Inviting to Hometown

The governments of Japan and Russia simultaneously announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin would make a visit to Japan in December. Putin will have a summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Yamaguchi, the hometown of Abe. Abe expects to make closer personal relationship with Putin for accelerating negotiation for settling dispute over Northern Territory and concluding peace treaty.

Abe has been requesting Putin to visit Japan. In April 2013, Abe made an official visit to Russia for the first time in ten previous years as Japanese Prime Minister and received an indirect message from Putin to settle the dispute over Northern Territory. Advised by former Premier Yoshiro Mori, Abe proposed Putin to invite him to his hometown in Yamaguchi, when Putin invited Abe to Sochi Olympic in 2014. But, Russia annexed Crimea right after their meeting. The dialogue was intermitted.

According to a report of Asahi Shimbun, Abe demanded United States President Barack Obama understanding on Japan-Russia diplomacy last February. “I see. It depends on Shinzo,” told Obama in a rough voice through overseas telephone. Although Obama was as frustrated as unilaterally hanging up the phone, Abe recognized that he received minimum understanding from Obama. It was unusual that U.S. President would understand an important ally to make closer relationship with the leader who promoted illegal annexation of neighbor country.

On the territory issue, Japanese government has been keeping the line that “concluding peace treaty after reconfirming identification of the islands.” Asserting legitimacy of occupying the islands, Russian government has been accumulating military facilities there. There has been no progress on the issue these years, while Russia ignored the appeal of Japan and focused on closer economic relationship with Japan. Looking for even a small breakthrough, Abe proposed eight kinds of economic cooperation deals, including longer and healthy life of people, building urban community or development of Fareast.

It is unlikely for Abe, however, to achieve a progress in territory deal. Putin has been accusing Japan of demanding return of all four islands after proposing settlement based on Japan-Russia Mutual Declaration in 1956, which reconfirmed returning only two islands to Japan, at the time of Prime Minister Mori. As long as Japan insists on four-island solution, no breakthrough can see.

In the situation that China is advancing Pacific Ocean with seeking defense line made by consecutive islands, Russia has to maintain its security inside Kuril Islands including Northern Territory of Japan. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told that Japan should not connect the bilateral relationship with Kuril Islands of Russia. There is no environment that Japan can get a preferable outcome in Yamaguchi meeting.

Still Positive Budget Request

The last part of August is a season for the ministries in Kasumigaseki to wrap up their budget request for next fiscal year. While tax income has been declining due to slowdown of Japanese economy, Shinzo Abe administration is still positive in fiscal mobilization to support his political agenda called Abenomics. The total amount of the request is estimated to be ¥1.01 trillion, quite close to the highest record of ¥1.02 trillion last year.

It is assumed that Abe administration is going to request the highest amount in defense budget, which will be ¥5.168 trillion including the cost for relocation of Unites States Force in Japan. Having been intimidated by North Korea keeping on launching ballistic missiles, Ministry of Defense will request a budget for renewing surface-to-air Patriot missile to enhance ability to deal with ballistic missile. It will be four consecutive years for the administration to increase defense budget.

Regardless negative argument over Trans-Pacific Partnership in Japan or United States Presidential race, Abe administration promotes support for agriculture to survive coming great competition in Asia-Pacific region. The measures include integration of farmland for intensive agriculture, support for business deal in exporting agricultural prodects of Japan, and effort for popularizing Japanese cuisine in overseas.

While protesting consistent intrusion of Japanese territory around Senkaku Islands by China, Japanese government still expect sustainable profit in tourism from neighbor countries including China. To accept more tours, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will make landing fee of foreign airlines free in regional airports that are positive in accepting foreign travelers. It also is increasing travel information center or promoting reform of train stations to be barrier free. Budget for Japan Tourism Agency will be swelling up to 1.5 times greater than that of last year. Abe regards tourism as one of the important pillars of Abenomics, anyway.

Welfare policy is touchstone of Abe’s compassionate conservatism. Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will request ¥71 billion for increasing nursery facilities for kids and ¥57 billion for launching Unofficially Employed Workers Better Treatment Supporting Centers to achieve same-labor-same-wage standard. Development of nursing care robot and lightening burden in nursing insurance for low-income families are also included.

Economic situation in Japan is not so preferable as having a swollen national budget. Stock market has been volatile, affected by unstable move of foreign exchange. Even how Abe is devoted himself into implementing Abenomics for his longer regime, Japanese economy is heavily depending on uncontrollable international economy. Fiscal mobilization has an element of gamble in this situation.

Deterring China with Africa

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, co-chairing with President of Kenya and Chairman of African Union, presided 6^th Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Nairobi for the first time in Africa. While TICAD had been focused on economic development in Africa, Nairobi Declaration resolved in the conference became a diplomatic card of Japan against maritime advance of China in Pacific Ocean. It is important for African countries whether supporting Japan against China will be profitable for them.

