Lully Miura, and Author and Director of the Japanese Civilization Institute Naoki Inose, Who Moderated the Panel

24-5 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031 Tel: 03-5456-8082 Fax: 03-5456-8388 Mail: [email protected] Newsletter Vol.9 Autumn 2017 http://www.japancivilization.org/

On 21st August, the ninth symposium held by the Japanese Civilization Institute took place at the Japan University of Economics in Shibuya, Tokyo on the theme of “Realism and the Nation-state.” The panelists were journalist and commentator Soichiro Tahara, scholar of international politics Lully Miura, and author and director of the Japanese Civilization Institute Naoki Inose, who moderated the panel. During the two months since our last symposium, critical elections were held in Germany on 24th September, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China convened in Beijing on 18th October, Japan’s House of Representatives was dissolved and a snap general election held, also in October. Meanwhile, North Korea still shows no signs of halting its development of more advanced ballistic missiles. The heated discussion at our 9th Symposium shed light on these and other vital issues facing Japan today, including the question of whether to preserve or alter Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, the possibility of instating military conscription, and the future of nuclear energy in Japan. Here we present just an extract of the lively discussion that took place. (Reprinted from “Shukan Dokushojin,” November 3rd, 2017) Greetings

Ms. Kimiko Tsuzuki—Chairperson of Japanese Civilization Institute Thanks to the support of you all, I am happy to announce that the Japanese Civilization Institute is now in its third year and is holding its ninth symposium today. Recently, when we encounter unexpected heavy rain, we often call it “guerrilla rain,” but the word “guerrilla” in Spanish actually means “unpredictable.” When we look at our lives today, we can say that it is not merely the weather that seems unpredictable. Our lives, politics, economy, nation, and international affairs seem increasingly chaotic, and full of guerrilla-like situations. It is no exaggeration to say that we are heading toward an unpredictable era of unpredictability. The Tsuzuki Group’s founder left us a book entitled, “Wa-shite Nagarezu” (Harmonize, but don’t flow). There is also one of the “ron- go” (Analects of Confucius) that reads, in Japanese: “Wa-shite dozezu” (Harmonize, but be unmoved). How can we protect our national identity while still maintaining peace and harmony? How can we meet the challenges of this new era while preserving our identities and independence? Today we have once more invited Mr. Soichiro Tahara, together with Ms. Lul- ly Miura, to address these complex questions from a global perspective. We look forward to hearing their wide-ranging opinions based on a realist view of the world. Please enjoy today’s panel to the very end.

“Is There an Operational Check & Balance Function in Japan Today?” Toshio Goto, President On my bookshelf at home there is an old tome entitled “Fumetsu no Enzetsu” (Immortal Speeches). In this book we are introduced to speeches by such notables as Yukio “Gakudo” Ozaki—known as the “God” of constitutional government in Japan—and Takao Saito—an unforgettable presence even today. I am sure that many of you here today know about professor Gakudo Ozaki, who was famous for the many things he called for in his ad- dresses. Today you can still find his statue standing near the Diet. Among those many speeches, I would like to introduce to you just one, that he gave in 1913. Ozaki that year delivered a well-known address calling for the impeachment of Prime Minister Katsura, declaring: “…I suspect they use the Imperial throne as a bulwark to defend themselves from attack by their political opponents, and use “Shochoku” (Imperial edicts) as political bullets with which to topple their opponents.” This aggressive address created a sensation, and led to the top- pling of the third Katsura Administration of Prime Minister Katsura Taro. Apparently speeches played an important role in those days, enabling people to attack, even to bring down an entire administration. Yet what about speech in Japan today? Both the media and the opposition parties are a disaster. Strong language, but we have to say what must be said. Is not democracy a political system that can only be created in an environment in which a decent, functional structure of checks and balances exists? While keeping the theme of today’s panel discussion in mind, I would like to ponder this point with all of you here today.

About the group Address: 24-5 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031 Designed by artisancompany Japanese Civilization Institute Tel :03-5456-8082 Fax:03-5456-8388 Established in August 2015 Website: http://www.japancivilization.org/ A Report on Our 9th Symposium Realism and the Nation-state What should Japan believe in, when a new world order is in transition?

Soichiro Lully Naoki Tahara vs. Miura vs. Inose （journalist) scholar of director of Japanese （international politics ）（ Civilization Institute ）

The Nation-state Tahara: Yet President Trump has an- conscription, too, of course, but to- nounced that he is “quitting global- day let’s just talk about taxation. Tax- and Globalism ism.” Instead, he’s insisting that the ation is a problem that all companies United States stick to being a “na- have to address when they start do- Inose: I believe that the nation-state tion-state.” ing business overseas. These issues is the most delicate model for a na- Inose: Trump thinks that the na- are not so familiar in Japan as they tion of any created in the 19th Cen- tion-state model has collapsed due to are in other countries yet, simply be- tury. It’s a kind of system where there globalism. There are also people in cause Japan is not yet truly faced are tax payments, military conscrip- the U.K. who think that their sover- with full globalization. tion, and a Congress, to take but one eignty has been weakened by their Meanwhile, in the United States, example of a real-world nation-state, participation in the EU, causing they are finding it harder and harder a system in which every citizen can Britain as a nation-state to crumble, to even define what is meant by take part and in which every citizen and Brexit (the U.K. voters’ referen- “their people,” which is one of the is responsible. It’s the system of a na- dum decision to leave the EU) to reasons why their nation-state has tion in which any citizen can become happen. Meanwhile, on the other begun to collapse. When the U.S. a bureaucrat, and in which decisions side of the globe in China, there is declared its independence and creat- are made by winning the majority of still no “nation-state” at all. ed a new nation, there were only 13 the votes in Congress. Miura: The reason that there has states. Since then, it has expanded its been no other replacement for the land area, tearing off parts of Mexico nation-state since the 19th Century and increasing its number of states. to today is that there is still no world And now, even after expanding its government. Yet in reality, there are territory, huge numbers of new im- many individuals and companies migrants have come rushing in. The that are working outside the realm of U.S. is finding it hard to distinguish nation-state, resulting, for instance, who are “its own people” and who in the inability of nation-states to should be considers “outsiders.” collect taxes. Meanwhile, even with- In this context, Trump has tried to in nation-states there are some people control illegal immigration, and re- who are living peaceful lives, while strict the further acceptance of immi- others are forced to take on burdens grants to one people who have high that profoundly affect their lives, like skillsets, like Canada and Japan do. joining the army. He attempted to incontrovertibly de- Soichiro Tahara As Mr. Inose said, taxation is the fine the U.S. border, and to control very basis of the nation-state. There’s the number of immigrants that enter

