed resilience of price, quoting 1.2% growth of price except energy. Well, commodity price cannot exclude energy price, you know. “We decided that it was appropriate to maintain current quantitative and qualitative monetary easing in a situation of eventual improvement of fundamentals of price,” told Kuroda, asked the reason of avoiding additional monetary easing. His elaboration did not make much sense.

There is no support for achieving 2% goal from the side of politics. The leaders of Abe administration have no idea to tackle with the energy price down. “What we can do with monetary policy is limited,” told Minister of Finance, Taro Aso. Abe is eager to improve Japanese economy no longer by monetary policy, but by trickle-down theory from employers to workers. After issuing extraordinarily great amount of money to the market, the leaders are frustrated with business leaders who have been keeping profit in their company.

It is necessary for Abe administration to admit its failure in monetary policy and set alternative target for economic growth. They are too weak to be honest to the people.

Stop Oppression in Okinawa

Unsettling long dispute, Shinzo Abe administration started building main body of new United States Marine Air Base in Henoko district of Nago City, Okinawa, on Thursday. Although Japanese law requires approval of governor of the prefecture for the landfill, the national government dismissed the decision of Okinawan Governor, Takeshi Onaga, which overturn the approval issued by the predecessor. The constructor violently removed the protestors in front of U.S. Marine Camp Schwab in Henoko. U.S. President Barack Obama cannot ignore this oppression.

It was three weeks ago when Onaga killed the approval of landfill decided by former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima. National government overtook Onaga’s dismissal with reasoning of that regional government had to obey national policy this week. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated the necessity of new base in Henoko in terms do national defense.

However, overwhelming public opinion in Okinawa supports Onaga, who took the seat with promise of no new military base in Okinawa, defeating Tokyo-leaning Nakaima last year. To construct new Marine base in Henoko sharply stimulates negative sentiment against Tokyo, which has been accumulated from coercive annexation of Okinawa to Japan in the nineteenth century.

Protestors around Camp Schwab chanted “Go home, go home,” to the constructors bringing building materials Thursday morning. Police arrested a man trying to block trucks of the constructor at the gate of the camp with suspicion of damaging plastic net for the construction. Still, the protestors denounced national government around the gate until it got dark.

Minister in charge of the issue, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, was not in Okinawa to talk with the people, but in Guam to see what was going on in relocation plan of U.S. Marine Base. Suga met with a Congressman from Guam and reported that construction of new base in Henoko was accordingly proceeding. “We received approval for the landfill from former Governor Nakaima. Since administrational decision has been made, we continue the process as an extension of it,” told Suga to the reporters. You’re wrong, Mr. Suga, the approval no longer exists.

Construction of Japan determines that every person is respected as an individual, the concept which consists fundamental basis of democracy. Protest against the military base is rooted in pursuit of happiness of the people in Okinawa. In addition, concentration of military base in Okinawa harms equality under the law that the Constitution also demands. Not only Japanese government, but U.S. government, needs to realize that this is highly unusual infringement of human rights in the history of Japan.

Resumption with Minimum Approval

Following two reactors in Sendai, Kagoshima, a reactor in Ikata Nuclear Power Plant achieved approval of resumption from the Governor of Ehime Prefecture on Monday. It will restart its power generation early next year. Leaving concerns of the residents behind, nuclear power generation is eventually spreading in Japan again. Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is still leaking contaminated water to Pacific Ocean, anyway.

Governor of Ehime, Tokihiro Nakamura, announced that the approval of resuming Reactor #3 in Ikata Plant to Shikoku Electric Power Company, which owned the plant. And Nakamura later visited Ministers of Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and of Economy, Trade and Industry in Tokyo and requested further measures for dealing with possible accident in the plant. “I received determination from national government,” told Nakamura after the meetings.

The focusing point on resumption of Ikata Plant was approval from cities and towns around the plant. For the decision of allowing resumption, Nakamura required approval only from Ikata Town, where the plant located, following the example in Sendai. Although there were six cities and towns within 30 kilometers from the plant, Nakamura did not get approval on the resumption of reactor. “I heard opinions from the mayors,” was the answer of Nakamura to a question about legitimacy of the process.

Meanwhile, new regulatory law demands making evacuation plan for the people living within 30 kilometers in case severe accident happens. Ikata Plant is located on a long and narrow peninsula in the west of Shikoku Island. The evacuation plan assumes that people will go to Kyushu Island across the strait by ships, if the road to mainland is blocked in great earthquake. But, the ports for evacuation are not so big for accepting a large ship. Evacuation of Ikata Town expects that people will be able to use small fishing boats to catch large ships offshore. There is no guarantee for the evacuation plan to work effectively.

