Voices against Security Bills

The Special Committee on Security Legislation in the House of Representatives held a local hearing in Naha, Okinawa, on Monday. Three witnesses recommended by the opposite parties argued unequivocal opposition to the bills, while the two selected by leading party even expressed deep concern on them. Although it is obvious that those opinions will undemocratically be ignored by Shinzo Abe administration, consecutive criticisms against the bills are eroding political basis of Abe.

Local hearings are mandated for discussion over important bills in committees. However, there is no binding rule for the committee to implement the opinions in the hearing. While the leading parties agreed on having one in Okinawa for some reason, it is obvious that they preferred to make a progress in the routine process of the committee, even how critical opinions would be coming up from Okinawa.

The opposite parties chose firm opponents; Susumu Inamine, Mayor of Nago city where new U.S. Marine base is being built, and Masahide Ota, former Governor of Okinawa when relocation of Futenma Air Base was agreed on, and Tomokazu Takamine, former president of Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper.

Inamine warned that the risk of Okinawa being targeted would be raised by new security legislations. “It is not only me who thinks that Okinawa will become a battlefield again. The bills should immediately be withdrawn,” told Inamine. “Although security is important, Okinawa has been left as a sacrificed stone by mainland Japan,” told Ota, drawing hard experience of Okinawa before, during and after World War II.

Attitude of Liberal Democratic Party to Okinawa was another topic. On discriminative discussion against Okinawa by LDP young lawmakers, Takamine strongly criticized it. “I see a concept among people in Abe administration or some politicians that human rights are nothing under the requirement of national security. It is awful,” told Takamine.

Recommended by a leading party, Yoshitaka Nakayama, Mayor of Ishigaki city, within which Senkaku Islands are located, also expressed a concern that understanding on the security bills are not spread enough to the people. “Once collective self-defense rights are positively allowed, there is a possibility that Japan will be drawn in someone’s war. It is very dangerous,” told Keishun Koja, Mayor of Nanjo, who was also recommended by a leading party.

It is clear that Okinawa overwhelmingly opposes the security legislation. It is not an eccentric opinion in a region far away from Tokyo, but common notion of the public. Most people realizes that reinterpretation of the Constitution is a bad doping to be a macho country.

Lesson of One-day Delay

The winning point was reduced from three to one in the last moment. It is not about World Cup Soccer, but diplomacy over cultural heritage. United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization decided to register “the remains of industrial revolution in Japan in Meiji era” to World Cultural Heritage on Sunday. Defending against the argument from South Korea that the facilities had been places for forced labor of the Koreans, Japan made a compromise to approve that inconvenient fact related to the remains. Diplomacy based on domestic complacency was dismissed again in the international society.

Japanese students learn in history class that industrial progress in Meiji era was a symbol of getting rid of its old feudalism and made foundation of modern Japan as a developed country in Asia. Japanese government recommended twenty-three industrial facilities, including Mitsubishi Shipyard in Nagasaki or government own ironworks in Kitakyushu, for World Cultural Heritages two years ago.

Soon after a consultation committee of UNESCO recommended those facilities for World Heritage in this May, South Korea opposed the candidacy, raising the negative history of forced labor. After competitive lobbying both by Japan and South Korea, World Heritage Committee of UNESCO postponed the decision of registration from Saturday to Sunday, urging concrete agreement between those disputers.

The reason why Japan was reluctant to admit the forced labor was simple. Japanese government thought that the Koreans would raise further demands of compensation for human trafficking from Korean Peninsula, once Japan accept the argument of South Korea. Japanese bureaucrats can only recognize things through benefits and losses of money.

With calculation of negative impact on historical dispute between the two nations, Japan decided to accept Korean argument. Japanese delegation released a statement to make clear the history that many people in Korean Peninsula was send to Japan against their will and forced hard labor under deteriorated environment in some facilities. It was a promise to abide by a recommendation from UNESCO that Japan would need to make an effort to explain the whole history of the old facilities.

Once a Japanese Prime Minister revision history of international relations as he likes, every nation can do the same thing. Undermining international mutual understanding, like questioning the facts on comfort women, may cause backlashes from international society, which may lead to another defeat. It is important for the Japanese in being proud of its own history to consider its impact on the others.

Approaching Caribbean Pearl

Following unexpected rapprochement between United States and Cuba, the government of Japan embarked on making closer relationship with Cuba. While it is accounting on rich natural resources in and around the Pearl of the Caribbean, Japanese government considers how to deal with a great amount of debt Cuba owes to Japan. Trying to catch up with China that has been cultivating relationship with Cuba in its rivalry against U.S., Japan is looking for a business chance as a latecomer.

Shinzo Abe administration basically welcomes reestablishment of diplomatic relations between U.S. and Cuba. “I expect the agreement is leading to regional stability and prosperity,” told Abe to the reporters on the agreement to reopen embassy in the capital of counterpart each other. Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, stressed the possibility of acceleration of bilateral relationship between Japan and Cuba, and hoped closer tie with Cuba through various channels.

