Top News of the Year

Japanese newspapers usually list up the news of the year at the end of a year. Mainichi Shimbun selected two of the biggest news of 2017, the sweeping victory of Donald Trump and Emperor Akihito’s announcement of abdication, followed by six events including Brexit or postponing consumption tax hike. Most news represented sharp divisions between the people in every corner of the world.

Trump’s victory in United States Presidential election was one of the biggest surprises for Japanese people, too. Negative choice of less worse of American voters was out of imagination for the Japanese. Division between political parties, ethnicities or classes was serious in U.S. society. The Japanese were surprised by ignorance of the Americans on international relations, represented by Trump’s negative attitude on maintaining alliance with Japan.

Emperor Akihito’s announcement of abdication was recognized as new Declaration of Humanity, which was once made by Showa Emperor Hirohito at the end of World War II. In the eleven-minute video message, Akihito revealed his long-time concern on his health, which might cause inability to fulfill his responsibility as the symbol of the state. His announcement ironically caused sharp dispute over how to deal with his will, which should not have political power under the Constitution of Japan.

Six second-class news also surprised Japanese people. Decision of United Kingdom to exit European Union in a national referendum was an apparent sign of growing anti-globalism and support for populism. The announcement by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of postponing consumption tax hike from April 2017 to October 2019 was a bad news for his economic policy called Abenomics.

The victory for the first female Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, was a shocking news for traditional parties, mainly Liberal Democratic Party. After taking the seat, Koike embarked on political reform, tackling obscure process of building facilities for Tokyo Olympic in 2020 or moving Tsukiji Fish Market to Toyosu area. Advance of Koike received support from Komeito, causing sharp division with LDP.

United States President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima and Abe’s visit to Pearl Harbor were some of a few news connecting the people. But, great earthquake in Kumamoto proved existence of sharp rifts underground of Japan. Murder in a group home for handicapped people in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, was based on discrimination.

Mainichi also selected nine news as the third choices. They included decision of dismantlement of fast breeder reactor Monju, impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, two-third majority of lawmakers for constitution amendment or awarding Bob Dylan for Nobel Literature Prize. From those news, no one can see a bright future next year.

Yasukuni Visit by Defense Minister

Minister of Defense, Tomomi Inada, visited Yasukuni Shrine, which is known as a war shrine enshrining A-class war criminals of Imperial Japan, to pray for war victims on Thursday. It was the first visit to the shrine, since she took the office in August. While she avoided the visit on August 15^th, the War Memorial Day, she supposedly needed to implement her conviction as a conservative figure in Shinzo Abe administration before the end of this year. As expected, neighbor countries delivered firm criticism against the lack of reflection on what Japan had done in the war.

Inada signed her name on a page of notebook for visitors with her title of Minister of Defense. She donated certain amount of pocket money for ritual purpose. “After the most perilous fight, Japan and United States have made the firmest alliance now. I visited the shrine with my sentiment for building peace for Japan and the world with future-looking viewpoint,” said Inada to the press after her visit.

In 2006, Inada jointed a conservative group that argued unfairness of Tokyo War Tribunal, called Association of Tradition and Creation, with some lawmakers with Liberal Democratic Party. She usually visited Yasukuni on April 28^th, when Japan regained its sovereignty with San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1952, and on August 15^th every year. “We must not forget that our world is based on accumulation of victims who was dispatched to protect family or nation,” said Inada, referring to her uncle who was a member of Special Attacking Team of the Imperial Army, that committed suicide attack of aircraft, and enshrined in Yasukuni.

Inada visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii with Prime Minister Abe earlier this week. After returning from the memorial event, she straightforwardly went to Yasukuni, as if trying to contain negative impact of her visit minimum. But it was obvious that her unilateral decision of the visit eroded the achievement of Abe’s visit to Pearl Harbor, where Abe appealed to power of reconciliation. An officer with U.S. Department of State issued an unusual comment on a Minister’s visit to Yasukuni, which insisted on importance of dealing with historical issues with promotion of healing and reconciliation.

China expressed firm opposition to Inada’s visit to Yasukuni. Spokeswoman of Chinese Ministry on Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, argued that Inada’s visit to Yasukuni reflected rigorous and wrong perspectives on the history and concluded Abe’s visit to Pearl Harbor as extremely ironical event. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Minister of Japanese Embassy in Beijing and protested Inada’s visit. South Korea was also frustrated. “We cannot help regret the visit of a responsible Japanese politician to Yasukuni, which glorifies past colonization and aggressive war and enshrines war criminals,” said a Spokesman of Ministry on Foreign Affairs of South Korea.

Inada insisted that her sentiment to pray for the victims could be understandable for everyone. Abe issued no comment on the event on Thursday after playing golf.