The resumption of Ikata cannot necessarily be a gospel for other reactors waiting for resumption. For resumption of Takahama Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui, Prefectures of Kyoto and Shiga request engagement to the decision, because both prefectures are partly included in the area within 30 kilometers from the plant. Hakodate City, Hokkaido, raised a lawsuit against owner of Oma Nuclear Power Plant, being built on the other side of Tsugaru Strait, for stopping the construction. There are high hurdles for resuming the rest of reactors.

On the same day of approval to Ikata, the wall to block underground water in broken Fukushima Plant was established on the seaside. However, 400 metric tons of contaminated underground water is still flowing into Pacific Ocean. If they consider the unbearable impact on human life, decision of resuming nuclear power plant will not be so instant.

Operation Freedom of Navigation

After months of waiting, United States stood up to China to show its determination in maintaining its influential power in South China Sea, partly where China had been asserting its sovereignty. A guided missile destroyer, U.S.S. Lassen, calmly sneaked into a sea area around the reefs that China claimed to be its territory. While United States stressed freedom of navigation with denial of China’s assertion, China denounced U.S. as violating its sovereignty. Japan is closely watching how the situation will affect its security.

Japanese media calls the U.S. patrol Operation Freedom of Navigation. They reported that U.S.S. Lassen went through the seawater located within 12 nautical miles from Subi Reef where China was constructing airport with a 3,000 meter-long runway. Lassen is a destroyer belonging to U.S. 7^th Fleet stationing in Yokosuka, Japan. It is predicted that U.S. will continue its patrol to make fait accompli that the sea area does not belong to China.

Prior to other media, Asahi Shimbun reported U.S. decision to send its ship or aircraft to the area a week ago. The decision was regarded as based on frustration of President Barack Obama in the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, in which Xi insisted on Chinese sovereignty over the reefs in South China Sea. It should be a preemptive measure of U.S. to maintain rule of international law before China establishes a control to that region.

The most important point for Japan is not about freedom of navigation, but the impact on security of Japan. Japanese Diet passed new security laws, which would enable Japanese Self-defense Force supporting U.S. operation, if the situation would crucially affect Japan’s existence. “We have closely been exchanging information with U.S.,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, with positive recognition for U.S. action.

It is likely that U.S. government expects Japan’s help for the patrol. But, what Japan can do for it is not clear. One of the possible supports is sending P-3C patrol aircraft to South China Sea. Still, there is a negative opinion in Self-defense Force that worries about weakening of patrol in Senkaku Islands where Chinese ships are sticking around. On the other hand, some argue necessity to support in South China Sea to secure U.S. support in Senkakus.

Business sector cares about energy security. It is possible that Japanese tanker cannot pass South China Sea, if opposition between U.S. and China escalated. “I hope no occasional collision or accident happens. Security must be kept, because all ships of Northeast Asian countries, not only Japan, passes the sea area,” told Chairman of Japan Business Federation, Sadayuki Sakakibara. While businesses leaders support war-approaching Shinzo Abe administration, they are negative in approaching war by themselves.

Retrial on Arsonist Suspects

Two defendants who has been sentenced life in prison were released from twenty-year custody on Tuesday. It was executed under the decision of Osaka Regional Court that ordered retrial of them, doubting investigation of police had been insufficient. The prosecution of those two defendants was mainly made based on their confession. The case was proved not to be about murder, but about violation of human rights by police which investigation had been relying on confession of arrested suspect.

In 1995, fire in a house in Higashi-sumiyoshi, Osaka City, killed eleven-year-old girl who was in the bathroom. Police arrested her mother, Keiko Aoki, and Aoki’s housemate, Tstsuhiro Boku, with suspect of arson and murder for ¥15 million of insurance money on the girl. The fire occurred from an automobile parked just exterior of the bathroom.

Police suspected that Aoki and Boku conspired a murder by putting fire on the car to kill the girl in collateral damage. In the interviews, policemen urged them to confess that they had committed murder and two suspects told them that they killed the girl along with police’s scenario. Two suspects, however, turned down their witnesses in the trial, claiming that their confession was coerced by police. Nevertheless, the court sentenced life in prison on them.