2 ment. So why was he arrested? of the former head of Chinese News Tahara: Liu’s position in China was Service that you just mentioned, the same as, say, the president of there is no doubt at all that he sup- Asahi Shimbun in Japan. I think the ported the government. So what was two most problematic societies in the reason? Did he just say some- the world today are China and the thing wrong? Or perhaps he was in U.S. Trump has had one of his most touch with the wrong kind of people prominent supporters, Steve Ban- inside the establishment? non, submit his resignation. Mean- Tahara: One of the things that while, in China, Xi Jinping has ex- strikes me when talking with Chi- pelled Sun Zhengcai, who had been nese executives is the fact that China widely said to be the next contender will never give rise to an individual Lully Miura for top leadership. Before that, Xi al- like Mikhail Gorbachev. It has been so arrested Bo Xilai, the influential said that the Communist Party of the country. governor of Chongqing. the Soviet Union dissolved because Then, after the U.S. has succeeded Miura: I heard that No Xilai’s suc- Gorbachev tried to embed freedom in clearly establishing that border, he cessor as governor of Chongqing has of speech in the USSR during the then wants to share income within been arrested, too. period of Perestroika. In other the United States. This is what the Miura: Having successfully gotten words, the one-party dictatorship of Republican Party call “tax reduction.” through the National Congress, Chi- the Communist Party in China will Similarly, Trump thinks that na has now further strengthened its never come to an end. “childcare support” is not about suppression on freedom of speech. During the last days of Hu Jintao, spending loads of money to build new The other day a TV station even when his administration was at the nursery schools. Rather, he sees it as asked me to comment on why imag- point of collapse, there were people building U.S. competitiveness by de- es and messages of “Pooh” have been who talked just that way, and I think ducting the total amount a family expunged from Chinese websites. Xi Jinping himself has a similar sense spends on education from their taxes Inose: What do you mean by “Pooh?” of crisis. Furthermore, Xi Jinping when they file their tax returns. Miura: Winnie the Pooh! Some time may well be intending to follow in The nation-state Trump envisages ago, when President Obama met the footsteps of Mao Zedong. Nor- is by no means a challenge to global- with Xi Jinping, images of Obama as mally, his term would end in another ization. Instead, he’s simply suggest- Tigger, the tiger character from Win- five years. But perhaps he will con- ing: let’s pause, draw a line on what nie the Pooh, and Xi Jinping as Win- tinue in power for another ten years, has been going on so far, and rear- nie the Pooh circulated widely on or possibly remain at the top for the range things. That’s the way I see it. the Chinese Internet. That was be- rest of his life, and kill anyone who fore the party meeting, and China gets in his way. Xi Jinping and was on high alert for any kind of Miura: I think it’s natural that the today’s China criticism directed at those in power. Communist Party of China—or the If you even search for the phrase “Xi Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Inose: On 26th August, Liu Beixian, Jinping” on the Internet in China, for that matter—would be more busy the former head of the Chinese you’re immediately detected and in- worrying about the future of their News Service, was held and put un- vestigated. That’s just how it is. So party than they are worrying about der investigation. Just from this sin- it’s only natural that Internet users the future of their nation. But Japan gle news item alone, you can see how might use secret words such as is, to some extent at least, a democrat- much Xi Jinping is suppressing free- “pooh” to describe Xi. ic nation, while China is a country dom of speech in China. Mr. Tahara, It sounds absurd, yet riots begin dominated by single party and where you are a member of the Japan-Chi- in some unexpected place and spread there is no freedom of speech. na Journalist Exchange Meeting and in the blink of an eye in today’s in- A country collapses when there’s you have spent time with Liu Beix- formation-driven society. In order to no counter force, and its leader only ian, haven’t you? nip any such revolts in the bud, the thinks about himself. If we consider Tahara: Yes I have. Liu was the lead- Chinese authorities restricted the us- the future of the Chinese Commu- er of the Chinese team. I founded age of the word “pooh.” nist Party, it’s better that Xi Jinping the Japan-China Journalist Exchange It’s often the case that these kinds doesn’t become another Mao Ze- Meeting, and we have been holding of riots happen among people who dong. I don’t know if Xi will in fact meetings once a year, alternating be- are at the forefront. But then again, push that and try to become the next tween Tokyo and Beijing in turns. Chinese bureaucratic organizations Mao. But at present, his only politi- Inose: Liu Beixian didn’t seem to be like to try to read between the lines. cal rivals are within the CCP itself. I opposed to the Chinese establish- However, in reference to the arrest refer to the followers of Jiang Zemin.