Nairobi Declaration consists of three pillars for African development: promoting structural economic transformation through economic diversification and industrialization, promoting resilient health systems for quality of life, and promoting social stability for shared prosperity. For economic transformation, the declaration requires accelerating growth of industries including agriculture, livestock, manufacturing or tourism. It also indicated necessity of addressing various health issues including Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria.

On social stability, stressing condemnation of terrorism and necessity of addressing global challenges including climate change or food insecurity, the declaration added a paragraph for maritime security. “We stress the importance of promoting regional and international efforts related to maritime security, including piracy, illegal fishing and other maritime crimes, maintaining a rules-based maritime order in accordance with the principles of international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” describes the declaration. The expression apparently implies protest against China’s maritime advance in South China Sea, which was denied by Hague Court of Arbitration as violating UNCLOS.

Abe devoted himself to get political supports from African nations. In the keynote speech at the opening of the conference, Abe pledged $30 dollars of investment to Africa for next three years. On the other hand, he appealed values of freedom, rule of law and market economy that would be free from force of coercion. “When you cross the seas of Asia and the Indian Ocean and come to Nairobi, you then understand very well that what connects Asia and Africa is the sea lanes,” told Abe. It was Abe who connected China’s advance in Asia and development of Africa.

It is still unclear whether that stick-and-carrot strategy works. Although it has been coercive, China’s investment in Africa overtakes Japan’s in terms of amounts. It is actually necessary to attract African nations for Japan. But, single or isolated leadership in development may be vulnerable in the competition against a greater economy.

Presidential Race of the Opposite

Presidential race in Democratic Party looks like to be a competition between a former Minister for Governmental Reform, Renho, and a former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Seiji Maehara. While Renho is succeeding the policies of incumbent President, Katsuya Okada, Maehara upholds conservative agenda, partly close to Shinzo Abe administration. Official members and the supporters of the party, that amount to 235,000, will vote for next leader of the biggest opposite party on September 15^th.

The top runner is Renho, who announced her candidacy some weeks ago. As Deputy President of DP, Renho is regarded as a successor of Okada, who decided to step down after bitter defeat in the election of House of Councillors last month. Seeking the first female presidency of the party, including the time of Democratic Party of Japan, Renho shows herself as a new type of female leader with traditional policy of the party.

Maehara could not stand rapid renewal of generation. As a matured politician with rich experience in DPJ administration, Maehara sells his determination for regaining power to become the leading party again. If he had not run, the presidential election would be no-vote race with single candidacy. Maehara explained the cause of his candidacy as giving alternative choice to the people.

Top issue of the election must be framework of the opposite powers against Abe administration. Okada built up a cooperative framework with Japan Communist Party and some other small parties in the election of House of Councillors. Renho is succeeding the line. Maehara, who once resembled JCP termite that eat and break down wooden house, is questioning the cooperation with JCP. “It is unprincipled cooperation to make a coalition with parties that have different policies in diplomacy, security or internal politics,” said Maehara.

On constitutional amendment, Maehara does not exclude Article 9 as a target. He also indicated to discuss emergency clause, which Abe administration has been considering as an entrance of amendment. Receiving support from liberal lawmakers inside DP, Renho insists preciousness of Article 9, saying “I absolutely protect Article 9 as my political conviction.

The race is actually led by Renho with broad support from major groups in DP. One negative element of her might be gaffs. When she joked in calling Okada as a “boring guy” in her press conference in Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan, newspapers took her speech seriously until Okada covered her words up with saying “I don’t care, as long as it was not made by my wife.” It still is likely for DP to have first female president, anyway.

Request of Immediate Halt

Governor of Kagoshima, Satoshi Mitazono, requested Kyushu Electric Power Company on Friday to immediately suspend the operation of reactors in Sendai Nuclear Power Plant and reconfirm the safety of the plant. It is highly unusual for a governor to demand stopping operation of nuclear reactors. President of KEPCO, Michiaki Uriu, replied that he would bring it back to the company and consider the request. Although it is unlikely for KEPCO to accept it, discussion over nuclear safety, which has been a fundamental agenda in Japanese society after the severe accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant five years ago, will be reactivated.

In the letter of request, Mitazono insisted that KEPCO was responsible for taking sincere consideration on uneasiness of the residents in Kagoshima Prefecture, where Sendai plant was located. He demanded immediate halt of the reactors, check and verify the safety of whole facilities and devices and reconfirm its safety. When he visited the place around the plant earlier this month, the residents were worried about viability of evacuation plan in emergency, which was insufficient in securing roads and vehicles necessary for evacuation. Mitazono asked appropriate measures for those subjects and accurate delivery of information.