Aoki and Boku kept on requiring retrial from prison. It was seventeen years later from the case when Osaka District Court decided to have the retrial. Although the prosecutors office appealed invalidity of the decision, Osaka High Court dismissed it. The main reason was that the fire was possibly occurred by spontaneous combustion from leaked gasoline. The court found that there were some cases of the leak caused by high pressure inside tank in the same type of cars at the time.

Retrial often leads to a decision of innocent. In Ashikaga Incident in 1990, in which the man was suspected as committing of murder of a girl, the defendant was released with court decision in the retrial. In the murder case of a woman worker with Tokyo Electric Power Company in 1997, a Nepalese man was released from custody in fifteen years. One common element in those cases was that police made a story of crime and coerced the suspect to accept it.

After released from Wakayama Prison, Aoki firmly regretted her confession. “Fear and disappointment devastated myself and my rationality was collapsed. I had to apologize my daughter of my psychological suicide and false confession,” said Aoki in the press conference. One question is what the police will do to recover long period of life two defendants have lost.

Replacement of Constitutional Chair

With a decision as the President of Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe replaced Chairman of Headquarters for the Promotion of Revision to the Constitution, Hajime Funada. Receiving frustration from the party members who thought Funada’s handling of discussion for Constitutional amendment as insufficient, Abe had to change the leader for his prioritized agenda. New chair is not known as an expert of constitutional issues. Abe must have appointed innocent person to deal with the issue by himself.

Funada has been said as responsible for selecting a witness who appealed unconstitutionality of new security bills in a testimony of Commission on the Constitution in House of Councillors in June. The witness, Professor of Waseda University, Yasuo Hasebe, surprised LDP supporters with his elaboration about violation of Article 9 of the Constitution and caused broad protest against new security legislation. The conservatives in LDP regretted Funada’s recommendation of Hasebe to the testimony.

Funada is one of the experts on constitutional amendment, which has been included in LDP’s platform from the beginning of history of the party. Although he is a firm supporter for reviewing the Constitution, Funada has been thinking that broad understanding from the opposite party was indispensable for the agenda. He was actually successful in achieving broad consensus in lowering the age for voting in election from twenty to eighteen. “I have to realize this transfer as an actual replacement,” told Funada about the decision of Abe.

The following chairman, Eisuke Mori, is a figure with no outstanding achievement in constitutional issue. “I think the reason of my pick for the chair should be focusing on making consensus,” told Mori. While Mori stressed his willingness not to invite internal criticism to him from the party, Funada should be the better person to make consensus in terms of cooperating with the opposite parties.

Speculations of Japanese media that constitutional amendment will be delayed by the appointment of a novice to the crucial post in LDP should be wrong. Abe can be thinking that innocent man will be more controllable than experienced expert. It is likely that Mori will simply follow the idea coming down from Abe or other leaders around him. The main focus of discussion over constitution will be whether supporters of amendment will occupy two-third majority in both Houses, lacking a sense of making broad consensus of the nation.

Adaptation to International Climate

Japanese government released a draft of adaptation plan to reduce impact of global warming on its society and economy for next ten years. Planned measures included reinforcing infrastructure to minimize damage caused by flood or developing new technology to block harmful insects around rice pad. While it should be a progress for the Japanese to step from mitigation into adaptation, its governmental measures are always inclined to top-down style concepts.

The plan was made in seven fields: natural industry, water resource, ethnic cycle, natural disaster, health, business and daily life. The government of Japan is going to discuss how the plan will meet regional demands. The plan is expected to be authorized by Shinzo Abe Cabinet before the beginning of the Twenty-first Conference of Parties of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris next month.

With anticipation of short and concentrated heavy rain, the draft encourages building stronger levees along major rivers to buy time for evacuation. While seeking solidity of infrastructure, it also recommends the people moving their houses from lower land to hills. Nemuro, located the most eastern city in Japan, suffered from high tide of Pacific Ocean several times this year, which was suspected as affected by rise of temperature of seawater. Japanese government seemed to regard the phenomenon as preventable by higher concrete wall against tide.

The government is also active in protecting Japan’s one of the main agricultural products: rice. The draft required the government to develop new method of preventing tropical disease of rice or severe impact of climate change by 2019. To maintain health of the people, the plan proposes new preventive measures against heatstroke or introducing robot in heavy labor under the sun.

With expectation of growing number of Japanese deer, the plan recommends making new method of controlling them. To deal with scarcity of drinking water, it requires higher technology of reusing rainwater or sewage. For the region losing seasonal businesses, including ski resorts or coastal area, the government may be recommending new business model.