3 ern hero of the Civil War, should be rights activist—was killed by a right- removed[from a university campus wing counter-demonstrator. The in- in the state of Virginia that was his cident reminded many Americans of alma mater. Statues like this of Lee the white supremacist group, the Ku and other Confederate officers and Klux Klan (KKK). That was simply politicians stand in various corners unacceptable for some many Ameri- of the American South, like the stat- can people. ue of Takamori Saigo in Japan. Moreover, because the President Nonetheless, many people, mostly essentially melted down in public on liberal Southerners, insisted that the subject during the press confer- statue should be taken down because ence, there was anxiety among the it was a symbol of slavery and racial Republican Congressional leadership Naoki Inose discrimination. that many core conservatives and In response, right wing Southern- business leaders might leave him. If Xi Jinping doesn’t defeat these fol- ers there opposed the plan, saying Therefore Trump had no choice but lowers, it has been said he won’t last that Lee was a hometown hero and to sacrifice Bannon in order to main- another five years. That’s the state of his statue should not be removed. tain his public image. Even if the riot things in China today. Up to this point, it was all right. hadn’t happened, it has been widely Tahara: There’s something that I But then white supremacists from reported that there was a set plan in said to the Chinese participants the North and across the South place to fire Bannon at the same time when I first launched the Japan-Chi- joined in and rushed to the scene. that he appointed a new White na Journalist Exchange Meeting. I General Lee was an army command- House Chief of Staff. told them: “China has liberalized its er of the Confederate States of Amer- So Bannon is now out of power. economy. However, the government ica, but he doesn’t necessarily repre- But he has said that the Trump phe- is still dominated by a single party sent racial discrimination. Rather, nomenon that he supported and and no other effective parties exist, defenders of the statue argued, Lee claims to have created himself is now which creates an unbalance. I told was a historical figure in American complete. He’s going to try and fight them that if they liberalized the Chi- history, who led the Confederate ar- from the outside now. nese economy, they should liberalize my when the South succeeded from The media misunderstands this the Chinese government, too. “Why the North and established the Con- point. They think that in the coming can’t you do that?” I asked them. federacy. months hardline conservatives in the At first, they simply answered, Ultimately, this confrontation ex- GOP will attack mainstream GOP “No way.” But after a few discus- ploded in a riot. In addition, Presi- conservatives, and that Trump will sions, they said they thought China dent Trump’s own comment after the lose his support among right-wingers should have multiple parties. Or, if it riot aroused further criticism. In his and eventually lose power altogether. cannot have multiple parties, that it first comment, he clearly avoided crit- This is wrong. Bannon is going to should at least democratize the CCP. icizing counter-demonstrators who fight from the outside to try and And in order to do that, we people had attacked the demonstrators call- eliminate moderate Republican Party with the power of words at our dis- ing for the statue to be pulled down. candidates who are opposed to posal should make the effort. That But in his second comment, he did Trump’s policies during the primary was what they all said to me at the criticize them. In his third comment, elections for the Congressional mid- time. he just lost his mind. term elections a little over one year Nonetheless, opinion surveys after from now, and again as the next pres- Removing the the incident showed that it hadn’t idential elections a little over three really affected his approval rate years from now approaches. If far- Statue of General among U.S. conservatives. His sup- right media like Bannon’s Breitbart Robert E. Lee port rate was still at 67%, among News get together with the alt-right conservative voters, a drop of only, and work together to eliminated Tahara: I frankly have no idea what say, 7% to 8% And this was even af- moderate Republican candidates in President Trump is trying to do. ter he fired Steve Bannon. the mid-term elections and next However, because of his actions, Tahara: Wasn’t Bannon the member presidential election, it will ultimate- among those American voters who of Trump’s team who was most op- ly work out in Trump’s. say they support the Republican Par- posed to removing General Lee’s We must view all that is going on ty, 70-80% still favor Trump. statue? If the incident didn’t hurt in U.S. politics now cynically. Real- Miura: In August, there was an in- Trump, why did he fire Bannon? istically speaking, I think it is a mis- tense dispute over whether a statue Miura: A person died in that riot. A take for liberals to make optimistic of General Robert E. Lee, a South- little girl—the daughter of a human assumptions.

4 Inose: “Political correctness,” which nomic disparity, which is causing The Japanese government moves proved effective in addressing some class differentiation. to agree to this proposal but again the discrimination and prejudice, was a Inose: The racial issue is very Japanese army, which by then had pervasive aspect of the Obama Ad- deep-rooted. When Japanese and grown so powerful political, once ministration. Even though in his Chinese people immigrated to the again disagrees. And this is how Japan own hometown General Lee repre- U.S. West Coast before the war, just becomes so isolated. sented a heroic military figure, rath- like the Mexican immigrants today Inose: Ignore Chiang Kai-shek, cor- er than being seen as a symbol of op- they were accused of having come rect? Konoe’s so-called “Declaration position to the emancipation of there to take over the country. They of a New Order in East Asia”? black slaves, he nonetheless became a were Asian, so they were called “yel- Tahara: That’s right. It’s a truly ab- contentious phenomenon in a pres- low.” Similarly, the people of the surd story. ent-day dispute. Mongol Empire were called “yellow In fact, Konoe even formed the Tahara: Ms. Miura, I am sure that face” when they invaded Europe. Showa Research Group, some of there are white people out there who The Japanese people, too, were whose members − like Hotsumi Oza- do think they are superior to blacks feared as being “colored people” with ki and Kiyoshi Miki − were close to and other races, but isn’t there a gen- an army when they defeated Russia being leftists. The group was opposed eral understanding in the United in the Russo-Japanese War. Mean- to the Sino-Japanese War, and when States today that it’s unacceptable to while, Japan hoisted the flag of Konoe was then Prime Minister, they express that? Pan-Asianism, insisting that they wanted to stop the war right away. Miura: I think that kind of feeling is were fighting for justice by fighting So Kouki Hirota actually asks difficult for Japanese people to un- off the powerful Western countries Germany’s Adolf Hitler to arrange a derstand. Of course they don’t hate that were trying to invade Asia. We meeting for him, and he succeeds in or fear black people. They see black see this continuing up to and meeting with Chiang Kai-shek in the people everyday, whenever they go through the Pacific War. company of the German ambassador shopping in supermarkets, for exam- to China, Oskar Trautmann. Just ple. They shake hands and have con- How and why when this back-channel negotiation versations with them. But economic is about to succeed, the Japanese Ar- disparity is rooted in our race, and the Pacific War my invades Nanjing. Moreover, arro- you can’t avoid the differences this happened gant members of the Japanese Army has caused in class. actually order Chiang Kai-shek to To take one concrete example, you Tahara: Japan informed England pay compensation to Japan. Chiang see virtually no black people at the and France, members of the League Kai-shek refuses. Because Konoe was racing circuits of NASCAR (Nation- of Nations, in advance that it was a timid man, he did not want to be al Association for Stock Car Auto planning to invade Manchuria. looked down upon by the Japanese Racing), America’s largest motor When the Lytton Commission ar- Army, and gives his fatefu] order to sports association. rived in Mukden to investigate the ignore China’s Nationalist Govern- There are these underlying, un- Manchurian Incident, the Japanese ment. stated rules, and eventually some government thought it would be Inose: America was keenly interested white people start saying that they criticized for occupying Manchuria, in the Pacific and China, so they don’t want black people—in short, but it wasn’t. In fact, the League of were on the look out against Japan, a people who are not like themselves— Nations moved to acknowledge Ja- country that might ultimately join using the tax money that they them- pan’s occupation of Manchuria. It in the battle for those rights. It is this selves paid. was the Kwantung Army (Japan’s dispute that ultimately leads to the In the end, it’s all about taxes. In armed forces in Manchukuo) that ig- Pacific War. the third press conference, where nored the big picture of internation- Tahara: I personally prefer to believe Trump so notoriously had his melt al affairs and egoistically invaded Re- in the theory put forward by Ms. Mi- down, he declared, “the racial issue is he Province, leaving Japan no choice ura’s professor, Junji Banno. Banno all about employment.” The liberal but to exit the League of Nations. argues that as the Sino-Japanese War media thought this comment was Subsequently, in 1935, an English dragged on, the Americans became absurd. They criticized Trump for delegation visited Japan and asked concerned that Japan might become being ignorant of the history behind the Japanese government to cooper- a new Germany in Asia. So they felt racial discrimination. ate with England in helping fund the the need to strike against Japan. It is Yet I personally think that there’s forces of China’s Chiang Kai-shek, in that sense that Banno says it was some truth to his words. The racial who was effectively broke. If you ultimately the Americans who in ef- issue is not only about whether peo- agree, they said, they would persuade fect “started” the Pacific War. ple of different races can ride the Chiang Kai-shek to approve Japan’s Miura: The world maps that we use same bus. It’s ultimately about eco- occupation of Manchuria. in Japan show Japan in the center of