KEPCO is going to send an answer to the request by early September. Passing new regulatory standard laid by Nuclear Regulation Authority, nuclear reactor in Sendai plant was the first example of resuming operation after all the reactors in Japan had stopped. As long as the operation cannot be determined as illegal, KEPCO will keep the reactors on working until scheduled inspection planned later this year.

However, Nuclear Disaster Preparedness Special Measures Act determines that the governor who has nuclear power plant in the prefecture needs to exercise the plan for protecting people’s life, body or property from nuclear disaster. In the safety agreement between Kagoshima Prefecture and KEPCO, governor can request appropriate measures, when he finds a necessity for maintaining safety of residents. Mitazono has certain power of restriction.

Consecutive earthquakes in Kumamoto, located next to Kagoshima, precipitated the people around the plant into a deep concern of serious nuclear disaster. While the guideline of national government for evacuation assumes suffered people to be staying in their house, earthquake can easily break the houses down, leaving the residents outside and exposed to radiation. Evacuation plan is inevitably the focus of discussion over nuclear power generation.

Crime of Conspiracy

Shinzo Abe administration made a draft of new law including a definition of crime of conspiracy, which Jun-ichiro Koizumi administration failed to pass the Diet three times. To avoid criticisms over oppression on human rights, the draft will name the crime “preparation of organized crime such as terrorism.” It is still suspected that the government will be able to restrict people’s rights by stretching the law as it likes.

Crime of conspiracy is punishing a plot of serious crime before it is practiced. Although Koizumi administration submitted drafts to the Diet in 2003, 2004 and 2005, which were rejected with concern of restricting activities of labor union or civil group. Abe administration reconsidered the necessity of such legislation to prepare for Tokyo Olympic 2020.

The draft is revised version of Organized Crime Punishment Act. That included “crime of plotting criminal practice with action of preparing practice regarding organized criminal group,” which is hardly understood by ordinary people. While former attempts were to be applied simply to “group,” the draft focused on “organized criminal group” as target of the law. The group is defined as an organization that will practice crime worth detention for four years or more. Terrorist organization, yakuza gangsters, human traffickers or money transfer thieves would be included. Some of them apparently have nothing specific to do with Olympic, anyway.

One possible problem is innocent people, who have some frustration with current social environment around them, can be arrested. Past drafts of crime of conspiracy could be applied to some colleagues of an office over beer, who would be saying “Well, I want to kill our boss.” The draft this time limited the target to a group in preparation of obtaining money or goods for practicing crime. If such a group were collecting catalog of weapons, it will be a target of the law.

But the meaning of “organized criminal group” or “action of preparation” is still not precise. It is governmental organization for law enforcement, like police or prosecutors office, that interprets those words. “Action of preparation” cannot be easily distinguished from “crime of reserve” or “crime of preparation” in current criminal law. Japanese government always reserves certain discretion in legislature.

If it is considered as preemptive measures for Tokyo Olympic, the target must be limited much more. It is hard to suppose that money transfer theft will increase during Tokyo Olympic. Taking advantage of popular sports event, the government is broadening governance over innocent people.

Effort for Summit Meeting

In the midst of dispute over violation of sovereignty over Senkaku Islands, Okinawa, Foreign Ministers of Japan and China had a discussion in Tokyo, which resulted in a draw with exchange of basic principle of each other. The meeting was held taking opportunity of trilateral ministerial meeting including South Korea. While they were careful in not break down the momentum for bilateral summit meeting this fall, Japan and China could find no common basis for settling the dispute.

In the bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, Japanese Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, strongly protested consecutive intrusion by Chinese official vessels in Japanese territory around Senkaku Islands. Regarding possible meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Group of 20 meeting in Beijing next month, Kishida offered promoting improved relationship, if the situation over East China Sea would be improved.

According to Kishida, Wang maintained China’s basic standpoint on East China Sea, which was supposedly a unilateral assertion that Senkakus had been inherent territory of China. But, Wang also referred to necessity of avoiding deteriorated environment and unexpected situation, resulted in common notion that they needed early start of Maritime Air Communication Mechanism.

After the meeting, Wang emphasized that both ministers reached on a common notion to control friction on the sea with each other’s effort. “Although Chinese side is considering it, we need preferable mood or environment for it. Guest has to abide by what host says,” told Wang on the summit meeting by Abe and Xi. Wang showed another aspect of personality when he finished a meeting with Secretary General of Liberal Democratic Party, Toshihiro Nikai, who had long and moderate relationship with China, by greeting the press corps with Japanese, saying “Hello, everyone, or may be good morning?”