All those measures are tools to appeal Japan’s readiness for climate change in the international society. Receiving requests of adaptation measures from developing countries suffering from severe impact of global warming, developed countries are becoming active in presenting effective efforts. Not only European nations, but the government of China or Republic of Korea, has determined adaptation plan. It is an defensive action for the government of Japan to make original plan of adaptation.

Sino-British Honeymoon

Chinese President Xi Jinping met British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in London on Wednesday, declaring new business deals amounting £30 billion. It was a bolt from the blue for Japanese policy makers, who had been focusing on maintaining Japan-United States alliance. Competition between Japanese companies and Chinese business sector in Britain should be active for coming years.

Japanese newspapers quoted Xi’s speech in Royal Gallery as “It is fair to say that China and U.K. are increasingly interdependent and becoming a community of shared interests.” They also introduced Cameron’s elaboration that U.K.-China relation was reaching “new golden era.” The protocol of British government, including welcome ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace with attendance of Queen Elizabeth or a speech at the Parliament, was reported as enthusiastic reception of British people in Japanese media.

Actually, two Chinese companies including China General Nuclear Power Group is going to invest in new nuclear power plant in Hinkley Point, located southeast of England, operated by a U.K. major energy company, EDF Energy. Chinese companies are sharing 33.5% of the investment in whole project. Other Chinese companies are willing to invest in high-speed train system between London and major cities in central England and other infrastructure projects for housing. It is inevitable that those positive involvements of China in British business will compete with ongoing projects with Japanese companies like Hitachi or Toshiba.

China and Britain are also deepening their relationship in monetary policies. They expect broader settlement service in Chinese Yuan in London Market or future issuing of British national bond in Renminbi. Chinese government has been requiring International Monetary Fund to include Renminbi in the currencies for special drawing right, which is constituted by U.S. dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen and U.K. Pound. According to Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, the share of Renminbi in international settlement rose up to the fourth place, taking over Japanese Yen. U.K. is willing to include China in international monetary system so much as deciding to join Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank initiated by China.

It was common in Japanese media that the chief motivation of China to approach U.K. was to counteract emerging free trade framework in Asia-Pacific region, called Trans-Pacific Partnership. China was described as trying to escape from containment policy by U.S. or Japan. That matched expectation of U.K., which was searching for alternative economic policy not dependent on European Union.

Apartment House on Volcanic Land

It started at a large housing complex in Yokohama. Some residents found a gap between the same floors of two connected buildings. It was proved to be caused by leaning of one of the two buildings with false basic construction. The constructor had been fabricating data of basic structure underground. Within weeks, such unstable buildings were found in all over Japan. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism embarked on investigation.

On the volcanic land with frequent earthquake like Japan, constructor ties the basis of a building to bedrock underground with a number of piles. In the case of condo building in Yokohama, 6 piles out of 473 did not reach the bedrock. A supervisor of Asahi Kasei Construction Material reported wrong data about piles, as if all piles had reached bedrock. The false data were mainly found in piles driven at the last period of the construction.

The company was in charge of the same basic construction for over 3,000 buildings in Japan. The parent company, Asahi Kasei, known as producer of chemical materials including Hebel House and plastic wrap called Saranwrap, revealed that the supervisor in the Yokohama building had been in charge of 41 constructions in central Japan. The company started detailed investigation about the data of basic construction of all buildings they dealt with.

Residents were frustrated with unexpected fabrication of construction data. Most of them are owners of each room, who made the most expensive purchase in their lifetime for raising kids or comfortable post-retirement life. The developer of Yokohama building, Mitsui Real Estate Residential, is accumulating meetings with the residents about details of data fabrication. The company indicated possible compensation with total rebuilding, which would cause a huge cost.

If other inclination of building were revealed one after another, it will cause fatal damage on Asahi Kasei with great amount of compensation on it. Credibility on major developers will also decline, because personal decision of owning a house cannot be made so many times in one’s life. The impact of inclining of a luxury condo building in Yokohoma is spreading immediately to all over Japan.

MLIT launched an internal meeting to research the fact and required Asahi Kasei submitting data of their all buildings in these ten years. A fundamental question is, however, whether the method of construction to connect building with bedrock is viable in terms of cost and technology on this land. While collective house is convenient in narrow volcanic country, its side effect is not thoroughly cultivated.

Struggle over Diet Session

Five opposite parties in the Diet submitted each House a request for convoking extraordinary session this fall. In spite of the demand based on a provision in the Constitution of Japan, the leading parties are reluctant to have a session. It will be unusual that a Diet session will not be held against an official request. The reason is simple. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is afraid of eruption of scandals from his Cabinet through the discussion.