5 the map, and the other countries of wanted a fight with Japan, but it just that panel discussion the phrase that the world on both sides, correct? so happened that Japan gave it a con- you used, that the people “have the There was a study that came out venient opportunity to join the war responsibility to protect one’s na- some time ago, but according to it, against Nazi Germany. tion” was equated with old indige- the U.S. Navy at the time used the Inose: That’s true. After all, even nous Japanese notions like—“if Ja- same kind of map that we Japanese Perry only came to Japan after first pan is ever invaded, it will fall into still use today. In other words, when crossing the Atlantic and Indian the sea and drop dead,” or, “yet even you look at the world using this kind Oceans. so, we are going to stay in this land of map, when you cross the Pacific Japan wins the Russo-Japan War and die fighting.” Ocean from the U.S. West Coast, shortly after America occupies the I personally think that there might you first end up in the Philippines. Philippines and Guam and establish- exist a moral obligation to protect There was actually a time when the es its own military bases there. In one’s country. Yet I don’t think every United States occupied the Philip- that sense, it was true that Japan was individual has an inherent, legal re- pines, from its defeat of the Spanish becoming a potential threat to U.S. sponsibility to protect their country in the Spanish-American War. It interests when they considered estab- in the face of such a crisis. seems the U.S. Navy, at least, had al- lishing U.S. supremacy in the Pacif- Tahara: In that case, then, I have a ready realized from the beginning of ic. After all, in those days it would question I would like to pose to you. the 20th Century, that they needed have taken the Americans 10 days to Japan possesses the right of to build up the military logistics to cross the Pacific and reach the Phil- self-defense. Who, then, is the one to be able to cross and hold the Pacific. ippines. Japan was much closer, so “execute” self-defense? Of course there was no air force at naturally they regarded Japan to be a Miura: Japan the nation is the one the time, so the only military force in threat in the Pacific. This sense of a that executes self-defense if needed. the U.S. that rivaled the political in- potential crisis in the making led The definition of war was decided fluence of the navy was the U.S. Ar- America to prepare a contingency long ago, when the Crusaders kept my. The army was looking at a world plan for the invasion of Japan called losing in battle in the Holy Lands, map that had America located in the “War Plan Orange.” and numerous kings and knights be- center. Of course America also wanted to gan to think that perhaps they When you look at the world using secure its power over China, just like shouldn’t decide to go to war just on this map, Japan is far, far away in the the other powerful European coun- the basis of following the voice of Far East. The US. Army badly want- tries had. The Philippines and Guam God. In other words, the head of the ed to cross the Atlantic first, because were a kind of bridgehead for this nation—at that time, usually the the Nazis of Germany seemed a far plan, and they feared that Japan King —should declare war. greater threat to them than did Ja- could invade them both at some Since that time, all wars other pan. So at this point in time the point in the future. than civil wars or private wars are de- American government and military clared by the head of the nation. In were seeking a way to win the sup- Are the people today’s Japan, that individual would port of the people for crossing the be the Prime Minister. Atlantic and joining the war against responsible for Tahara: Even so, Japan is a country Germany. But they couldn’t find a protecting their where, under the Constitution, ulti- persuasive reason. Traditionally, Amer- mate authority is vested in its peo- icans had never gotten involved in nation? ple. So if the chosen leaders of the European wars. Even when WWI people decide to begin a war, in ef- erupted and the U.S. finally sent Tahara: Changing the subject, Ms. fect it is something that the people troops, the war ended almost as soon Miura, is Japan truly a nation-state? have decided, too. as they reached Europe. Miura: Yes. Japan is a nation-state. I Miura: Yet it remains a representa- But then one day, a small country am avoiding strict definitions, of tive system. So the exercise of the in the distant Pacific named Japan course, but Japan is a homogeneous people’s authority is not direct? attacks Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian nation over which Japanese people Tahara: Yes. But the people who are Islands. The American government have sovereignty. executing political decisions are indi- was delighted that Japan had provid- Tahara: And yet, on 11th August, viduals who were chosen by the peo- ed an incident that was so conve- when I said on the TV program ple through elections to represent nient for them to use. The attack “Asa-made TV!” (TV Until Morn- them. So in effect, authority is still galvanized the American public and ing!) that “the people have the re- vested in its people. And that being Congress, and eventually America sponsibility to protect their nation,” the case, how can people say that it succeeded in joining the war in the most people disagreed. doesn’t concern them? Atlantic and the European theater. Miura: They all had different rea- Inose: You’re saying—because elect- In other words, America never sons for opposing you, I expect. In ed officials represent the people,