Performance for Alliance

Being proud of making a historical visit to Pearl Harbor, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a speech on U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, standing side by side with United States President Barack Obama on Monday. Japanese newspapers ran a huge headline reading “Abe Appeals Power of Reconciliation.” Here is his conclusion: That’s why I reinterpret Article 9 of the Constitution or send troops to South Sudan with operation of rushing guarding to deepen Japan-U.S. alliance.

Ignoring devastation brought by inhumane weapons of mass destruction called atomic bomb, Abe thanked America for their tolerance, saying “it was United States that opened the path for Japan to return to the international community once more after the war.” “What I want to appeal to the people of the world here at Pearl Harbor, together with President Obama, is this power of reconciliation,” told Abe. He elaborated that Japan and U.S. took responsibility for appealing the world about the importance of tolerance and the power of reconciliation.

The reports in Japan did not miss the fact that Abe escaped from referring to Pearl Harbor attack or historical meaning of World War II, which would have led to apology or reflection. The opposite parties of Abe criticized his speech as not based on deep regret to the war of aggression. President of Democratic Party, Renho, argued that Abe needed to make peace through international cooperation, not demonstrating military power, if he had wanted to show power of reconciliation.

Making a clear contrast, Obama focused on his interpretation of history of devastation. “As nations, and as people, we cannot choose the history that we inherit,” told Obama, “But we can choose what lessons to draw from it, and use those lessons to chart our own future.” Obama argued that United States and Japan chose friendship and peace “after one of the most horrific chapters in human history.” For Obama, fighting hatred was otagai no tame ni, or with and for each other.

Obama did not forget to praise the military cooperation between both nations. “And today, the alliance between the United States and Japan – bound not only by shared interests, but also rooted in common values – stands as the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia Pacific and a force for progress around the globe,” insisted Obama. For him, the alliance has never been stronger.

It was simply a demonstration for a nation once suffered from Japanese aggression. “From the viewpoint of Asian victims, it would be more meaningful for a criminal to make one sincere and deep reflection than repeating shrewd performances for a number of time,” announced Spokeswoman of Chinese Ministry on Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying. China is closely watching how Japan will make close relationship with next U.S. President.

Suspected Shogi Player Proves Innocent

A suspected pro shogi player was released from penalty of suspension from competition. A third party committee for investigation of cheating in a title match, launched by Japan Shogi Association, concluded that they could not find a hard evidence of Hiroyuki Miura with ninth stage using computer software while he had been on a match. Artificial intelligence made so great progress that even the professionals of Japanese chess were dependant on advanced computer technology.

JSA issued a decision in October for Miura to suspend his challenge against Ryuo title, which was held by Akira Watanabe, raising a suspect of using software for shogi while he was leaving several times during a match. Opponents of Miura had been feeling odd about his behavior during matches for previous months and appealed that Miura’s moves of piece were similar to the choices of software. JSA then started investigation through third party organization.

The committee researched how Miura’s moves were close to computer’s choices. As the result, matching ratio of Miura’s move to software’s choice was not so high as that of other players. It also denied an allegation of thirty minutes of leaving seat during a match. Investigation on Miura’s smart phone or personal computers did not find any trace of cheating.

Miura has been arguing that he did nothing wrong. “I am sorry for making my supporters worried about the scandal,” said Miura in his press conference on Tuesday. “I hope the association to guarantee resumption of my status before the scandal. Although some pro players had suspect on me, I as a competitor hope to return to matches not affected by sentiment,” added Miura.

The cunning scandal was proved to be made with baseless suspect. However, if JSA leave the suspect and continue the title match for Ryuo, credibility for one of the most popular professional board game must have been seriously damaged. The committee realized that the suspension from competition was inevitable. It is necessary for the association to regain honor of Miura as soon as possible.

Computer technology on shogi is sophisticated so fast. While Miura was on the top rank of pro shogi player, he lost in a match against computer in 2013. Appalled by fast progress of computer, pro shogi players are getting skeptical about human ability. Champion of a major title is awarded tens of millions of yen. So, cunning will be serious problem hereafter.

Chinese Carrier Passes First Island Chain

Japanese Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that Chinese Aircraft Carrier Liaoning, with five destroyers of Chinese Navy, passed the Miyako Strait between the islands of Miyako and Okinawa and entered West Pacific Ocean. Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reconfirmed on Monday that Liaoning was cruising southeastward in South China Sea. Although the move of Liaoning does not violate international maritime law, it can be a demonstration against United States, which is building closer relationship with Taiwan.

It was the first time for Japanese Marine Self-defense Force to witness Chinese Carrier passing its defensive line called First Island Chain extending from Kyushu to Philippines. The force did not recognize any launching of fighter jet and entrance into contiguous zone or territorial waters of Japan. According to the Ministry, Chinese Ministry of National Defense informed Japanese Ministry on Foreign Affairs about the cruising of Liaoning.

Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced on Saturday that the fleet including Liaoning would have an exercise in West Pacific Ocean. Fighter Jet J-15 on Liaoning made exercise of touch-and-go or air fueling in East China Sea. Chinese media reported that Chinese military paved the way to Pacific Ocean and the exercise would frequently be done.

Liaoning passed Bashi Channel between Taiwan and Philippine and kept on cruising in southeast of Pratas Islands, which was under administration of Taiwan. It is likely for China to put higher pressure on Taiwan, which administration led by Tsai Ingwen is rejecting One-China Principle. China has been frustrated with United States President-elect, Donald Trump, had a telephone talk with Tsai. Unusual cruising of Liaoning must be an action of protest against the approach of U.S. and Taiwan.

Chinese government insists on its action abiding by international law. “It is an exercise based on annual plan. Liaoning has a right for freedom of navigation vested by international law. China hopes the parties to respect such a right of China,” told Spokeswoman with Chinese Ministry on Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying. Global Times of China reported that Chinese Navy would overturn U.S. pressure on China by frequently dispatching aircraft carrier to East Pacific Ocean or offshore U.S. West Coast.

China is demonstrating its presence in West Pacific Ocean to make the area its own water. Challenging U.S. influence, China is going to put greater pressure on the region. Escalation is inevitable as long as China does not give its ambition.

U.S. Base in Northern Territory?

The summit meeting by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month is now proved to be a terrible defeat of Abe in terms of not making any progress in the Northern Territory issue. According to a reviewing story of Asahi Shimbun, Abe had to degrade his goal of the meeting to the level of simply reconfirming basic intention of both leaders to settle the dispute. Putin was even reluctant to it until the last moment of the meeting.

In the meeting at a hotel with hot spring in Nagato, Yamaguchi, on December 15^th, Abe set a goal to show determination of both leaders to settle the issue of having a peace treaty. There was no scenario for that before the meeting and Putin was skeptical on the expression of “determination.” Abe received “ok” from Putin at the end of meeting, reiterating necessity to improve current situation of both nations not having peace treaty. “Both leaders expressed sincere determination for settling peace treaty issue,” described the statement for the press, not a joint statement, of each leader.

Abe offered Putin to broaden human exchange of both nations to Far East, Sakhalin or Northern Territory with ambitions proposal of eight-point economic cooperation in their meeting in Sochi in May. It was the meeting in Vladivostok in September when Abe offered joint economic activities in Northern Territory under special legal system. Putin showed positive attitude on that proposal.

But, the progress of negotiation ended in a meeting of high officials of both governments in Moscow early November. In the meeting with Secretary of Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, the head of National Security Council of Japan, Shotaro Yachi, answered “possible” to a question whether United States would build its military base in Shikotan or Habomai under Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, if Russia would return them as an implementation of Japan-Soviet Union Joint Declaration in 1956. Recognizing the intention of Japan, Putin indicated Abe the end of negotiation. “I heard that one of your staffs told that U.S. military base could be built in the islands, but it will break our negotiation up,” told Putin to Abe in Lima, Peru, in November 19^th.

Abe tried to explain. “It was about principle, but I want to talk about it sincerely. Say no, if you don’t like. Let’s start negotiation now,” said Abe to Putin. However, Putin reiterated afterward his skepticism on what Japan could do for agreement in the negotiation under Japanese obligation to an alliance with U.S. He insisted on joint economic activity in Northern Territory under Russian laws. Abe lost a momentum for Northern Island issue with a few words of his diplomatic advisor.

Pros and Cons on Casinomics

Expecting positive impact on economy, the Diet passed the Integrated Resort bill that would promote building casino for foreign visitors or Japanese gamblers. While casino does not yield any profit from productive activity, the Japanese discuss casino in terms of morality. Addiction to gambling is the great topic, making the level of discussion quite low.

Asahi Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun collected various opinions on whether gambling was right or wrong for economic policy. A member of House of Representatives with Liberal Democratic Party and Secretary General of Lawmakers League for International Tourism Industry Promotion, Takeshi Iwaya, insisted that integrated resort would be an effective tool for building a country based on tourism. “To maintain power of nation in demographic shrinking and aged society, Japan has to be a hub in Asian region, where people, commodity or information is exchanged,” said Iwaya in an interview to Mainichi. He expects ¥2 trillion of investment for building two or three resorts in Japan.

President of Osaka Commercial College, Ichiro Tanioka, distinguishes integrated resort from casino in Asahi Shimbun. He expects integrated resort to invite international conference to Japan. “Although international conference facility in Ariake, Tokyo, was among the top ten of the world in terms of the size, it has been degraded to the seventy-twice now,” told Tanioka. He wants to take back something gone to other Asian countries.

