Japan Press Weekly

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2016 May 18 - 24 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Science Council divided over military research

The Science Council of Japan (SCJ) representing the Japanese scientist community on May 20 decided to set up a committee to discuss whether to ease its postwar restrictions on military research on which opinions among scientists have been divided.

Out of a profound regret that many scientists had been mobilized for Japan’s war of aggression, the Council in 1950 adopted a resolution expressing a strong determination to never take part in scientific studies for military purposes.

Following this authoritative resolution, many universities and research institutions have been prohibiting the involvement of faculty and researchers in military-related research.

However, in April this year, SCJ President Onishi Takashi gave his “personal opinion” that basic research and development for individual self-defense purposes should be permissible.

His personal statement triggered a wave of various views and concerns, including criticism, among scientists. In order to deal with this controversial issue, the Council made the decision to launch the committee.

Regarding the establishment of the committee, Ikeuchi Satoru, professor emeritus of Nagoya University, raised the question as to why the SCJ is in a hurry to review its postwar resolution banning scientific studies for war purposes.

He said that the committee should be neutral and not support the president’s opinion automatically. If not, a conclusion coming from such a committee will not be a representative view of all members and will be meaningless, Ikeuchi added.

Expressing his concern that in the president’s opinion, nuclear weapons development would become possible if it were for self-defense, Ikeuchi said he wants the SCJ to go back to the postwar restarting point pledging to never conduct military-related research.