Those five opposite parties were Democratic Party of Japan, Innovation Party, Japan Communist Party, Social Democratic Party and People’s Life Party. They joined collective action to demand new session immediately to review negotiation of Trans-Pacific Partnership or hear opinion of each Ministers of Abe Cabinet reshuffled last month. “When a quarter or more of the total members of either House makes the demand, the Cabinet must determine on such convocation,” says Article 53 of Constitution of Japan.

After unilateral passage of new security bills in last session, the opposite parties were searching for an opportunity to criticize political handling of Abe. Fortunately, some scandals rose up around new Ministers. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hiroshi Moriyama, and Minister of Education, Culture, Science, Technology and Sports, Hiroshi Hase, were doubted as having received suspicious money from private companies. Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territory Affairs, Aiko Shimajiri, distributed calendar to her supporters, which can be suspected as violating a law against inappropriate donation. A weekly magazine reported that Minister for Reconstruction, Tsuyoshi Takagi, had committed theft of underwear of young woman years ago.

It is likely that the nightmare of last fall occupied Abe’s mind. Two Ministers had to step down with money scandals after the discussion in extraordinary session of the Diet a year ago. If new session is held this fall, it is highly possible that Abe will face further decline of supporting rate in a period of concentrated effort to rebuild his economic policy. “We need to prioritize Prime Minister’s schedule of diplomacy,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga.

But, diplomacy of Prime Minister is always scheduled every fall. Abe seems to be trying to escape from discussion against him. Although the Constitution does not determine how soon the Diet session has to be convoked, it is necessary for the administration to comply with demand of “the highest organ of state power.”

Inappropriate Relationship over Henoko Relocation

Neutrality of a consulting committee for relocation of Futenma Marine Air Base in Okinawa to Henoko is questioned. Asahi Shimbun reported that some of the members of Environmental Observation Committee on Relocation of Alternative Facility of Futenma Air Base, established by national government with request of former governor of Okinawa, had received donation from the developers of construction of in Henoko. Although the donation did not violate any law, any decision made by the committee had to be suspected as in favor of national policy to build new base against public opinion in Okinawa.

According to Asahi, suspected members included chairman of the committee, Yoshiyuki Nakamura, a professor of Graduate School in Yokohama National University. Developer for construction of the alternative facilities in Henoko or consulting firm donated to three members, the total amount rose up to ¥11 million. The donation was made after those firms achieved the bit for construction project in Henoko. While the donation went through universities to which the members affiliated, they did not have to report to what purpose the donation would be spent.

Another member, Takeshi Hara, Chairman of Japan Fisheries Science and Technology Association, was listed as a board member of a non-profit organization headed by chairman of a consultant firm that received a number of contracts for projects in Henoko. Hara had been receiving ¥2 million of annual reward from the NPO.

All the suspected committee members insisted that donation had not affected the discussion in the committee. But, the committee was dealing with important issues for preserving environment around Henoko coastal area, such as protecting dugongs or transplanting coral reefs. Every meeting was not open to the public and transcript of discussion did not disclose the name of speaker. No one outside the community can realize whether the donation affected to the discussion. In addition, Asahi revealed that the operation of the committee was confided to another consultant firm that had received many businesses for Henoko relocation.

Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, did not care the close relationship between developers and the committee members, because he had ordered halting the relocation project in Henoko. For him, the committee has already been useless. But, the scandal reflected usual fabrication of “neutral opinion” by bureaucrats in Tokyo. By sending preferable persons to consultative committee, they pave a way for their controversial policies. Bureaucrats believe in a saying: God dwells in the details.

Failure in Implementing Resolution

Newspapers reported on Tuesday that tariff on about thirty percent of all imported agricultural products will be abolished with the overwhelming agreement of Trans-Pacific Partnership. While both Houses of National Diet passed resolutions to protect five important agricultural products, Shinzo Abe administration still insists on pretending to be implemented them. Not only in security issues, they firmly believe people’s followership to top-down type of authoritarianism.

According to the reports, agricultural tariff will be abolished in 174 items out of all 586 in five categories that were recognized as crucially important. The items included crab pilaf, pasta, beef tongue, beef jerky or frozen yogurt. In all agricultural products, tariff on 1885 out of 2328 items will be abolished, occupying 81% of the all. Only 19% of tariff will be remained as the result of negotiation.