6 their decisions become the people’s state leaders would suddenly just de- After the war, Japan replaced na- decisions, correct? clare war? This is what is written tionalism with pacifism. There were Miura: If you look only at the sys- down, again and again, in Article 9. times when nationalism did raise its tem, that is the way it works. But Tahara: If the Constitution was head again, in various different when you are actually invaded, and something forced upon Japan against forms, such as when Rikidozan, the you realize you are only armed with its will by General Headquarters, legendary pro-wrestler, delivered ka- bamboo spears, whether you choose why didn’t successive prime minis- rate chops to the Sharpe brothers, or to fight or not depends on your own ters try to change? when huge anti-American demon- personal philosophy. Or so I think. Inose: When the Korean War erupt- strations were organized by students To rephrase the question, the nation ed in 1950, GHQ ordered Japan to opposed to signing of the Japan-U.S. exists to protect its people. When the create what it called a “Police Re- Security Treaty of 1960. Yet these nation proves unable to protect its peo- serve Force.” This later evolved into flare-ups were like the ashes of the ple, do the people still have an obliga- today’s Self Defense Force. Pacific War being stirred up one last tion to remain loyal to their nation? GHQ originally asked for a troop- time. I think the belief in protecting Tahara: A while ago, Mr. Shii, chair- strength of 300,000 for the Police our country by ourselves is gone al- man of the Japanese Communist Reserve Force, but Prime Minister together. Party (JCP), mentioned that the Self Shigeru Yoshida said Japan could on- Defense Force should be dissolved in ly provide an armed force of of The Self Defense the future. When I asked him what 75,000. we should do if an enemy invades Why was that? Force and nuclear our country, he replied, “If that hap- Firstly, because Yoshida didn’t plant workers pens, we’ll have every citizen gather think the Korean War would end together and fight with what they’ve quickly. He thought the war would Tahara: About 20 years ago, when got.” Exactly as Ms. Miura just said, drag on and on, like the Sino-Japa- Germany was not yet unified, I had it’s all about bamboo spears! nese War had. If so, a large force of an opportunity to visit West Germa- Miura: I think that was probably approximately 10,000 technically il- ny. They still had conscription in just simply JCP rhetoric. I’m sure legal Police Reserve Force troops Germany at the time. they wouldn’t say the same thing if might find themselves left behind on During a discussion I had with a they ever assumed the reins of gov- the Korean Peninsula. If that were to West German scholar, I insisted that ernment. happen, they might start doing conscription was ridiculous. Both Now, this is an important point, things that were not in line with de- Germany and Japan have fundamen- so I will return to what we were cisions made by the central govern- tal human rights, I told him. Doesn’t talking about earlier. ment in Tokyo. the act of telling everyone to enter Individual people, one by one, do Moreover, those troops might be the army violate that? not have authority. But because au- exposed to socialists and state social- The scholar answered that those thority is vested in “the people” as a ism and start supporting it, like some who don’t want to join the army didn’t whole, power is born when a major- in Japan did before the war. They have to. Instead they could choose to ity is formed. We as a nation de- might even start off a war them- care for the aged or take part in other clared our commitment to pacifism selves. Yoshida feared that these private voluntary activities for the so that small groups of people would kinds of things might happen, and so same period of time as military service. not run out of control and make he limited the size of the Police Re- I had no reply to that. mistakes. That is why we have Arti- serve Force. Miura: Conscientious objection? cle 9, paragraphs 1&2, of the Con- Tahara: Shigeru Yoshida also said I believe what you are trying to stitution. that Japan should revitalize its econ- say, Mr. Tahara, is that the Japanese Moreover, the allied powers de- omy first, but once that had been people have been skimming the militarized Japan after the end of the achieved to a certain extent, he said cream off the top. Am I right? war. In other words, because Japan Japan should also revise the Consti- In other words, Japan started out through its actions had seemed to be tution. But why didn’t subsequent by creating the Police Reserve Force, unaware of international law before Prime Ministers Ikeda, Sato, Tanaka which later became the Self Defense the war, the allied powers now specif- and Nakasone mention revising the Force. As a result, Japan now has one ically wrote it down in the Constitu- Constitution? of the largest militaries in the world, tion. They said there is a pact that is Inose: I think it became a kind of yet its people have probably never called an anti-war pact under which taboo. Nationalism is a kind of “po- once seriously even debated whether international law prohibits all war tential power” that is produced they have an obligation to protect apart from defensive war. So don’t whenever a nation-state is created. their country or not. Is this what you you ever start a war again like people Japan expended its nationalism and have in mind? did back in the 19th Century, when its power during the war. Tahara: Japan’s overall military