Both ministers did not at least want to stop the momentum for improvement through the top meeting. China wants to make G20 meeting successful to show its status to lead the meeting, which is to compensate negative conclusion of international court on China’s advance in South China Sea. Abe sees the improvement of relationship with China or South Korea as a necessary step for longer life of his administration.

While reconfirming common standpoint to oppose missile development of North Korea, which North Korea protested with shooting new submarine launched ballistic missile to Japan Sea, Kishida finalized the deal of donating ¥1 billion yen for former comfort women with South Korean Foreign Minister, Yun Byung-se. But, bilateral relationship with South Korea is also unforeseeable with dispute over Takeshima Island or consistent protest over comfort woman issue.

Custody on Disputed Island

Russian official took a Japanese interpreter for delegation of “no-visa visitors” to Northern Territory of Japan in custody on Saturday. He was suspected as possessing undeclared ¥4 million in cash. The delegation left him and got back to Nemuro, Hokkaido. It was highly unusual for Japanese in no-visa tour to be captured by Russian official. Japanese government regarded Russian action as exercise of law enforcement to appeal its sovereignty on the island.

No-visa visit was started in 1992 with agreement of both government of Japan and Russia for humanitarian purpose. Former Japanese residents of Northern Territory or their relatives have visited their hometown or graveyard without visa, leaving the issue of sovereignty aside. The delegation this time with 64 teachers and students visited Kunashiri Island on Friday and shortened its itinerary due to bad weather.

The interpreter was taken in custody after inspection of baggage before boarding the chartered ship. Russian media reported that one Japanese who possessed undeclared money was captured and the custom official was interviewing him. The interpreter has been working for no-visa visitors since 1994. It is unlikely that he would make illegal activity in the delegation, in which he had long experience as a constant visitor.

A Russian official explained that the interpreter violated domestic law of Russia by transporting cash. But, as long as the project was taken place with sovereignty left aside, Russia has no power to apply its domestic law to those Japanese visitors. “The activity of Russia based on their jurisdiction cannot be accepted in light of our legal standpoint. It’s extremely regrettable,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga.

It was unusual for Russian officials to inspect baggage of passengers, because each government was recognized as having no right for customs, immigration and quarantine on no-visa visitors. Some visitors supposed that the Russian officials on that day, caused by change of itinerary, was not familiar to traditional process for no-visa visit. Whether or not with certain intention, anyway, Russia exercised its jurisdiction on no-visa visitors.

There is a tendency that Russian government has strictly been applying its own principle. In the procedure of entering the island these years, Russian officials required to right down the name of visiting island with Russian name. Japanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs has firmly been protesting such exercise of sovereignty. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin early next month. It is closely watched how Abe will protest that unusual exercise of sovereignty on innocent Japanese visitor.

See You in Tokyo

Seventeen-day enthusiasm in Brazil has over. Rio de Janeiro Olympic was closed with dazzling ceremony in Maracanã Stadium on Sunday. Japanese media focused on how next city, Tokyo, for 2020 performed in sending welcoming message to the world. Japanese Prime Minister and Governor of Tokyo competed each other in exhibiting their political power on the stage, which had no interest for athletes. Although Olympic should have nothing to do with politics, Japan is introducing small domestic politics to it.

Japan was up in the air on the result of Rio Olympic. Samurais and nadeshikos from Japan achieved ever-biggest number of medals, 41, including 12 gold medals. After Kosuke Hagino obtained first gold medal in men’s 400m individual medley of swimming, Rie Kaneto followed in winning women’s 200m breaststroke. Judo team got three gold medals, impressing a revival of judo kingdom, while gymnastic team achieved two with great performance of Kohei Uchimura. Advance of Japan continued in wrestling with four golds and in badminton with one. In men’s 4x100m relay in track, Japan obtained an epoch making silver with brilliant combination in baton changing.

Athletes from the world enjoyed the final event of Rio Olympic in the shower of rain and samba. In the flag handover ceremony, Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, in her highly unusual costume of Japanese kimono, received Olympic flag from Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, through President of International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. Although Koike upholds a concept of “athlete first” for Tokyo Olympic 2020, she has been devoted in reinforcing her political power basis after winning the gubernatorial election against the candidate from Liberal Democratic Party.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to sell Tokyo 2020 as his own Olympic. Since he was successful in invitational campaign for Olympic games, he has been taking advantage of it for his political message, “Japan, proudly bloom in the center of the world.” He performed in an attraction, in which he played a character of video game, Super Mario Brothers, digging a hole in the earth to reach Rio de Janeiro from Tokyo with help of magical cartoon character, Doraemon. Appearing in the center of Malacanã, Abe yelled “See you in Tokyo.”