Japanese government tries to persuade the public that the negotiation was successful, insisting on the nature of TPP that was to completely abolish all tariffs. Comparing to other TPP members like Canada with 5.9%, Mexico with 3.6%, Peru with 4% or United States with 1.2%, Japan’s 19% of remaining tariff should be prominently high. Other parties secured nearly 0% of all tariffs. Abe administration keeps on announcing that the result will not affect Japanese agriculture so much.

Nevertheless, the result obviously violates the resolutions of the Diet, by which Abe administration promised to abide at the time of joining TPP negotiation two years ago. The first requirement of the resolution passed by the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of House of Representatives on April 19^th in 2013 read as follows: Rice, wheat, beef, pork, milk products, sweetening resource products and other sensitive agricultural, forestry and fisheries products should be exempt or taken for re-negotiation to that they can continue to be reproduced. No approval should be given even to gradual elimination of tariffs beyond ten years.

In light of TPP principle for high-level free trade framework, joining negotiation and implementing Diet resolution could not stand together. Knowing that, Abe administration rejected informing Japanese people that contradiction. Innocent agricultural producers expected the government to maintain tariffs to protect their business, not preparing for coming great competition. Abe administration too easily sacrificed agriculture to encourage industrial exporters. This shrink in policy making can also seen in security policy relying too much on one specific side as in the time of Cold War.

Still Deeply Divided

After one month from the passage of new security bills, Japan looks like still deeply divided in two. Young protesters gathered in central Tokyo to appeal their opposition to the law approaching war on Sunday. In the mean time, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was on board American aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, trying to demonstrate more integrated bilateral military relation than in last month. Those events represented a structure of Japanese society in which current regime was ignoring civilians with background of military power.

Hachiko Square in front of Shibuya Station is a symbol of young generation to meet friends in weekend. Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy s held a meeting there to protest new security legislation. “Do not forget that coercive passage of new security bills. Let us raise our voices, because it is an issue that threaten our ordinary life,” appealed a senior of International Christian University, Jinshiro Motoyama, to the audience.

Forcing of the passage by Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito ignited broad anger of young agers, reminding them of preciousness of liberal democracy. “Although we might have gone backward a little on the road of seventy years of slow progress, I can’t give up the Constitution and its written concept,” told Rin Saito, a sophomore in Doshisha University. Another student on the stage insisted on the importance of thinking, having opinion and delivering it by oneself.

One of the leaders of SEALDs, Aki Okuda, showed himself to the event only for a short time, because his activity is limited by someone’s blackmailing. He received a mail which indicated murder of him and his family, causing police to bodyguard him in his college campus. While he required young people to take volunteer action in daily life, radical conservatives are searching opportunity to oppress liberal democracy.

Political leaders seem not to be bothered by that young movement. PM Abe attended triennial Fleet Review of Maritime Self-defense Force offshore Kanagawa on Sunday. “This is an era in which any single country can no longer manage only by itself. I hope you to make further contributio

n,” Abe encouraged member of MSDF with his routine expression to justify new security legislation. After reviewing the fleet, Abe demonstrated his involvement in Japan-U.S. alliance, making speech on U.S.S. Ronald Reagan, in which he praised the name of aircraft carrier as a symbol of bilateral close tie.

A serious misunderstanding of political leaders is that they think current movement against Abe administration will be ceased soon. But, some university professors are preparing for a lawsuit against national government. Middle and old agers are following their sons and daughters, or grandsons and granddaughters, raising new protest organizations. Abe administration has yet realized what they really did.

Quasi-regime on Rule of Law

Ministry of Defense filed a complaint to Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism against the repeal of approval for construction of new United States military base in Henoko by Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga. While there is a law that Japanese people can complain against policy of government, it has been applied to the cases of opposition between government and private citizen. It is questioned that the central government has arbitrarily taken advantage of the law.

As deliberately planned, MOD submitted on Wednesday necessary documents to counter Onaga’s decision of halting landfill in Henoko, which were immediately accepted as complaint by MLIT. The appeal also included decision of stopping power of Onaga’s repeal until MLIT would conclude on the complaint, expecting construction to be continued during the consideration.

MLIT required Onaga to submit opinion on MOD’s dispute by 22^nd of this month. It is likely that MLIT will start examine the complaint from MOD and conclude that Onaga’s repeal should be void as false decision. That is because Onaga is unlikely to answer it. Instead, the most likely scenario is that Onaga will appeal to Committee for Managing Dispute between National and Local Governments. Meanwhile, Onaga will indict national government to stop construction of the base in Henoko, if MOD ignore his decision of repeal. It will be highly unusual trial, which may be called Okinawa v. Japanese Government.