7 strength today is the 4th most pow- Constitution as their anchor. Article is no single person in the Liberal erful in the world. And the Japanese 9 seemed to embody their ideals, and Democratic Party with ultimate re- Maritime Self Defense Force comes thus it has become their identity. sponsibility for the nuclear plant is- in second among world navies. The fact that Prime Minister Abe sue. In other words, right now not Miura: Yes. And bearing that in has stressed that he only intends to one person is thinking seriously mind, I would like to return to the add a third paragraph to Article 9 about how to deal with the issue. basics, and say that a nation exists to instead of revising the language of I have personally asked some of protect its people. the existing two paragraphs shows the senior leaders of the LDP like We must never fight a war in that he understands that the identity Akira Amari and Yoshihide Suga to which the aims and measures are of left-wing supporters rests on the become the point man on the nucle- wrong, and we have no obligation to current Constitution. ar plant issue. They all said they obey the rules put forth by any na- Tahara: I think that people on the didn’t want to. I have questioned ev- tion that gets involved in such war. left in Japan want to leave the Consti- ery Minister of Economy, Trade and According to contract, a soldier may tution completely alone. They don’t Industry about the nuclear plant is- not abandon his weapon and flee want to see any changes made to it. sue, but they have all said they don’t from battle. But no less a figure than Inose: It’s like they are under a curse, want to comment on it. Thomas Hobbes said that it is wrong and cannot deviate from that one When the Tokyo Electric Power to hang a normal citizen just because ideal. They aren’t capable of thinking Fukushima plant accident happened, he tried to run away from war. realistically. the Democratic Power of Japan—to- A human being is granted only Tahara: If I were to take that one day’s Minshinto—were holding the one life. Ever since I wrote “Civilian’s step further, I would point out that reins of government. There were ma- War: On the Origins of Aggressive De- the very people who are against revis- ny people in the party who liked to mocracies” (Civilian no Senso),” I have ing the Constitution also believe that talk, but very few who were eager to been arguing that a war that is decided the U.S. will protect them. They do the dirty work. by the majority but fought by a mi- think the U.S. will act as a deterrent. Yet among them, Yoshito Sengoku nority is wrong. That’s why we should Inose: When I appeared on NHK’s alone stood up and said that he restrain ourselves when it comes to television program “Hakunetsu Kyo- would tackle the problem. Then war. That is all I am trying to say. shitsu” (Incandescent Classroom) Goushi Hosono, Yukio Edano and But if that is the case, then why with Professor Michael J. Sandel of Seiji Maehara gathered around him. didn’t the leaders of the Liberal Harvard University the issue we talk- Government officials like Takashi Democratic Party revise the Consti- ed about the most was conscription. Shimada—who is today serving as tution under the 1955 system, when There is now no compulsory mil- Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade they could have easily done so? Re- itary duty in the U.S., and this has and Industry—and Takaya Imai— garding Shigeru Yoshida, I think resulted in a number of effects. Pro- who is now a Personal Secretary to you’re both right. However, Japanese fessor Sandel explained that now Prime Minister Abe—also took part. left-wingers were still very powerful poor people find work in the mili- At the time, the Liberal Demo- after the 1955 system. tary, while people in the upper class cratic Party was an opposition party. Tahara: The left wing had consider- found ways to avoid it. Among LDP members Tadamori able power until the 1980s. He observed that, in the case of Ooshima—who seemed qualified to Miura: Before the end of the Cold Japan, we should try and think of it take responsibility and tackle the is- War, up until the Soviet Union’s in- as similar to the situation regarding sue—was asked to cooperate with vasion of Afghanistan, Japan’s leftists nuclear plant workers. Workers who Mr. Sengoku because the issue did believed their philosophy was correct are exposed to radiation in their not concern just the Democratic Par- and never doubted it. But the Cold work at a nuclear power plant cannot ty, but the nation as a whole. Ooshi- War ended in the Soviet Union’s de- remain on their job at the plant once ma accepted the task, and joined feat and socialism collapsed. The their exposure dose levels reach a cer- Sengoku in addressing the crisis. left-wing’s pride today lies in nation- tain limit. So, when each nuclear At the time, I thought that if the alism. They always believed nation- plant worker does reach their limit as Liberal Democratic Party were to realism was the identity that kept the they do, someone else has to be gain power again, it was a sure bet weak afloat. But they lost their pride found to take their place. that Ooshima would be put in with the USSR’s defeat. Sandel pointed out that if we charge of the nuclear plant issue. Furthermore, it was the Japanese don’t think of such situations in the However, I was wrong. Prime army and a conservative political ad- same way that we think of military Minister Abe saw him as being argu- ministration that started the war, so duty and tackle them seriously, prob- mentative and difficult, and made they also had to regard nationalism lems that affect the interest of the him a party committee chairman. to be wrong and evil. Ultimately, entire nation cannot be solved. And so now there is no one handling they turned to the pacifist post-war Tahara: Surprisingly enough, there the issue today. The person in charge

8 of energy inside the LDP is Fukushi- lies not in – in this example the life- Summit Conference of the Leading rou Nukaga. I have met with him time of nuclear power reactors – but Industrialized Nations in Okinawa as three or four times to try and per- in the fact that instead of facing these a sign of his gratitude. suade him to become the point man issues head-on, our political leader- But when Hatoyama became on the nuclear plant issue, but he ship and other actors are just post- Prime Minister, he said he would keeps refusing. poning them into the future. Japan’s find a place for U.S. forces to relocate Inose: I thought that 3/11 would attitude toward tackling these kinds of to other than on Okinawa. Then, prove a historical turning point, in issues has not changed in the least. having said that publicly, he struck a which the concept of the “post-disas- Tahara: There is another fundamen- secret agreement to relocate the base ter” period would finally take hold, tal lie regarding what is going on in to Henoko after all. Hatoyama is the and would be looked back upon his- Fukushima. one who truly confused things. torically as a turning point. But it Tokyo Electric Power Company is Miura: Then there are the people turned out that we as a nation could trying to remove the nuclear fuel de- who are against the U.S. military not create a structure under a re- bris resulted from the Fukushima bases on Okinawa for purely politi- sponsible person eager to tackle the meltdowns. Yet the nuclear special- cal reasons. problem where citizens could coop- ists say that it’s impossible to do it. It’s natural that there should be dif- erate by volunteering to take on dif- They say that the best option avail- ferent thoughts regarding this issue. ferent obligations. If we cannot even able is to cover it over with cement But the government should not make accomplish that, then it may be dif- and other shielding as they have at promises that cannot be kept. Ac- ficult for us to revise Article 9 of the Chernobyl. cepting as fact that the U.S. military Constitution, too. So why not do that? The reason presence is protecting us against po- Tahara: So, then the question. Can why they cannot do it is because To- tential threats, we should then com- we really call this kind of country a kyo Electric Power made a rash pare and consider what are the advan- nation-state? promise to the local population that tages we get out of that arrangement, Inose: That’s exactly my point. they would remove and transport the and what are the disadvantages that nuclear fuel debris somewhere else. we have to come to terms with. As People’s awareness They will not be able to remove long we Japanese are “borrowing” the that debris, no matter how many lives of of the U.S. armed forces, we and national years they try. Yet people are bound to have to accept risks that are in the line decisions a promise that was, and still is, a lie. with the risks we would accept if it Miura: The Japanese people tend to- was an army of our own. Miura: Yes, there is no doubt that ward what could be called “partial Also, another problem with Japan the issue of burden sharing and the optimization.” But in order to solve and its attitude toward its own de- issue of the people’s awareness -- not issues on the scale of nuclear energy fense is that when, for example, the to mention the issue of the nation’s policy, that will not work. They Japanese government says it wants to decision-making apparatus and will- should try and see the big picture, alter the Japan –U.S. Status of Forces power – are all critical. keep costs low, and reduce risk. Agreement, it turns out that the Jap- But obviously, there’s a question Tahara: In a similar vein, Yukio anese side has not even read the orig- mark on all sides. It would be dread- Hatoyama is ultimately behind all inal text of the agreement, nor com- ful if the nation proves unable to the confusion over the relocation of pared the terms of the agreement make decisions despite having a cen- the U.S. military base in Futenma, with similar agreements in the rest of tralized government. Okinawa to Henoko in the north of the world. At the moment, the Japanese Con- the island. When Ryutaro Hashimo- Tahara: I would like to add a com- stitution has defects. For example, to and Keizo Obuchi were prime ment on that. what happens if the Self Defense ministers, they had officials of the Prime Minister Abe has succeeded Force is dispatched for PKO (Peace caliber of Hiromu Nonaka, Seijiroku in revising the Security Bill and win- Keeping Operations) and a crime oc- Kajiyama and Yukio Okamoto liter- ning approval for the right of collec- curs? Are they going to apply Crimi- ally walk around Okinawa, talking tive defense. nal Law to the case because there is to the people, and they secured local I met Prime Minister Abe after no existing Military Law? approval to relocate the U.S. military that, and observed that -- now that Or again, regarding nuclear energy base to Henoko. we have approved the right of collec- policy. Even if we extend the opera- Moreover, it was the people of tive defense -- we should also revise tion of nuclear plants that have al- Okinawa themselves who first sug- the Status-of-Forces Agreement. I ready passed their designed operation- gested the relocation. Prime Minister asked him why he doesn’t negotiate al life-span for another decade or two Obuchi personally thanked Okinawa the agreement with the U.S. now, we will still have to decommis- for accepting the relocation, and in Prime Minister Abe replied that in sion them someday. The real problem turn made a decision to hold the fact they have already revised the Sta-