That soap opera was partly criticized as a political use of Olympic. “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas,” says Olympic Charter. It was actually unusual for a top leader of a country to participate in the performance of closing ceremony. Supposedly, he could not play a role of a supporter for Governor of Tokyo or the organizing committee.

Old Anti-war Journalist Dies

He insisted that censorship does not exercised by government men, but existed in the mind of journalists. An old journalist, Takeji Muno, who continued carrying anti-war messages died at 101 on Sunday. Newspapers quoted his words of disobedient as the lessons for current journalists in Japan, where media organizations were too careful about the distance from Shinzo Abe administration. He would have been a Helen Thomas in Japan.

Muno was born in Rokugo Town, Akita. When he was a journalist for Asahi Shimbun, he sent reports from battlefields in Southeast Asia as a war correspondent. “In the battlefield, journalists have the same sentiment as soldiers’. It’s like ‘Kill them, if you don’t want to die.’ Three days are enough to be insane. After that, moral collapses and one may rape woman, steal things and put on fire to erase evidence. Can we preserve justice in such a society?” told Muno.

Muno left Asahi at the end of the war. It was recognized as taking responsibility of newspaper participating in the war. Just before the end of war, he lost his daughter at the age of three with child dysentery. She could not have medical treatment, because all the local medical doctors were absent for attending ceremony to send their colleagues to the war. That experience urged him to anti-war activities afterward.

He got back to his hometown in Akita and launched his own weekly newspaper titled “Torch,” in which he discussed anti-war, peace, democracy, education or local issues like agriculture. Namely, Muno was a strong supporter of Constitution of Japan. “Because we had Constitution of Japan, no Japanese died in a war and killed someone in a war,” he said in a rally on Constitution Day last year, which became his last words to the public. He recommended the Japanese not to thank Article 9 of the Constitution, but to show it off.

Muno has been worried about the situation of journalism in Japan, when Abe administration kept on promoting conservative agenda including Designated Secrecy Protection Act or reinterpretation of Article 9. He did not remember government officials in the office of Asahi Shimbun to monitor its opinion. Muno argued that one out of ten journalists were following the government and others were self-restricted. Cowardice supports despotism.

Muno warned that war could not be finished, once it started. But, current politics in Japan is based on possibility of war in the future. No braveness of imagining the world without war is in Japan. “When the history of human being is equated to a day, war started on 11:58 p.m.” told Muno.

Move for No Nukes Convention

Mayor of Hiroshima called it absolute evil. Nuclear weapon is plainly recognized as unnecessary in this world. On that notion, United Nations embarked on its effort to achieve the world without nuclear weapons. A U.N. working group on nuclear disarmament adopted a report that negotiations to outlaw nuclear weapons should be started next year. Nevertheless, it is hard to understand that the only nation that experienced devastation of nuclear weapons was negative on that effort. Japan abstained from the voting for the adoption.

U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution last December for convening a working group to address concrete effective legal measures necessary to attain and maintain a world without nuclear weapons. The group concluded that General Assembly would need to start negotiation for a treaty for banning nuclear weapons next year. It assumed banning possession, use, storage, deployment of nuclear weapons as well as related investment for them. The report also proposed world leaders to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Although the working group achieved some progress in the discussion over nuclear disarmament, the adoption revealed serious separation among non-nuclear nations. Chairman Thani Thongphakdi, Ambassador of Thailand, once sought unanimous resolution with various opinions of major parties in it. However, some countries, including Australia, South Korea, Poland or Turkey, demanded it being put on vote. Those nations were against nuclear disarmament treaty.

With reasoning of avoiding separation, Japan abstained from voting. The report described that Japan and other nations in Europe did not agreed on it. As a result, Japan was included in a group under nuclear umbrella of United States that thought negotiation to be too early to make broad consensus. It is fair to say that sharp opposition in non-nuclear nations exists between some under U.S. umbrella and other out of it.

Actually, current discussion over nuclear disarmament in Japan is not about non-nuclear treaty, but about first use of nuclear weapons. On the report of Washington Post that indicated Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s concern on U.S. no-first-use policy of nuclear weapon, Abe dismissed that story on Saturday. Why did it take five days for Abe to respond to the story, if he had not referred to first use of nuclear weapons in the meeting of U.S. Commander? Nobody knows. It is likely that he was looking for the reasons why Japan had to support no-first-use policy.

Reform of Closing Base

Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that it would start a major reform of facilities in United States Futenma Marine Airbase. Wait a moment, please. Haven’t both government of Japan and U.S. agreed on returning the base to Japan to remove danger in the center of residential area in central Okinawa? It is inevitable for the people to be skeptical on implementation of the agreement, if the base would be maintained. Futenma relocation issue is going no way, indeed.

