April 19, 2025

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

A movement to oppose a bill to dismantle the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) is growing. More than 24,000 people, including many members of academic societies and organizations, have signed an online petition in opposition to the bill, and six former SCJ presidents have voiced their opposition.

The SCJ in its general meeting on April 15 adopted a statement calling for drastic revisions of the bill on the grounds that the bill does not guarantee SCJ independence from the government.

Diet discussions on the bill began on April 18. It should be repealed after thorough deliberations.

The bill would alter the existing SCJ Act and erase the Council’s founding purpose which is to perform its duties “independently” of the government based on remorse over its cooperation in Japan’s past war of aggression.

The bill would delete the phrase “independently perform” from the current law and establish a new mechanism under the supervision of the Prime Minister so that the government can intervene in the Council’s executive appointment, membership nominations, activity planning, decision-making processes, and financial affairs.

This would transform the SCJ into an organization that operates according to the wishes of the government. It would then be an institution that is different from the national academy, the representative body of Japanese scientists.

Furthermore, the bill would eliminate the preamble of the current law which states that the SCJ “under the consensus of the entire scientific community, with the missions of contributing to the peaceful revitalization of Japan, the welfare of human society, and to academic progress, in coordination with global academic communities, is established.”

This preamble expresses the commitment of Japanese scientists to peace. It is with this determination that the SCJ has adopted a statement in protest three times calling on Japanese academics to refuse to engage in military-related research. The government, by eliminating the independence of the Council, wants Japan’s academic community to have a part in the government attempt to turn Japan into a country capable of fighting wars abroad.

In October 2020, then Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, refused to accept six scientists for SCJ membership who are critical of the national security-related legislation and anti-conspiracy law. The bill to dismantle the SCJ is the product of political intervention in the national academy. The bill, if enacted, will lead to serious problems in regard to Japan’s future.

Past related articles:
> Gov’t, with aim to promote military research, intends to alter SCJ [March 14, 2025]
> Over 22K signatures opposing bill to make Science Council of Japan carry water for gov’t submitted to Cabinet Office [March 13 & 14, 2025]
> PM Suga excludes scientists critical of war laws from Japan Science Council [October 1, 2020]
> Science Council of Japan established based on remorse over wartime cooperation [February 22, 2017]