9 tus-of-Forces Agreement, but that Tahara: When I met Mr. Abe in Sep- this. That is why I personally think the U.S. side has insisted that they tember last year, the Liberal Demo- we should keep paragraph 1 of the keep it quiet. cratic Party had just taken 2/3rds Article 9 exactly as is. Miura: I think they don’t want to control of the Upper House in the Tahara: I do not think this will hap- emphasize it because Japan has no July Upper House elections. I told pen for a long, long time. Yet, if the Military Law of its own. When a sol- him that I thought that now was the U.S. should withdraw its forces from dier commits a crime, his sentences time to hold a public referendum on Japan, do the Japanese people really may be heavier or lighter than those whether or not to revise the Consti- have the will to protect their country handed down in regular trials. For tution. by themselves? example, punishment for sex crimes But Mr. Abe replied, “I can’t say it Miura: Japan has no other choice is heavier for soldiers than for civil- out loud, but there is now no longer but to do so. Whether the United ians. Sex crimes occur frequently in any need to revise the Constitution.” States withdraws its forces or not is war, so you have to keep the punish- That is what he said. up to the U.S., not to us. I think it’s ments for it severe, or you will not In other words, the U.S. has gone very wrong to think that Japan and be able to prevent them. But at the quiet on this issue now that Japan has the U.S. are one. same time, punishments for sex approved the right of collective de- Inose: The U.S. won’t withdraw crimes overall are extremely light in fense. from Japan, for strategic reasons. Japan. If we’re not even seriously Yet in a survey conducted by the The U.S. military cannot reach the thinking about how to discipline our Asahi Shimbun newspaper, 63% of Middle East theatre without bases own Self Defense Force troops, how the constitutional scholars surveyed Japan. Although of course, they’ll can we be prepared to punish sol- said that the existence of the Self De- probably ask Japan to share more of diers of the American military if they fense Force violates the current Con- the expenses of maintaining their commit a crime? stitution. So in fact, it really is better presence here. Inose: If the Self Defense Force is to mention its existence in the Con- Miura: I do want to point out that not mentioned specifically in the stitution, as Abe said it is. I told him there is a difference of opinion re- Constitution, then there is no legal that, in order to make it happen, he garding this. Although that is the basis for addressing any of the issues would have to do it in a way that will way things still stand today, it has that we have just talked about. It’s be acceptable to the Minshinto Japan been said that the days of preserving the same issues as leaving nuclear fu- Democratic Party is able to accept it. control of the sea is coming to an el debris in nuclear power plants that Miura: When Goushi Hosono was end. Issues revolving around missile are left unattended. still a member of Minshinto, he an- defense are now at the forefront of In terms of military strength, Ja- nounced the so-called “Hosono military thinking, and in time even pan’s Self Defense Force is 4th in the Draft” in the May issue of “Chuo that, too, is going to change, evolv- world, and has a budget of 5 trillion. Koron.” magazine. The Jiseikai—the ing into fighting wars with space- Yet we can barely get permission to political interest group to which he based assets and cyber technology in inspect its actual strength and con- belonged—was a group of conserva- the near future. tent because the very existence of the tives within the then Democratic Tahara: I think it is important for Self Defense Force is not written into Party. Yet even doing this, he was Japan today to seriously ponder ways the Constitution. unable to get approval from the to co-exist with China. From the For example, what kind of weap- group to even touch on Article 9. I Liberal Democratic Party to people ons does the SDF use? We presently think it is important to understand on the farther right—people like To- cannot confirm even that. that this is still the current situation shiko Sakurai and Shoichi Wata- Therefore, Mr. Abe is suggesting within the Democratic Party. nabe—everyone seems to believe in that we revise the Constitution by I personally do not think that all the “China Threat” theory. However, adding a 3rd paragraph to Article 9 the current deception revolving I personally do not think that the and thereby include the Self Defense around the Self Defense Force and “China Threat” is a good paradigm Force in the Constitution. This addi- the Japan-U.S. alliance will turn out at all. The greatest mistake we made tion would only acknowledge the all right if we simply revise the Con- as a country before the Pacific War existence of the Self Defense Force, stitution. was that we continued to fight and would create no other problems Moreover, where will that self-iden- against China. I find myself in agree- beyond that. tity and sense of nationalism and ment with Toshihiro Nikai regarding However, if Japan as a whole does pride that many Japanese do feel for this point. not break the habit of putting off ad- Article 9 of the Constitution go, if Miura: The fact that a person like dressing today’s problems until to- it’s changed? Many on the left in Ja- Nikai can still be a member of the morrow, there will be no meaning pan have come to rely on Article 9 as Liberal Democratic Party is an indi- even to taking these measures. their personal replacement for na- cation the broad perspective the par- tionalism. I am very concerned with ty has regarding policy toward Chi-