Receiving request from U.S. Force for maintaining safe operation of the base, Japanese government decided to reform nineteen facilities, including barracks, hangars, water tanks and main office, which exterior was peeling off and roof leaky. It takes two or three years to finish the reform. Its estimated cost amounting to tens of billions of yen will be dispensed from the budget of Japan.

The review plan for transformation of U.S. Force in Japan in 2012 determined that both U.S. and Japanese government would pay for the cost for maintenance of Futenma Base until relocation to Henoko would be finished. But, Japan already paid for all the cost for reform of barracks and sewage in 2013, which amounted ¥5.6 billion. Logic of this unilateral burden may be explained as “Hey, you guys are so lazy in persuading people in Okinawa that our barracks are get older and misery. You know, you’re responsible for it.”

According Asahi Shimbun, an official for Ministry of Defense explained that Japanese government independently decided to take the burden along with the line of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Although U.S. requested reform of facilities for amusement, Japan turned it down as impossible to persuade Japanese taxpayers. The oppressive attitude of U.S. government on security issues often paralleled in Japan with that of rogue gangsters.

Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, has been requiring close of Futenma Base within five years. “If it is a major reform, that kind of skepticism will coming up on my mind,” told Onaga, when he asked by reporter whether he would think it as extension of life of Futenma. Onaga and Japanese government have been opposing each other over the relocation plan to Henoko. While he would retreat from his order of cancellation of landfill approval in Henoko, Onaga insisted on his idea of disturbing Henoko relocation plan with all the methods he could take.

Accumulating spending for relocation of Futenma Base to Henoko is caused by miscommunication between Okinawa and Japan. Ignoring theory of autonomy, Japanese government keeps on putting pressure on Okinawa. It is Japanese citizens who have to pay for their poor governance.

Young Democracy Dissolves

That young group was organized to protest Designated Secrecy Protection Act on May 3^rd, Constitution Day, last year. With ordinary people gathering around, the members repeated yelling for restoration of democracy in front of Prime Minister’s Official Residence, or Kantei in Tokyo. People called it new type of demonstration, different from students’ movement in 1960s or 1970s. Defining it as temporary action, the organization announced its dissolution on Monday, or War Memorial Day of August 15^th.

The name of the group is Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy-s, or SEALDs. In early 2014, some college students was talking about the passage of the bill of Designated Secrecy Protection Act in late 2013, on which argument over possible restriction of human rights was continuing. “Can’t we find an alternative to simply watching out discussion in the Diet?” told one of them. They decided to “revive” demonstration to deliver their opinion.

Demonstrations had already been taken place in front of Kantei to protest nuclear power generation policy of the government. SEALDs brought new method to that kind of demonstrations, yelling their opinion on rhythm like rappers. They introduced in their calls a message in Occupy Wall Street movement that was “Tell me what democracy looks like.” The members kept on questioning whether democracy was working in Japan, when unusually conservative agenda, such as new security legislation with reinterpretation of Article 9 of Constitution of Japan, was promoted in Shinzo Abe administration.

One of their achievements includes grand coalition of the opposite parties. In the campaign period of election of House of Councillors this summer, SEALDs organized people’s alliance against new security legislation with scholars or mothers and required the opposite parties to be united beyond traditional borders in policy. Democratic Party and Japan Communist Party, with others, approached each other and were successful to raise integrated candidate in every 32 electoral districts with one seat each.

As students’ organization, SEALDs did not want to be the professional of civil movements. They only wanted to make some change on the landscape of Japanese politics, in which the sovereign people refrained from say something to a small core of political power. It is worth watching whether liberal democracy will find the follower of SEALDs in the future when politics take another step to dismantle post-war regime under Constitution of Japan.

Barrier for Barrier Free

The blind man was walking with a guide dog along the edge of platform of a subway station in Tokyo, before he fell down on the rail and was hit by train to his death. No one seemed to have guided him to a safe way. Japanese news media is arguing the necessity of more guard fences on platform of train station. But, as long as people refuse communication with strangers, including handicapped passenger, tragic accident will not be eliminated.

Naoto Shinada, 55, had a disease of extremely narrow sight. When he was walking on the track of Aoyama-Itchome station of Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, there were not so many people to disturb his move. Although warning tile blocks were paved along the edge, Shinada was walking on the side of edge. The warning announcement of station attendant could not make him notice that danger.

Newspapers focused on the absence of guard fence at the track. According to the research of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 80 optically handicapped people fell from train platform in FY 2014. The Ministry realized that only three out of ten stations, each of which had one hundred thousand or more passengers a day, did not have guard fence. For a blind person, going to a station without guard fence is walking on a tight rope of warning tile blocks. Stations on the Ginza Line were on their way to settle the fence.