Some indicate negative impact of addiction to gambling. A member of group for the people addictive to gambling, Keiji Tanaka, revealed his life addictive to pachinko, horse race or boat race in his time of high school student. He was exulted in the mood of illegal casino in Tokyo twenty years ago, where lights were twinkling, bunny girls were enchanting and sushi, beer, barbecue were all free. “I think that looking at someone’s winning encourages gambling mind. My brain was paralyzed, when I saw a man betting ¥500,000 in black jack game and won it,” told Tanaka.

President of Group Thinking about Gambling Addiction, Noriko Tanaka, argued that gambling addiction was a disease registered by World Health Organization. “Gambling causes suicide, accumulated debts, family breakdown, poverty, child abuse, theft or murder. Nevertheless, the government has been leaving this problem aside. I want to make Integrated Resort Act a momentum for further measures dealing with gambling addiction,” said Tanaka.

Professor of Shizuoka University, Yoichi Torihata, denies an argument that casino improves economy. “Gambling does not produce any added value. Income of casino is expenditure of visitors. This is a transfer of money from a pocket to another pocket,” insisted Torihata. Japan is challenging Asian casino market, which is already reached a saturation point.

For Improving Treatment of Non-permanent Workers

The government of Japan submitted a draft of the guideline for equal pay for equal work to Conference for Implementing Labor Reform last week. To improve labor situation of non-permanent workers, the draft proposes employers paying bonus or annual increase of salary, which are not guaranteed to them. Shinzo Abe administration is going to submit the Diet related bills to achieve it.

Average salary level of non-permanent workers in Japan is as low as 60% of that of permanent ones. Even how those non-permanents are diligent and talented, their amount of bonus, ordinary paid two times every year, is lower than the permanents and the pace of salary rise is slower. In the research of Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, only four out of ten companies pay bonus to non-permanent workers. While monthly salary of permanent workers grows every year, non-permanent workers rarely receive that benefit.

The draft proposes that employers need to pay the same amount of bonus, if the contribution of non-permanent labor to the company was paralleled with the permanent workers’ achievement. It also recommends introducing salary increase system as well. It requires payment on the same level of basic salary in accordance to experience, skill, achievement or length of employment. The draft denies difference of salary based on expectation of future contribution to the company.

Abe expects companies to spend internal reserves for salary of non-permanent workers, which occupies certain amount of share in labor market, and lead to positive consumption to enhance Japanese economy. However, it is generally a great burden for employers to pay more salary to non-permanent workers. Retail shops, for example, are operating their business depending on cheap labor of non-permanent workers.

The actual legislative process will be focused on Non-permanent Labor Law, Labor Contracts Law and Workers Dispatching Law. One point important is whether new legislation demands employers responsibility of presenting reason of difference between the permanents and the non-permanents. While labor union requests that responsibility, business community opposes it.

Even how the government requires equality of salary, it is employers who finally decide the amount of payment in capitalism. The result will be different based on various reasons. If the payment is the same regardless quality of labor, motivation for working cannot be encouraged, possibly damaging the business. Abe must not attribute insufficiency of Abenomics to labor system.

Budget Keeps on Swelling

Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided FY 2017 budget, which recorded the biggest amount of general accounting with ¥97.4 trillion. Trying to implement one of his biggest agenda, Abenomics, the budget accumulated expenditure for welfare, in addition to swollen defense budget. New issuance of national bond maintains its high level, occupying 35% of whole revenue. While stock market rallies these months, the government is still in search of resource of its budget.

Although Japanese economy looks like stable with regaining of ¥19,000 of Nikkei Average, the people do not realize their life to be comfortable. To earn good reputation from every level of Japanese society, Abe focused on welfare including medical care, nursery for old agers or supporting mothers with little children. Budget for social security marked new record of ¥22.4 trillion. But, spending on medical cost for aged people was reduced to the level lower than the request from Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare.

To his agenda called 100 Million Mobilization, Abe applied ¥2.9 trillion. It included payment for higher salary of experienced nurseries who were expected to contribute to his agenda by taking care of old parents or little kids of working women. The government will introduce beneficially scholarship with no need of repayment in FY 2017, which will be supporting 2,650 of college students with financial difficulty.

With fundamental concern on advance of China, defense budget increased by 1.4% from the previous year, amounting ¥5.1 trillion. The budget will be spent for reinforcing defense capability of small islands around Okinawa. Spending on building infrastructure was not showing major increase, in spite of devastation of consecutive storms in this summer damaging roads, railways and bridges. Subsidy for local governments increased by 1.9% with consideration of supporting local projects.

Although revenue of corporate tax was reduced with high value of Japanese yen this year, Ministry of Finance estimates that the income will be rising in FY 2017, because of current resurge of low-valued yen. Ministries other than MoF criticize the estimate as fabrication. The financial situation of Japanese government is still far from balancing revenue and expenditure.

