Failure in Implementing Resolution

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

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

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

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

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

Still Deeply Divided

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quasi-regime on Rule of Law

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

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

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

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

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

Reactivation of Nuclear Village

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

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

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

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

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

New Move of Communists

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consecutive Rubber Scandal

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

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

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

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

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

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

Change Course in Taxation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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