There are mainly two reasons of not having many guard fences in train stations. One is because it is expensive. To set guard fence that has certain heaviness, train platform has to have enough structural power to support it, which may often require reforming construction for reinforcement. For all 29 station of Yamanote Loop Line in Tokyo to have guard fence, it approximately costs ¥55 billion.

Another reason is difficulty of building fence in a manner of one size fits all. There are various formations of trains in Tokyo. It is not unusual for a train station in Tokyo to have subway train and trains of private railway company in the same track. While one may have three doors in one car, another has two or four. Gate of the fence cannot be moved to fit each train.

But, experts of barrier free issue argue importance of public care for handicapped people. Anyone can warn a blind person walking along the edge of train platform with voices. It is necessary for passengers waiting for train to refrain from putting baggage on warning tile blocks. Under the economic policy with law of the jungle, however, sympathy on the weakness may not easily be fostered.

Non No-First-Use Lobbying

It is a great contradiction for the leader of a country, which once suffered from unprecedented inhumanity of devastation in nuclear war, to block an effort of a nuclear giant to declare not to make first use of nuclear weapon. Washington Post reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had lobbied United States Barack Obama administration to maintain the option of first use of nuclear weapon for Japan’s security. News organizations in Japan were surprised with the story of huge inconsistency.

Washington Post ran a story with headline of “U.S. allies unite to block Obama’s nuclear ‘legacy’” on Monday, which indicated that Japan, South Korea, France and Britain had privately communicated their concerns about potential declaration by Obama of “no first use” nuclear-weapons policy.

The article explained that Japan believed that deterrence against countries such as North Korea would suffer and the risks of conflict would rise, if Obama introduce that no first use policy. “Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe personally conveyed that message recently to Adm. Harry Harris Jr., the head of U.S. Pacific Command, according to two governmental officials,” wrote the article. Abe met with Harris at Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Tokyo on July 26^th. So, what is the contradiction?

Abe pledged that Japan would continue to make various efforts to bring about “a world free of nuclear weapons” in his address for the ceremony of commemorating the nuclear devastation in Hiroshima on August 6^th this month. “The disastrous experiences that took place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki 71 years ago must never be repeated. It is the responsibility of us who live in the present to keep making efforts continually towards that end,” told Abe. Having said that, Abe cannot allow any use of nuclear weapons even for security of Japan.

Japanese officials have not clearly responded to Post’s article. However, some news sources in the government revealed their uneasiness that Japan had to keep power balance in Northeast Asia under nuclear umbrella of U.S. For them, deterrence is a matter of present and a world without nuclear weapons is something about the future. While the opposite parties in Japan criticize Abe of not supporting no-first-use policy, supporters of Abe understand possible lobbying to Obama administration.

Secret support for first use of nuclear weapons would harm sentiments of nuclear sufferers in Japan. Abe’s determination for elimination of nuclear weapons is now doubted as a big lie by hibakushas. Kyodo News reported that former Foreign Ministers of Japan and Australia and other ranked officials in Asia-Pacific region submitted Obama administration a joint statement to urge application of no-first-use policy. Obama’s determination in Hiroshima earlier this year is seriously tested.

Yasukuni on August 15th

For some reason, a shrine in Tokyo is bustled with conservative politicians on August 15^th every year. It rather seems not to commemorate fallen war victims, but to demonstrate their standpoint for restorative political agenda of reevaluating cause of the war. With growing movement for justifying war, supposedly collaborated with resurge of old establishment, traditional sentiment of reflection on the devastation of war is getting diminished.

Abstaining from visiting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe donated ritual fee to Yasukuni Shrine on Monday. His private money was brought to the shrine by Special Advisor for President of Liberal Democratic Party, Yasutoshi Nishimura, and the donation was recorded in the name of “President of LDP, Shinzo Abe.” When he was asked fro reporters how did he feel about the donation, Abe did not reply. He does not hear the voices inconvenient to him.

Instead or on behalf, two Ministers in Abe cabinet visited Yasukuni. As she did a year ago, Sanae Takaichi, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, visited the shrine and donated ritual fee. “I prayed and thanked for the sacrifices for national policy with my sincere respect,” told Takaichi to the reporters. Tamayo Marukawa, Minister of Environment, for the first time as Minister, also visited it on Monday, leaving the word of “I prayed for sacrifices of indispensable life with thanks.” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Koichi Hagiuda, known as an ultra conservative colleague of Abe, also visited Yasukuni.

It seemed to be too risky for Abe administration, which is making efforts to improve the relation with China, to allow Tomomi Inada, Minister of Defense, visiting Yasukuni on August 15^th. Inada made a trip to Djibouti to encourage Japanese Self-defense Force working for dealing with pirates in Gulf of Aden. Saving the face of conservative figure in Abe Cabinet, a governmental official explained that official schedule justified her absence in Yasukuni visit.