Cuba is the third country, following Vietnam and Myanmar, for Japan to expect as new open market. Japanese government focuses on minerals or sightseeing resources in Cuba. Although Cuba is located on the opposite sphere of the Earth, Japan has been maintaining diplomatic relation with the communist administration. Having imported Japanese culture or goods, the Cubans are familiar with karate or judo or rubber ball for kids baseball made in Japan. Cuban cigar, rum and music are significantly popular in Japan. Both nations have fundamental knowledge of each other.

However, Cuba owes Japan ¥61 billion of mid or long term debt, which is still unpaid. Japan cannot deliver new development loan until Cuba repay the amount, which is still unrealistic so far. Japanese government is considering a similar plan which was applied to Myanmar. Japan waivered ¥300 billion of debt out of total ¥500 billion to Myanmar through its bilateral negotiation. One option to Cuba is to waiver the debt in return of more preferable business environment for foreign companies.

Some colleagues of Abe are looking for an opportunity for Abe’s historical visit to Cuba. It is based on a simple idea that Abe’s visit may become a momentum for his diplomacy, along with U.S. President Barack Obama’s legacy making. But political priority of diplomacy to Cuba is undeniably low in Japan. It is hard for Japan to build as close relationship with Cuba as Europeans did beyond Atlantic Ocean. If Japan wants to make a deal with Cuba like the Chinese do, it needs to spend more time to convince the Cubans in seriousness of the Japanese on this issue.

Appeasing Diplomacy Fails

Having been predictable enough, North Korea reported Japanese government that conclusion of investigation on Japanese abductees would be postponed. Pretending to be surprised by the message from Pyongyang, Japanese government expressed regret and started consideration of further economic sanction toward North Korea. As seen in the relation with Russia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s diplomatic legacy is seriously undermined with his unilateral behavior in international politics.

North Korea sent a message to Japan, through diplomatic channel in Beijing, China, that it would take more time for the investigation on Japanese abductees. Abe ordered Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Abduction Issue to urge Pyongyang to submit the report soon. “It is really regrettable that abductees have not come back home even after a year of investigation. We will make designated efforts to draw actual progress from Pyongyang” told Abe in a committee in the House of Representatives. Minister of Foreign Affairs sent North Korea a message through Beijing route, which expressed regret and required early solution of abduction issue through quick investigation.

North Korea established a special committee in the government a year ago and started investigation on bones of deceased Japanese, remaining Japanese or Japanese spouses in North Korea, abductees and missing Japanese. Japan lifted a part of unilateral economic sanctions, such as restriction of traveling.

However, the North broke the promise of releasing first report in the end of last summer or early fall. Pyongyang announced that the investigation would take a year last September. As same as previous attitude on diplomacy toward Japan, North Korea tried to buy time to draw further compromise from Japan. Appeasement for abductees had already failed in September last year.

North Korea hardened its attitude on abduction issue, while Japanese government tightened financial restriction on the representative office of Korean people in Japan. The First Secretary of Korean Labor Party, Kim Jong-un, is still on his way to concrete his regime. It is apparently not good time for Kim administration to soften its diplomacy toward Japan, which is enhancing its military with revised security guideline with United States.

Families of abductees urge Abe to take harder measures to North Korea. “As we have been expecting a progress for a year, which might be the last chance in our lifetime, I regret this result so much,” told Sakie Yokota, mother of one of the abductees, Megumi Yokota. Hope for final solution, anyway, is diminishing again.

Counter Attack from Media

Unusual offense against major media organizations is taking its toll. Although Liberal Democratic Party discharged Director of Youth Division, Minoru Kihara, who was responsible for the controversial meeting in which young lawmakers required political pressure on unfavorable newspapers and TV stations, criticism on the top leading party has not ceased. Media organizations are retaliating with freedom of speech against freedom of speech. LDP’s spit to the sky fell down on its face.

Editor in Generals of two regional newspapers in Okinawa expressed strong disgust on offensive discussion in LDP meeting to crush down them. “It was an excessive argument based on the notion that they were right. It ridiculed the people in Okinawa and I withhold anger,” told Editor in General of Okinawa Times, Kazuhiko Taketomi, against the argument that opinion in Okinawa had been twisted, in the press conference at Japan Press Club.

Editor in General of Ryukyu Shimpo, Yoshikazu Shiohira, the biggest daily newspaper in Okinawa and firmly critical on Shinzo Abe administration, was more aggressive. “It was extremely regrettable that they thought to confiscate freedom of speech from media organizations with unfavorable opinion through ‘logistic embargo,’” told Shiohira. He also argued that Abe was responsible for the inappropriate discussion of his colleagues.

Leaders of LDP are also accusing their young colleagues of the naïve diffusion of ideology located on ultra-right side. One of the participants of the meeting, Representative Hideo Onishi, was a big target of them. Onishi’s argument that advertisement for wrong media needed to be restricted was inappropriate as long as recognized as authoritarian nature of LDP. Last year, Onishi apologized to a female lawmaker, to whom he yelled urging marriage and giving birth during her speech in the House. It was not surprising that Onishi made another gaffe.

