Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 July 29 - August 4 [POLITICS]

PM Abe’s aide refuses to resign over his controversial remark

Isozaki Yosuke, special advisor to the prime minister, at a Diet meeting retracted and apologized for his remark which has been severely criticized as denying constitutionalism, but refused to resign from his post.

In late-July, at a study meeting held in Oita City, Isozaki in his speech said that the point is whether Japan needs to have an option to exercise the right to collective self-defense in order to maintain its security. He went on to say that legal stability of the war bills is “irrelevant”. His remark immediately provoked fierce public criticisms.

On August 3, Isozaki as an unsworn witness appeared before a meeting of the House of Councilors Special Committee on the war bills and apologized for his “irrelevant” remark. He, however, took a “so-what” stance toward his remark that Japan should have more options for self-defense in accordance with changes in the international environment. He insisted that this remark is not wrong and will not be retracted. He also refused to resign as special advisor to the prime minister.

Later on the same day, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki said to the press that Isozaki’s testimony again revealed the true intentions of the Abe government.