China delivered a comment, which criticized Yasukuni visit by two Ministers. “It again was a reflection of mistake of Japanese government on history issue. China firmly opposes it,” told Spokesman with Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affaris, Lu Kang. Although Lu did not refer to Abe’s donation to Yasukuni, Xinhua News Agency criticized it as approving the aggressive war, denying responsibility as assailer and heroize war criminals. Yasukuni visit cannot be finished without being controversial.

71st Commemoration Day

Japan commemorated seventy-first War-end Day on Monday. Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who always insisted on the past of coerced democratic constitution, ignored history of the Japanese as assailant to Asian nations in his speech at the National Memorial for War Victims held in Tokyo. Making clear contrast, Emperor Akihito referred to “deep reflection” in his words. Is Japan really united with the Emperor as the symbol?

Abe intensively focused on future-looking viewpoints in his speech. “Never reiterate devastation of war. We will stay on this determination, sincerely face history, contribute to peace and prosperity of the world and do our best to achieve an environment in which everyone can live comfortably,” said Abe. He also promised his effort to build a country where young generation would live with hope to reward the war victims.

But, news media focused on the fact that Abe did not use expression of “promise of not waging war,” which had been done by former Premiers. After new security legislation was activated, there has been a consistent argument whether Japan would participate in other’s war. It is a fundamental talking point in the discussion over constitutional amendment that war-renouncing Article 9 can be abolished. Not referring to no-war promise might be accepted as an attempt for saving option of being war-waging nation.

Emperor Akihito appeared to be more sincere on the past than Abe. “Hereby, I look back the past, with deep reflection, sincerely hope not to repeat the devastation of war, express my heartfelt condolence with all the people to ones who fell down in battlefield or suffers of the war, and pray for peace of the world and progress of our country,” said Akihito.

It was the first official duty for Akihito after his delivery of a video message, which indicated his intention for abdication, earlier this month. Anything he said in the ceremony were words from the symbol of the state. As the symbol, Akihito referred to “deep reflection” on the war. Consistent attitude of Abe as if refusing that expression seems to be contradicting with Emperor’s position.

As he had been in the past years, Abe did not visit Yasukuni Shrine on August 15^th, which might have been deteriorating the relation with China. Instead, he made private donation to the shrine, as he did since 2013. Both governments are trying to set a schedule of direct meeting of both top leaders next month. Abe seemed to be taking realistic policy in terms of bilateral relation with China.

Discussion over Abdication Starts

Constitution of Japan, Article 1: The Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and of the unity of the People, deriving his position from the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power. Based on that provision, the people in Japan began discussion over abdication of Emperor Akihito. It has a lot of talking points, from the will of Emperor to political use of Emperor’s status.

Seventy years ago, Prince Mikasa, Takahito, uncle of Akihito, laid a question. “Isn’t it against the principle of Article 18 of new constitution, No person shall be held in bondage of any kind, not to pave a way for abdication except death?” Takahito said, according to an article of Asahi Shimbun. Although Takahito was in charge of discussing new Imperial Household Law, Japanese government ignored his opinion with reason that then Emeperor, Hirohito, had already approved the original draft.

Scholars on constitution recognize that human rights of Emperor, who succeeds throne or has special role as a symbol of the state, has to be restricted compared to ordinary citizens. However, the status of Japanese Emperor has changed from “God” in pre-war era to “human” in post-war Japan. It will contradict that notion to assume restricted human rights of Emperor without any consent.

It is likely that Akihito asked the sovereign people of Japan to discuss to what extent Emperor’s human rights would be guaranteed. Although Akihito did not directly referred to abdication, people properly understood his intention. In the poll of Kyodo News Agency, 86% of the people approved Emperor’s abdication before his death, requiring immediate discussion for necessary legislature.

According to Asahi, the first abdication of Emperor was right after a coup in A.D. 645, when Emperor Kotoku succeeded the throne from Emperor Kogyoku. Although abdication became usual matter of Imperial house thereafter, it was not tolerated in Imperial Household Law in 1889. The first Prime Minister of Japan, Hirobumi Ito, opposed including abdication in the law, because of huge power of Emperor in modern society, which could be used for political purpose.

Actually, politics has taken advantage of Imperial power. In 2009, Yukio Hatoyama administration set a meeting of Akihito with then Chinese Vice-president Xi Jinping without ordinary advanced notification one month before. Shinzo Abe administration decided to let Emperor participate in a ceremony of “Sovereignty Restoration Day,” April 28^th in 2013. If Imperial Household Law is amended with request of Akihito, it will be possible that politics interprets the power of Emperor as preferable for them as possible. It is what the government did in the wartime.