The genesis No. 1 (Part One)-A Question over the Japanese Leftists' Concept of Peace

Before the play titled The genesis-A Question over the Japanese Leftists' Concept of Peace begins, I will lay down some rules that should govern the play as follow:

1. I try to be accurate when translating all the discourses I came across in preparing for this presentation. 2. I try to be concise enough to point out the aspects possibly related to the play when translating all the discourses I came across in preparing for this presentation. 3. Whatever discourses I translate will remain tentative until I get satisfied with their accuracy.4. I reserve the right to decide which discourses I choose for this play.

Characters of The genesis No. 1 (Part One):

Mr. Toshio Tamogami is one who is said to represent the silent majority in Japan and ex-Chief of Staff of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force from March 2007 to November 2008.

Mr. Seiichi Hamada (Liberal Democratic Party) is a member of the House of Representatives in the national Diet of Japan, Minister of Defense (6th Minister of Defense whose term is from September 24, 2008 to September 16, 2009)  appointed by Prime Minister Mr. Taro Aso.

Members of Democratic Party of Japan (the then opposition party)

Mr. Hisayuki Miyake is a very popular Japanese political critic and commentator, well-known for the fact that he was an immediate boss of Mr.Takichi Nishiyama who scooped a secret agreement on return of Okinawa to Japan made between President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister Eisaku Sato and who was later arrested for violation of Public Employees Law.

Mr. Shigeharu Aoyama is President of Japan's Independent Institute Co., Ltd. (access his website for more detailed information  http://bit.ly/glhUgp )

The first video footage in which Mr. Toshio Tamogami is introduced as a controversial man on a popular TV program called "TV Tackle" aired on Feb., 2009

Discourses in the first video footage:

As already known, Mr. Toshio Tamogami retired over the question of if Japan was an aggressor or not in the last Greater East Asia War (大東亜戦争, Dai Tō-A Sensō or the Pacific War), in which he was criticized for his belief said to differ from Murayama statement issued in 1995, thereby raising another important question of whether those working for the self-defense of Japan have freedom of speech.

The then Minister of Defense, Mr. Seiichi Hamada (Liberal Democratic Party) fired Mr. Toshio Tamogami over the essay published on October 31, 2008 which Mr. Hamada thought had posed a grave concern to the then ruling party, Liberal Democratic Party by pointing out the following two aspects.

1. The views expressed in his essay contradicts the official statement issued by Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Murayama (the then chairman of Japan Socialist Party who always opposed Japan's alliance with U.S. , 81st Prime Minister of Japan, the coalition government formed by Liberal Democratic Party, Japan Socialist Party, and New Party Sakigake)

2. Mr. Toshio Tamogami should have considered his position of being Chief of Staff of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force.

However, in reply to the accusation made by Defense Minister, Mr. Tamogami states "I consider my essay and the views expressed in the Murayama statement are two different things. I've never thought that I published the essay different from the Murayama statetment.

The issue has developed into the question of how much freedom of speech those working for the self-defense of Japan are allowed to enjoy.

Mr. Shigeharu Aoyama raises the question of  why anyone writing essays in support of the views different from the official views of the Government of Japan must be sacked.  Mr. Shigeharu Aoyama further states "I know a lot of essays written by those attending Advanced Command and General Staff Course of Japan Self-Defense Forces (hereinafter referred to as "JSDF") requesting for the revision of the Japanese Constitution and many essays on PKO written by JSDF personnel differing from the views expressed by the Government. "

Moreover, Mr. Aoyama stresses that although Mr. Hamada who has shown deep understanding toward defense issues, he ordered Mr. Toshio Tamogami to retire from Air Self-Defense Force, purposely killing the best opportunity for the general public to discuss the issue.

In reply to the question made by Mr. Asao Keiichiro, the then member of Democratic Party of Japan (now a member of Your Party), Mr. Tamogami maintains the view that the Constitution of Japan should be revised, considering the growing divide of opinions among the general public over it.

Mr. Aoyama thinks that Nagoya High Court's final decision dated April 17, 2008 on the constitutionality of Japan's deployment of JSDF to the Middle East in connection with the United States-led occupation of Iraq has served as a basis for encouraging Mr. Tamogami to write and publish the essay. The decision made by Nagoya High Court is that the deployment of Air Self-Defense Force was judged to be partially unconstitutional. Mr. Tamogami who was then serving as Chief of Staff of Air Self-Defense Force said "Who cares about it?" in consideration of those JSDF personnel executing the order as made by the Government of Japan.

"The decision by Nagoya High Court seems to have possibly neglected the reality that JSDF personnel risk their lives when landing at Baghdad airport, always trying to avoid rockets to be fired at by terrorists. The major point is that there exists a huge discrepancy between Japan's Constitution and the realities of what JSDF have been facing inside and outside Japan." says Mr. Aoyama.

To be continued.

Note:
1.This series is expected to last long.
2. 村山談話 Murayama danwa has been translated into English as Murayama statement as if to say it is an official statement made in 1995 by Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Murayama (the then chairman of Japan Socialist Party who always opposed Japan's alliance with U.S. , 81st Prime Minister of Japan, the coalition government formed by Liberal Democratic Party, Japan Socialist Party, and New Party Sakigake).
However, "談話 Danwa" literally means "talk" in English.