It is unclear, however, whether discussion over security legislature will be delayed by this scandal. Hastened by confusion in LDP, Abe and his administrative staffs look like leaning on forcible passage of the bills before the scandal gets further complicated. The opposite parties are offensive, making this issue a problem of not only some members, but LDP as a whole.

Different from ordinary argument over unusual speech of Abe, this scandal came from the deep inside of LDP. Historical revisionism of Abe is basically connected with old ideology that elite leaders should govern the people. It is not something called democracy.

Steep Decline in Demography

Ministry of Internal Affairs released demographic statistics of Japan on Wednesday. The population at January 1st this year was 126,163,576, marked 271,058 of reduction from the previous year, which was the biggest decline since 1968 when the Ministry started the survey. With aging of baby boomers, numbers of young women who are able for giving birth are getting shorter. Japanis getting into an era of steep decline of its population.

The survey has annually been operated, based on the record of basic resident registration in each city, town and village. People born last year was 1,003,554, the biggest number since 1979, while 1,270,311 was dead. The loss of population was naturally 266,757, marking consecutive decline for eight years. 4,301 citizens have moved to foreign countries, accelerating demographic shrink in Japan.

One typical phenomenon is concentration in Tokyo. In spite of all efforts to keep residents in local communities, Tokyo increased 72,516 people last year. Needless to say, it is the top booming area among all forty-seven prefectures. Hokkaido marked the greatest decline of 32,323, followed by Niigata and Hyogo. Clear contrast indicates a tendency in which big city suck up people from local community.

Shinzo Abe administration has been dealing with this problem with comprehensive policy called “Local Revitalization Plan.” But it does not work well, because measures for it are limited to traditional distribution of subsidy from Tokyo to local communities.

One of the reasons of demographic concentration in Japan is concentration of Ministries in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. With firm belief that Tokyo is the power center of Japan, bureaucrats in Ministries do not want to leave the capital city. As seen in long line in front of a new shop, the Japanese do not believe in their own assessment, but others’ behavior. They tend to think that Tokyo must be a good place to live, because so many smart bureaucrats insist on being there.

The inappropriate demographic policy caused further problem related to constitution. The survey found that difference in value of one vote got greater between big city and local region. When new data was applied to constituencies of House of Representatives, the margin between the densest district and the thinnest became greater than last year. It was the same in House of Councillors. The Supreme Court has decided that margin of one-vote value would be unconstitutional, if it marked double or more.

Even though geological experts warned that a great earthquake under Tokyo is coming soon, decision makers would not move from Tokyo. It is the laziness of politics in Japan. Although Abe is focusing on strengthening Japanagainst threats from overseas, the most important is reinforcing the healthiness inside the country. As long as politics depends on bureaucracy, there will be no solution.

Cerebrating U.S. President

On certain point of time in negotiation, Japan shifted its attitude to Trans-Pacific Partnership, a framework for free trade in Asia-Pacific region, from reluctant position to positive. Now, it is encouraging United States, the constant leader for the framework, to participate in. Decision makers in Japan seem to be leaving behind, or ignoring, firm opposition to TPP inside their country.

The political struggle in United Statesover vesting President Barack Obama a freehand on the negotiation over TPP was closely watched in Japan. Receiving the news that Obama achieved the power with approval from both Houses on the Capitol Hill, Japanese political leaders delivered the comment to cerebrate U.S. President to have managed to see green light for TPP. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a comment to welcome the decision of U.S. Senate and Congress.

The most delighted was Akira Amari, Minister in charge of TPP, who had been announcing that U.S. decision would be soon to persuade reluctant people in Japan. “It is possible for Japan and U.S.and other countries to have comprehensive agreement in July,” told Amari to the reporters soon after he got the news of U.S. approval. He predicted that ministers meeting would be held at the end of July.

Japanese government is rolling up its sleeves for coming tough negotiation. “After U.S. passes Trade Promotion Authority bill, all nations go forward to the final deal,” told Amari, showing determination to the negotiation. If he can achieve a certain goal in this issue, he will be retired as Minister for TPP in the cabinet reshuffle this fall. Suffered from cancer in the middle of the negotiation, concluding the negotiation may literally be vital for his life.

Japan is focusing on bilateral negotiation with U.S. along with TPP. On the tariff on Japanese car parts to U.S., both reached a rough agreement on abolishing it within ten years. But, on rice, both are still talking about the amount of annual import of U.S. rice to Japan free from tariff.

In the negotiation over intellectual property in TPP, there still exists a difference on how long the data of medicines should be preserved. While U.S. proposes ten years or more for data preservation in favor of major pharmaceutical corporations, Australiainsists on five years or less to lower the price of medicine. Negotiation on TPP is still not in the situation to see the goal.

Japan is not so free for the negotiation. National Diet of Japan passed a resolution to regulate Japanese government in the negotiation for some points. Japan has not achieved the requirement. It is possible for Japanese government to make a deal ignoring fundamental opposition from the people, mainly the farmers. Its consequence is coming on the leading party, which has been based on local community.