FY 2017 budget shows how Abenomics depends on loans. While Abe appeals concentration on welfare, basic structure of expenditure has not changed from traditional money distribution of Liberal Democratic Party, focusing on pouring money into building infrastructure.

Monju Finishes Its Empty Job

Cabinet members in charge of atomic energy policy, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, officially decided to dismantle a fast breeder reactor, Monju, on Wednesday. Sucking ¥1 trillion of money up from the people in Japan, Monju will finish its operation without providing with any sort of outcomes. Nevertheless, the government of Japan still insists on an unrealistic project called nuclear fuel recycle, hoping to proceed to developing a FBR on proven level.

Since its first achievement of critical point in 1994, Monju did work only for 250 days, suffering from unexpected accidents. After losing public credibility on technology of nuclear energy caused by the severe accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, Nuclear Regulation Authority ordered Monju stopping operation in 2013. Frustrated with consecutive fabrication on data about machines, NRA required the government to replace owner of Monju. Dismantlement has been inevitable.

According to the plan of the government, preparation for extracting used nuclear fuel will start in FY 2017, the extraction will be finished in FY 2022, and the dismantlement will be finished in 2037. The cost for it will be as high as ¥375 billion. Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Hirokazu Matsuno, ordered Chairman of Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Toshio Kodama, making detailed plan for dismantlement by next April.

So, how was the decision made inside the government? MEXT had been reluctant to kill Monju, which had been their hope for nuclear fuel recycling project. It was Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry that had been willing to finish the project. Mainichi Shimbun revealed that the government decided dismantlement of Monju based on a cost estimation that indicated ¥600 billion of additional spending for resumption of Monju with requirement of ten-year examination for implementing safety standard of NRA. Prime Minister’s Official Residence realized that Monju would not achieve public support.

Confirming Illegality of Governor

Second Petty Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Judge Kaoru Onimaru, on Wednesday dismissed an appeal of Governor of Okinawa, Takashi Onaga, which requested dismissal of a decision of lower court that determined Onaga’s cancellation of former approval on landfill in Henoko coastal area had been illegal. Onimaru found that Onaga could not cancel the approval as long as former decision had not been illegal or inappropriate, escaping from a decision over the opposition of powers between national and local government.

The landfill for building new United States Force’s base in Henoko was approved against overwhelming opposition of the people in Okinawa by former Governor, Hirokazu Nakaima, in 2013. After Onaga cancelled the approval last year, Government of Japan ordered Onaga to “correct” the cancellation. Receiving disobedience from Onaga, the national government sued him to Fukuoka High Court, which found illegality of Onaga three months ago.

In her announcement of reason of the decision, Onimaru explained that approval of Nakaima for the landfill could not be inappropriate, because building of new base in Henoko would reduce total area of airbases in Okinawa and avoid flying over private houses by using runways connecting to the air space over the sea. The decision by Nakaima was not recognized as inappropriate.

It became the first case to decide on an opposition between local and national governments after Local Autonomy Act was revised in 2012, which made national government able to sue local government in order to reconfirm illegality of disobedience by local government. However, the Bench only decided on illegality of governor’s decision and did not get into whether local government had to obey to any order from national government.

In the decision in September, Naha Branch of Fukuoka High Court required local government should pay respect for a plan of national government as long as it would not be irrational. The court also made an opinion that building new base in Henoko was inevitable to reduce danger in Futenma Marine Airbase. Some legal experts found the decision of the Supreme Court to be moderate, because it did not take such excessive opinion by Fukuoka High Court.

The decision does not settle the argument over new base, anyway. “I was deeply disappointed to the decision that did not have any viewpoint on parity between local and national governments. I am going forward with the people in Okinawa not to let national government build new base in Henoko,” told Onaga. One expert thought that the Supreme Court should turn down the indictment of national government and urge both sides to have further discussion.

Osprey Came Back

Only six days after a terrible crush, MV-22 Osprey came back to the sky over Okinawa. Receiving an explanation of United States Marine Corps that the accident was not caused by malfunction of the machine, the Government of Japan approved the resumption of exercise of Osprey. The people in Okinawa raised its voltage of protesting flying of that dangerous aircraft.

Deputy Commander of U.S. Forces in Japan, Maj. Gen., Charles Chiarotti, had a meeting with Japanese Minister of Defense, Tomomi Inada, at Ministry of Defense on Monday and argued that the accident had not been caused by machinery system or structure of aircraft of Osprey. Inada recognized that the argument of U.S. Force was reasonable in light of knowledge of experts in Ministry of Defense and Japan Self-defense Force.