But,　the opposition of national government is based on a questionable reason. Administrative Appeal Act was legislated for relieving the people who suffered from unilateral and false execution of policy by national or local government. National government took advantage of this law to counter Onaga’s policy, as if it were a private citizen. “National government can be a plaintiff, if it is affected by a policy of national or local government,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga.

One obvious fact is, however, one Minister is considering an appeal submitted by another Minister named by the same Prime Minister. One can easily understand that no different decision will be made between Ministers in the same Cabinet. “It should be inappropriate for a Minister to request another Minister a examination in a situation that Henoko is an only plan for the relocation in national government,” told Onaga in his statement. A government which policy is applied with arbitrary motivation can hardly be recognized as a democracy.

Reactivation of Nuclear Village

Kyushu Electric Power Company resumed the Second Reactor of Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture on Thursday. It was the second nuclear reactor restarted under new regulatory standard settled by Nuclear Regulation Authority after severe accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, following the First Reactor of Sendai. Leaving misgivings of residents around the plant, Shinzo Abe administration is determined to get back to nuclear Japan.

Technological staffs for KEPCO started operation of removing control rod from the reactor in central control room of Sendai Plant in Thursday morning. The reactor reached the critical point of nuclear fission hours later and would be resuming commercial power generation in mid-November. While KEPCO emphasized their effort to preserve safety in their business, they were delighted with improving fiscal balance with the help of nuclear power generation.

In front of the plant and the headquarters of KEPCO in Fukuoka city, protestors yelled against nuclear resumption. “Do not push the button of resumption” or “Safety measures are not sufficient” was their main appeals. In new regulation for nuclear power generation, power company was mandated to set evacuation plan for the residents inside the periphery of 30 kilometers away from the plant, which was extended from former 10 kilometers. However, Iitate village, located 50 kilometers away, was actually affected by fallen radioactive materials emitted from exploded First Fukushima Nuclear Plant in 2011. People around Sendai plant are frustrated with new regulation that requires limited approval from the residents within 30 kilometers.

As seen in new security legislation or Trans-Pacific Partnership, Abe administration has shown no tolerance against opposite opinions. “We will not change our policy to resume nuclear reactors that passed new standard which was the most strict in the world,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. He was saying that nuclear power generation was safe because we have set some new standards, and necessary because economic policy of Abe administration needs it.

A number of reactors are waiting for restarting. Takahama #3 and #4 in Fukui finished all tests for resumption. Its owner, Kansai electric Power Company, hopes it to resume in late December. Ikata #3 in Ehime has been collecting approvals from the residents after passing the test. Examination on Genkai #3 and #4 in Saga and Oi #3 and #4 is reaching conclusion. People in nuclear village of Japan seem to be excited in regaining hegemony in Japanese energy policy as if realizing nothing happened.

New Move of Communists

Unilateral passage of new security bills invited strange integration of the opposite parties. Japan Communist Party decided to approve, even temporarily at least, Japan-United States Security Treaty, to which the party had long been opposing. It was an unusual move, aiming at achieving grand coalition against Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. Politics in Japan is sharply divided mainly by the handling of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Chairman of JCP Executive Committee, Kazuo Shii, announced new party policy in his press conference at Japan Foreign Correspondent Club on Thursday. “We freeze our policy for abolishment of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty as a measure for national coalition government,” told Shii. “We will maintain framework of the treaty, not requiring abolishment of it.”

Shii also stressed that the party would change its policy of “dissolving” Japan Self-Defense Force, which was clearly stated in party manifesto. “Even though we are going to abolish that war legislature, self-defense force will remain. It is reasonable to exploit self-defense force if imminent and unlawful infringement occurs,” said Shii. He also showed willingness for cooperation with Democratic Party of Japan in next national election, including mutual support for candidates each other.

JCP has long been embracing its unilateral policy strictly opposing militarization, which represented its uniqueness making cooperation with other parties difficult. Designated purpose of new policies was paving the way to lead the party to new progress, expecting young agers opposing the bills with no specific party preference to support JCP. New policy represented the seriousness of the party to dismantle new security laws legislated by Abe administration.

DPJ has not ready to accept the call from JCP. Some of the party members of DPJ have fundamental allergy against communist ideology of JCP. “It is difficult for us to share an administration with JCP, because difference in basic policy is too different,” told DPJ President, Katsuya Okada, even leaving possibility of coalition outside Cabinet. The greatest problem of coalition of the opposite parties is lack of integration of DPJ itself.

