My opoinion this week(178)

Resignation of Mr. Kuse

FRC chairman Kimitaka Kuze resigned from his position last week end because
it was disclosed that he had got contribution from several big banks such
as Mitubishi Trust Bank and Daikyou , a big construction company. It is 
a well known fact that a huge amount of public fund had been injectected 
to a number of big banks including Mitubishi Trust Bank. Chairman of FRC
is in a postion to audit that those public funds are used properly 
according to laws and rules. It is obviously wrong for any politicians
who receive such contribution from banks. 

When the fact was disclosed, Prime Minister Mori commented that there
is no problem at all. Mr. Mori has finally realized the fact that it
is a problem. A big problem as a matter of fact. It seems that Mr. Mori
has only that level of political ethics. He commented further that he was
very sorry for it and admitted that the appointment of Mr. Kuse to 
FRC chairman was a mistake. Well, it look likes that Mr. Mori is a man
who believes that any serious mistakes can be allowed by such an simple
appology.

In many news papers on the same day which reported Mr. Kuse's resignation,
there were articles on 5.7 billion yen payment of advisory service charges
to two foreign consultant firms by Shjnsei Bank. Some parts of charges 
have already been paid. Shinsei Bank commented that the payment is made
in accordance with just an ordinal business transaction. As an ordinal
citizen of this country, I have a bid doubt about such huge amounts and
contents.

There is no direct relationship between those two news.  But we should
never forget the fact that Shinsei Bank is the bank which has been rebuilt
from Long Term Credit Bank of Japan  by injecting so much amount of public
fund i.e, tax of people. It is natural that every people of this country
will have some keen interest on the development of this bank, on their
management policies and proceedings. Some times they would like to say 
something and critisize their management. 

Many mass media reported this consultant fee's payment but none 
criticized it. But I wonder if that is enough. 

Having observed those two cases, the resignation of Mr. Kuse and the
payment of such huge consultant fees by Shinsei Bank, I have come back to
have a kind of basic doubt about necessity of helping big banks by injecting
public funds. Why is this necessary while any of such help is never to be
given to any other industries and firms?

2000/8/5
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion this week(179)

Chiba lost a suit

  Suzu Chiba, a free style swimmer, lost a suit in the recent arbitration
made by International Sport Arbitration Court. She appealed to the court
that it was not fair that she had not been selected to a member of coming
Sydney Olympic swimming team of Japan, regardless the tact that she won
the first prize in the 200 meter freestyle competition. The court said
the decision by Japan Swimming Association was fair. Her appeal was 
turned down. But the court ordered the Association to pay compensation
of her trial fees to Chiba. The court took two to make a quarrel. But it
was too bad for Suzu Chiba at any rate.

 It was quite meaningful, however, that Suzu Chiba appealed this to
International Sport Court. Her smile and tear at the press conference
symbolize it. She must have wanted to say some dissatisfaction on the
judgment by the court. But she said that the court decision was fair. 
She was probably advised by her friends, parents, or seniors that she
should not say any complaints any more. Many mass media were generally 
very sympathetic and were in favor of her, because of her attitude. It
is a quite Japanese phenomenon, as I may say it.

  If the case happened in the other countries, such as US or Europe, the
athletes who appealed to the court must have said that they could not
agree with the court decision. Well, I personally believe that the decision
by Japan Swimming Association was not fair at all, so far as all background
facts are taken into consideration.

  The reason why Suzu Chiba was not selected to a representative for
Olympic was rather clear. The Association could not like the way she
acted at last Atlanta Olympic Games when she failed to win any medals. 
She did not show any sense of regret for that. The association punished
her for that.

  Mr. Furuhashi, the President of the Association, says that swimming is
not an individual game but a team game. Don't be so foolish!  Except 
some relay events, most events in swimming contests  are basically 
individual game without any doubt. 

  Why do they stick to such spiritualism and totalitarianism. That is 
their basic backbone as an organization. Although it may be a little bit
exaggerated, such way of thinking is the background why this country
has not been internationalized and been left as a closed society.  

　It is quite alright for any athletes to join in the game as an 
individual players. Glory of victory belongs to a individual, not to
any organization he or she belongs. Needless to say, any organization
or countries will share that glory. That's fine. But glory comes to 
individual first rather than to any group or countries.

  Contrary to the above principle, Mr. Furuhashi believed that all
athlete should fight for the Nation rather than for themselves. That's
is quite an anachronism, as I see it.

2000/8/12
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion this week(180):

Governor Ishihara visited Yasukuni Shrine

  Governor Ishihara visited Yasukuni Shrine that aroused another big
controversy.  He was asked whether the visit was made personally or
officially as a part of his official work . He answered clearly that
the visit was an official one. 

  Several religious groups issued some critical statement on his visit.
But I don't understand why some people including religious groups are 
so nervous about the visit to Yasukuni Shrine especially the visit
by some official people. They may understand that the visit by official
people to the shrine is against the principle of freedom of religion
which is declared in the constitution, 

　 Personally I have no objection for those politicians and any official
people to visit Yasukuni Shrine to console people  who died in the last
war. That is not necessarily related with faith of any specific religion
such as Shinto. That has nothing to do with any possibility that the
nation or any officials will force people to believe any specific 
religion.

  Suppose there were some Governor or politicians who are Christian and 
they attended to a Mass held by some churches that is to console people
who died in the war,  nobody would accuse it. Or I would like to ask 
those Christianity group people if that is alright. 

  I believe that any individuals and official people are allowed to
have such freedom. Needless to say , any of such deed should never be
forced to any people under the name of the country or any name. Unless
there were such cases, there are no reason why the visit to the Shrine
personally or even officially should be prohibited. 

  In addition, I don't understand why China is always against some 
Japanese official people visit the Shrine to console people died in
the last war.

2000/8/19
Tadashi HAYASE