The accident happened in the night of last Tuesday. One Osprey affiliated to Futenma Marine Airbase lost control in its drill of fueling in the air and fell down onto the shallows offshore Henoko where U.S. Force was building new base against firm opposition. Japanese government required U.S. Force not to resume the operation of Osprey for a certain period of time. Although U.S. Force accepted the request, it explained a plan for flying an Osprey from Iejima Airprot in the northern region of Okinawa to Futenma Airbase for investigation, and then it demanded approval for resuming operations of other Ospreys. A number of Ospreys left Futenma one after another in Monday afternoon.

Japanese government needed thorough investigation about why the accident occurred and how safety of Osprey could be proved. However, U.S. Force had concluded on those points right after the crush. They recognized that it was a failure of fueling, not any unexpected operation of machine. The Commander of U.S. Force in Okinawa did not understand the standpoint of Japanese government that needed to consider public opinion in Okinawa.

The Supreme Court will pass a sentence to Governor of Okinawa on his denial of approval for landfill in Henoko on Tuesday. U.S. Force will return a part of land for training range in the northern part of Okinawa on Thursday. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Pearl Harbor for the first time next week. Any problem should be removed before those important schedules related to Okinawa or Japan-U.S. relationship.

It is obvious that Okinawa strongly opposed. “They completely ignored the people in Okinawa. Japanese government is incompetent” told Governor Takeshi Onaga. Even Okinawa Branch of Liberal Democratic Party got angry on the decision of Japanese government. “Then needed our approval first. Tell Prime Minister to stop it,” told a leader of the branch. Protesters in Okinawa worried that Osprey would fall down on their houses someday.

TEPCO Escapes Decontamination Payment

Mostly ignoring who caused the severe accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant five years ago, the government of Japan keeps on pouring public money into recovering Fukushima. To clean up radioactively contaminated land, it is going to save ¥30 billion for next year’s budget. Although the cost for decontamination has been invoiced to Tokyo Electric Power Company, the government changes its policy to request Japanese people share for responsibility of the nuclear failure.

Cabinet led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is going to decide basic policy for decontamination on Tuesday, which will not request the cost for building “recovery hubs” in Fukushima. Special Measure Law for Atomic Disaster determines that atomic business entity is responsible for recovery from atomic disaster. Now, the government decides to pay for decontamination to rescue TEPCO.

The government is going to set recovery hubs in contaminated area in Fukushima starting from FY 2017. Those hubs will be the places with law radioactive level after cleaning up and the government will recover lost cities and towns in returning difficult area with annual 50 mSv of radioactive exposure. If the effort is successful, it hopes former residents to start returning back to their home in 2017.

To appeal positive effort for reconstruction of devastated area in Fukushima, the government decided to accelerate decontamination without requesting cost to TEPCO. While the Guidance for Recovery of Fukushima in 2013 requires TEPCO to pay for decontamination plan in progress, there has been no plan about the payment for the returning difficult area.

It is obvious that the government is supporting a specific private company with pubic money. If the government is paying for TEPCO, it needs to realize responsibility for its policy on nuclear power generation and the accident in Fukushima with verification of the accident and presenting new nuclear policy. Nevertheless, Abe administration looks like doing everything to salvage incompetent TEPCO.

In the name of acceleration of Fukushima recovery, the government is coordinating new scheme to add ¥2.4 trillion to compensation for suffered people. The cost will be added to appliance fee of all electric power companies in Japan except Okinawa, including new companies for renewable energy that uses existing power distribution network. Although Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that the whole cost of disaster recovery would be doubling to ¥21.5 trillion earlier this month, additional cost proved to be inevitable.

Procedures with Arrogance

The Diet of Japan closed extraordinary session of this fall on Saturday. It was the first session in these twenty-seven years in which Liberal Democratic Party occupied simple majority in both Houses. Because they did not have to achieve approval from other parties, including the coalition partner Komeito, unilateral procedure of the bills was seen in every aspect of the session. It can be said that arrogance occupied the legislative branch of Japanese government.

Shinzo Abe administration pretended to be modest in hearing opposite opinions of other parties. Prime Minister boldly asserted that LDP had not forced voting on the bills from the beginning. However, the result was that LDP passed ratification of Trans-Pacific Partnership, pension reform bills and casino deregulation bills with unilateral procedure, leaving behind the request for further detailed discussion. President of Democratic Party, Renho, labeled that Abe exhaled lies.

There was a strange phenomenon from the beginning of the session. LDP lawmakers made standing ovation during the speech of Abe on the first day of the session, which was so unusual that Speaker of House of Representatives, Tadamori Oshima, blamed it. Apparently, those lawmakers were showing their loyalty to the administration with high popularity.

There was a fundamental question: Why did Japan have to ratify TPP when President-elect of United States declared to discard TPP on the first day in his White House? Abe and his staffs kept on saying that Japan would persuade Donald Trump to implement U.S. leadership to activate that high-level free trade deal. But, what Trump had to implement was to follow what he had said in the Presidential campaign.