Another opposite party, Innovation Party, was separated on Thursday. The party leadership purged lawmakers and local assembly members, who were willing to be affiliated to new local party established by populist Mayor of Osaka, Toru Hashimoto. Innovation Party looked to be purifying itself for coalition with DPJ in next election. Key to success is also dependent on how DPJ is determined to get back to the position of national leadership.

Consecutive Rubber Scandal

“All or Nothing” is what you see in the center of English webpage of the company. Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. announced on Wednesday that it had delivered a number of rubber products for stabilizing ship or train with fabricated data for strength. This is the third time for the company to reveal data fabrication on its products. Although anti-quake rubber products occupy small share of its products, the scandal shook one of the frontrunners in Japanese rubber makers.

Toyo Tire found that it had delivered 87,804 industrial parts with false data to 18 companies for these ten years. They included rubber parts for window rim or basis of ship engine that would enhance amenity of passengers with less vibration. The parts are supposed to be installed thousands of train cars or hundreds of ships. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that the parts would not require immediate inspection without fear of serious consequence in safety.

The problem was that Toyo Tire could not stop fabricating data on its products. In 2007, the company found data fabrication on heat-blocking insulation panel to prevent spreading fire in the buildings. In March of this year, new false data was found in earthquake absorber for the basis of tall buildings. Since both failures might cause serious consequence on lives in a major disaster, the company promised thorough inspection on their production lines.

Both of the scandals this year were made in a mill in Akashi, Hyogo. According to Toyo’s internal research, some employees in the section for quality guarantee were involved in fabricating data of their products. After the company cut labor forces in the section in 2008, false data increased. Data fabrication was informed by other workers in the section after the company made a training for compliance.

Clients, including major corporations like East Japan Railway, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry or Hitachi, are busy in checking the impact of the scandal. Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., a maker of similar products, predicted a long period of time for Toyo to recover the parts with false data. It is a serious problem for Japan brand.

Insulation panel, quake absorber or ship stabilizer is not main product of Toyo, since car tire occupies eighty percent of all. But, consecutive scandals definitely harm credibility of the company. If something happen in its main product, which should directly affect life of automobile passenger, Toyo’s fate will be sealed. Is Toyo really taking an option of all or nothing?

Change Course in Taxation

After internal struggle over the collection of consumption tax, Shinzo Abe administration decided not to introduce refunding system for low-income families initiated by Ministry of Finance. Instead, Abe is considering multiple tax rates for daily goods including food. The main reason was to tame the coalition partner, Komeito, which would be indispensable for victory in the election of House of Councillors next summer. It was a political maneuver after all.

Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, announced that Abe administration would dismiss an option of refunding without detailed reasoning. “It is very natural to introduce multiple tax rates when the rate will be raised. There will not be so many rates, and the option is not the proposal from MOF at least,” told Suga in his press conference on Monday. The refunding option was officially dropped.

MOF once led the discussion over new system for consumption tax. They concluded that refunding system, taking advantage of new social security number system for tax collection, would be the best, and persuaded the Chairman of Taxation Research Board in Liberal Democratic Party, Takeshi Noda. LDP temporarily moved for accepting MOF proposal.

It was Komeito that blocked the maneuver by MOF and LDP. Komeito raised a campaign promise last year that it would introduce multiple tax rates in the time rate would be raised to 10%, taking care of low-income families that consisted significant part of their supporters. There has been a firm opposition among their main body of supporters, Soka Gakkai. One of the leaders of Komeito praised announcement of Suga, which included “multiple tax rates” and “when the rate will be raised.”

Caught between LDP and Komeito, Abe took the side of Komeito. To pave the way for changing the course, Abe replaced Noda with former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Yoichi Miyazawa. It was Abe’s message to LDP lawmakers that he was not satisfied with the process in the party.

Abe had a good reason to support Komeito. In next election of House of Councillors, he will target taking two-third majority for initiative of constitutional amendment. Maintaining firm support from Komeito should be crucial for his agenda. Receiving pressure from Soka Gakkai, Suga led the scenario of introducing multiple tax rates using political influence of personnel management to LDP.

This event revealed the fact that Abe administration could be deeply affected by small coalition partner that was actually controlled by a religious organization. Behind the scene, fundamental discussion over Abe’s economic policy making larger gap between the rich and poor has not been accomplished.