Japan Press Weekly

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2008 November 12 - 18 [SDF]

Ousted ASDF chief appears before the Diet

Tamogami Toshio, former Chief of Staff of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, who was dismissed over an essay he wrote justifying Japan’s war of aggression during WWII, answered questions on November 11 at a meeting of the House of Councilors Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense.

On behalf of the Japanese Communist Party, Inoue Satoshi questioned Tamogami and Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu.

Inoue pointed out that Tamogami during his term in office used various occasions, including SDF base inspections, to give lectures and say repeatedly, “Look, no one has actually witnessed the Nanjing Massacre.” He also said, “Japan did not go into China for aggression.”

Tamogami admitted that what he stated before the Diet committee was in line with the essay he submitted in the contest.

Inoue said, “The crux of the matter involved is not the question of ‘freedom of speech’ for him’.” To the defense minister he said, “Don’t you think that it is serious that he used his position to indoctrinate SDF members in such a view that would result in a dismissal if it was made public?”

Hamada said, “It is a serious matter.”

Inoue also pointed out that in 2004, when Tamogami was the head of the JSDF Joint Staff College, he took the initiative in adding a course named “Views on history and the state” to the college curriculum and that in this new course, a visiting lecturer stated, “The current regime under the Japanese Constitution is a false regime that should be abolished.”

Hamada said, “I haven’t seen the curriculum.”

Inoue urged Hamada to disclose the content of Tamogami’s lectures and the curriculum for JSDF officers and said, “The government is to blame in overlooking his improper conduct he promoted in the ideological indoctrination of officers, which contradicts the Japanese Constitution and the government’s stated position. Successive governments are responsible for nurturing an atmosphere that allowed Tamogami to state his views openly.”

After giving an unsown testimony, Tamogami aggressively said to news reporters, “The government won’t hold a retirement ceremony for me. I worked hard for Japan and the Japanese people. Have I really done anything wrong?”