It is said that legislative branch became a subcontractor of Abe administration that would blindly endorse any policy coming down from the Cabinet. For LDP lawmakers, popular leader would bring easy victory in their elections. As long as they follow requirements from Abe, they would be safer under the umbrella than being a lone star with firm causes.

Gaffs of LDP leaders flooded. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Yuji Yamamoto, made unnecessary speech indicating unilateral voting on TPP ratification without detailed discussion. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Koichi Hagiuda, called attitude of the opposite parties rural pro-wrestling show, which would be performance for attracting audience. The Diet abandons its inherited power for checking excessive execution of policies by an administration.

Small Outcome of Big Diplomatic Event

Following a relaxed reunion in Yamguchi the day before, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin had another meeting in Tokyo on Friday. In the press conference after the seventy-minute businesslike meeting, both leaders announced that they had agreed on starting discussion for joint economic activities in Northern Territory, located in northeast of Hokkaido Island, Japan. The biggest issue for Japan, returning sovereignty on the territory, was left far behind.

Abe told that he agreed with Putin on to start negotiation over special legal system for joint economic activities. While Japan did not approve economic activities there under legal regulation of Russian laws, Russian government kept on announcing that economic activities would be taken under Russian laws. The joint statement of both leaders reached each other on an explanation that the agreement would not harm each standpoint of Japan or Russia on the issue of having a peace treaty.

Putin lost nothing in two meetings in Japan. Although they agreed on expanding free visit of former residents in Northern Territory and making office works for the visit simpler, Russia would be welcome those kind of human exchange as long as they keep administration on the islands.

Instead, Russia gained eighty projects for economic cooperation. They included investment to developing a base for liquefied natural gas in Yamal Peninsula, Siberia, capital tie-up between Mitsui & Co. on R-Pharm on health business, joint project between Mitsubishi Co. and Gazprom on energy development or building new terminal building in Habarovsk International Airport. “I want to enhance our economic exchanges through making our bilateral relationship a partnership,” told Putin with a satisfactory smile.

Abe had to explain what he had achieved in the meetings. “Not insisting on the past, we need new idea in a future-looking manner for designing the future of Northern Territory and finding a solution. On the Joint Declaration in 1956, in which Japan and Soviet Union agreed on handing over two islands, Shikotan Island and Habomai Archipelago, to Japan after having a peace treaty, Putin reiterated usual argument that the declaration did not describe how to pass those islands.

The people in Japan were overwhelmingly disappointed to the outcome of Japan-Russia summit meeting. Abe has been drawing public attention to the meeting with expectation of political boost of his administration toward constitutional amendment. However, what he gained in the meeting with Putin was popularity in big corporation with new business opportunity with Russia or in his hometown in Yamaguchi. The event proved to be much ado about nothing.

Special Legal Situation

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had an unusually long meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Nagato, Yamaguchi, Thursday evening. In the intermission of the meeting, Abe announced to the press that they had a detailed discussion over joint economic activity in disputed Northern Territory under special legal situation. While Japan had been reluctant to get into economic cooperation in the territory under administration of Russia, Japanese media focused on what Abe meant with the term of “special.”

It was the first visit of Putin to Japan since 2005 and the sixteenth meeting for them. As his business as usual, Putin delayed for two and a half hours, leaving Abe waiting in a Japanese-style hotel with hot spring. At the beginning of meeting, Abe said that he was glad to have welcomed Putin to his “hometown,” although Abe was raised in Tokyo. “I expect these meetings today and tomorrow to contribute progress of Russia-Japan relationship,” replied Putin.

The first half of three-hour meeting was made with participation of some of their ministers one and a half hour, and the latter was a direct talk of two leaders only with interpreters. Before their dinner talk, Abe appeared to the press corps and made intermediate report. “In our small-numbers meeting, we talked about importance of constructive role of Russia to our bilateral relationship or international issues, or about possibility of our joint efforts to solve a lot of problems,” told Abe.

On direct talk with Putin, Abe revealed that they discussed free visit of former residents of Northern Territory to their homeland, joint economic activities in the territory under special legal situation and the issue of peace treaty. Japanese press made detailed analysis on “special legal situation.” Asahi Shimbun argued that the idea was close to the proposal from former Russian President Boris Yeltsin to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi in 1998, in which Yeltsin offered special legislation to have joint economic activities in Northern Territory without eroding national interest and political standpoint of both sides. Obuchi did not accept the proposal with concern of losing traditional standpoint of Japan.

In the meeting with Putin this May, Abe proposed “new approach” in the negotiation over Northern Territory, which included active economic cooperation before achieving peace treaty, leaving traditional arguments of both sides aside. Eight Plans for Economic Cooperation, proposed by Abe this year, can be applied to Northern Territory, if progress in territorial negotiation would be possible.