10 na. Nikai has even been saying that rectly. There is no point to simply sit- form itself into a round shape if it he intends to put together a delega- ting around analyzing theoretical mili- were to be placed on a round plate, tion of 5,000 people to visit China, tary threats and worrying about the and a square shape if it were to placed including the political hawks, in- threat posed by the Chinese economy. on a square plate.” cluding people living in big cities Inose: China is a country about Having gone through so many and small towns and villages, not to which—if you look at its political long years of absolute monarchy, mention representatives from com- structure and see events like Xi Jing- with dynasties changing from one to panies and associations. ping suddenly arresting the president another, the Chinese people are im- The “China Threat” theory is like of the Chinese News Service—you bued with a certain unique kind of a disease that is eating Japan. Of can come away with the impression power and flexibility. course China is a threat. What we that it is impossible to know or pre- As exemplified by the Fukushima need to learn is how to fear China dict what it is going to do. nuclear fuel debris issue and Article correctly. If the Chinese economy Yet at the same time, China is a 9 of the Constitution that we have soars, we can make money from it, country of vast range and depth. In discussed earlier Japan has a tenden- too. There are real merits. It’s unwise my book, “Defeated in War in the cy to take measures without looking if we try and do something about Summer of 1941,” there is a section closely at the real problem and mak- external forces over which we have where I write about the “Soryokusen ing informed decisions. I think that no control, including China increas- Kenkyujo” (Total War Institute) for in the years ahead, this will truly ing its national power, globalization, military studies. The chief of the in- have to change. and the withdrawal of countries from stitute asks the research students, international alliances. “What kind of people are the Han (Reprinted from “Shukan What we should focus on is not try- race (the Chinese people)?” Dokusho-jin,” November 3rd, ing to stop the unstoppable, but how The correct answer is: “a flexible 2017) to respond correspondingly and cor- race like water, a race that can trans-

The panelists Soichiro Tahara Journalist. Born 1934. He is now creating new horizons in TV journalism on TV Asahi’s programs “Asa-made Nama TV (Live TV Until Morning)” and “Sunday Project.” Specially appointed professor at Waseda University, and head of the Ookuma School focusing on leadership skills. He has also appearing in numerous other TV and radio shows including BS Asahi’s “Gekiron! Cross Fire (Heated discussion! Cross Fire),” and is the author of numerous books.

Ruri Miura Scholar of international politics. Born in 1980. Miura is a graduate of the University of Tokyo Facul- ty of Agriculture in 2004 and the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), She earned her PhD from the Graduate School for Law and Politics of the University of Tokyo. She is currently a lecturer at the University of Tokyo’s Policy Alternatives Research Institute (PARI). In 2014 she launched her blog site “Yamaneko Nikki,” featuring her incisive critique of political views centered on international politics, Japanese domestic politics and Japanese society. Miura is the author of “Civilian’s War: On the Origins of Aggressive Democracies” (Civilian-no Senso) and “Understanding Contemporary Japanese Politics and Diplomacy (Nihon-ni Zetsubou-shiteiru hito-no-tameno Seiji Nyumon).”

Naoki Inose Author. Born in 1946. In 1986, he received the Souichi Ooya Nonfiction Award for his book “Mikado no Shozo” (Portrait of the Emperor).” In 1996, he received the Bungeishunju Readers’ Award for his book “ Nipponkoku no Kenkyu” (A Report on Japan).” In June 2002, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizu- mi appointed him to the Promotion Committee for the Privatization of the Four Highway-Related Public Corporations. He served as Tokyo Governor from December 2012 to December 2013. In De- cember 2015, he became Special Advisor to Osaka City. His books include “Show 16-nen no Haisen” (The Defeat in Showa 16), “Persona—Mishima Yukio Den” (Persona: The Story of Mishima Yukio) and “Picaresque—Dazai Osamu Den.” (Picaresque: The Story of Dazai Osamu). Upcoming books include “Kyushutsu” (Rescue), “Senso, Tenno, Kokka” (War, Emperor, State), “Seigi ni tsuite Kangaeyo” (Let’s Think about Justice), “Minkei” (Posse Man), “Tokyo no Teki” (Tokyo’s Enemy) and in collaboration with Lully Miura, “Kokumin Kokka no Riarizumu” (Realism and the Nation-state).

Translation: Ayako Karino

11 Japanese Civilization Institute 2017 10th Symposium

The Liberal Democratic Party won big in the most recent the general elections. Yet it is time that we look beyond Abenomics and think of what else we can do from here. How can Japan recover as a nation? First, we must learn to separate the macro and the micro, and re-examine the present situation in that light. What kind of possibilities are to be found in regional revitalization? We will have Japan Civilization Institute’s tenth symposium welcome Shigeru Ishiba, author of “Nihon Reetto Sousei-ron” (Japan Island Construction Concept) and Kazuhiko Toyama, author of “Naze Rokaru Keizai-kara Nihon-wa Yobigaerunoka?” (Why Japan will Recover, Beginning from its Local Economies), who has participated in numerous business revitalizations. Join our tenth symposium to talk about regional revitalization, and administration strategies for the future.

▶ Panel discussion: Where should Japan go from here? Abenomics and reforming strategies beyond that

Shigeru Ishiba Kazuhiko Toyama Naoki Inose Liberal Democratic Party, House of Industrial Growth Platform Inc., CEO Author, Director of Japanese Representatives member Civilization Institute

Date: 2 9th November, 2017, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (doors scheduled Admission: 2 ,000 yen (please pay at the door on the day) to open at 6:30 p.m.) How to attend: a pply through the site below: Venue: J apan University of Economics, Tokyo Shibuya http://www.japancivilization.org/ Campus Hall (the hall seats approximately 100 people) Contact: J apanese Civilization Institute Address: 25-17, Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0031 03-5456-8082

Traditional Crafts Worldwide：https://shops.japancivilization.org Online Site Japanese：http://japancivil.shop9.makeshop.jp

Messages from Director Japanese Civilization Institute has been introducing and selling traditional crafts of Japan. Although it is said that there is approximately 1,200 types of traditional crafts in Japan, its production is declining. As part of our activities, we hope to discover valuable traditional crafts spread across the nation, enjoy Japanese craftsmanship and its beauty inherited over the centuries, and develop it with you.

Tsumami Kanzashi Folding Screen Folding Screen KYO-YAKI Japanese Bamboo Odoshi - (Crepe) (half size) (full size) Earthenware Basket Tokyotrad Samurai Armor

Contact：Japanese Civilization Institute 24-5 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031 Phone : 03-5456-8082 Mail : [email protected]