However, Russian side is not willing to release application of domestic legislation to the territory. Advisor of Russian President, Yuri Ushakov, unequivocally explained Thursday night that joint economic activities would be made under Russian laws and that the islands belonged to Russia. While Abe handed over a letter from former residents of Northern Territory to Putin, the their long-time hope of going back to home islands could not be achieved.

Osprey Crushes

As concerned before the deployment, a tiltrotor aircraft called MV-22 Osprey, affiliated to United States Marine Corps in Futenma Air Base, crushed on the shallows of Uruma city, Okinawa, in Tuesday night. While no civilian was injured in the incident, the people in Okinawa got furious with a mind of “I told ya.” Careless response of the top leader of U.S. Force in Okinawa fueled their anger. The Government of Japan requested stopping operation of Osprey until the details of the incident will be found.

The aircraft was in an exercise of receiving fuel from an air tanker at the time. According to the announcement of U.S. Force, one propeller cut the tube for fueling, the aircraft became unstable and the pilot made emergency landing avoiding collateral damage on the residential zone. Japanese Minister of Defense, Tomomi Inada, explained that the aircraft did not lose control and voluntarily touched down on the sea. “Very regrettable. Keeping safety is a basis of flying Osprey,” told Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.

It was the first accident of Osprey, deployed in Okinawa against firm opposition in 2012. The protesters argued that MV-22 Osprey reiterated unexpected troubles and caused thirty deaths with four crushes between 1991 and 2000. However, both governments of Japan and United States did not rethink their plan to deploy Osprey in Futenma Air Base. Japanese government tried to persuade Okinawa that the aircraft would be safer than old type helicopters.

Unfortunate for United States, Lt. General Lawrence Nicholson, III Marine Expedition Force Commander, did not fully understand the history of Osprey in Okinawa. In the meeting of Vice-Governor of Okinawa, Mitsuo Aketa, Nicholson insisted on the effort of pilot avoiding crush on the houses and refused apology about the operation. Aketa announced to the media after the meeting that Nicholson got mad at the protest, hitting table with his hands. “He explicitly treats Okinawa like a colony,” told Aketa.

Even how U.S. Force justifies their operation with their military logic, the people in Okinawa do not accept it as long as “impossible” crush of Osprey matters, because Japanese government kept on appealing that Osprey was safe enough. Announcement of the incident was also inappropriate. U.S. Marine expressed the touch down as an emergency landing. But, the body of crushed Osprey was wholly broken, indicating uncontrollable falling down. Skepticism on treatment of information may cause further complication in the struggle between Japanese government and Okinawa over relocation of Futenma Air Base to Henoko.

Not Hearing Argument of Okinawa

Second Petty Bench of Supreme Court announced on Monday that it would pass a sentence on the case in which Government of Japan indicted Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, of his cancelation of approval for landfill in Henoko area to construct new base for United States Force. It meant victory of national government in the struggle over the landfill, because the bench would not hear the argument against previous decision of the lower court that dismissed protest of Okinawa. However, Onaga is going to show another card to disturb building new base in Henoko.

Naha Branch of Fukuoka High Court decided in September that a governor needed to follow a decision of national government on national defense or diplomacy as long as it would not be recognized as irrational. Wholly applying the opinion of national government that the alternative place for closing Futenma Air Base cannot be found except Henoko, the court thought that the burden on the people, such as noise or danger of aircrafts, in Okinawa would be reduced with replacing to Henoko.

Okinawa was disappointed and appealed to the Supreme Court. Government of Okinawa thought that the replacement would violate autonomy of Okinawa, which was guaranteed in Constitution of Japan, by solidifying burden of U.S. military bases. Okinawan government criticized the logic of Naha Branch that ignored the burden on Okinawa with reasoning: Because the size of base becomes smaller, it would not violate autonomy.

Okinawa immediately responded to the announcement of Supreme Court. “As we have been requesting thorough investigation on this issue, the decision of not having hearing was regrettable. Although we will follow the decision, I’m going to maintain my conviction of not allowing new base in Henoko,” told Onaga. One of the protestors in Okinawa told that the watchdog of constitution had died, frustrated with the decision of Supreme Court.

This does not mean the end of struggle between Tokyo and Okinawa. Okinawan government recognizes several ways to protest the replacement to Henoko. For an example, the governor can dismiss renewal of an approval on breaking reefs in Henoko, which will be expired next March. But, Ministry of Defense is willing to resume construction in Henoko early next year.

The attitude of Supreme Court can be questionable. Okinawa requested a decision in light of Constitution of Japan. Supreme Court is designed to be the only court that makes decision on the constitution. This issue is a typical argument over the constitution that deals with opposition between autonomy and central power. An argument in Okinawa that Supreme Court is powerless, because the executive branch nominates the Judges, can be persuasive.