My opinion of this week(691):

Time to reconsider basic relationship of Japan and US

In the election campaign of representative of Democratic Party of Japan on
Wednesday, Ichiro Ozawa addressed  the contentious Futenma issue. He said:
"Because most people in Okinawa are opposed to the plan, it will be difficult
to carry out. We should put our heads together to solve the issue. I think 
there must be a certain good plan to which both Okinawa and US will agree 
with". It sounds like he indicated to have some specific plan. All people 
showed a great interest on it. 

However, next day on Thursday,  Ozawa backpedaled from his claim the 
previous day that he had a new, specific plan for relocating U.S. Marine 
Corps Air Station Futenma and basically said the pact reached in May to move
the base to Nago,Okinawa, must be followed. He answered this to the question
raised by news reporters and Prime Minister Naoto Kan. Naoto Kan ironically 
asked Ozawa: "If there were such good plan, I would like to hear all about it."

Naoto Kan might have thought that he gained some points from Ozawa throughout such
debate. He also indicated  Ozawa should share the responsibility for the
decision on Futenma saying Ozawa was Secretary General of DPJ at Hatoyama
Cabinet that made that agreement on Futenma. Ozawa denied this saying 
he was not concerned with any political decision on Hatoyama Cabinet at that
time. 

I don't admit agree with such a statesman made by Ozawa. But it's quite OK for 
him to bring up this Futenma issue as one of an important political issue in
the election campaign.

On Friday, Toshimi Kitazawa, Minister of Self Defense Force, brought up this
debate between Naoto Kan and Ozawa in his press conference and criticized Ozawa
to argue Futenma issue in that way in the election to choose next Prime 
Minister of Japan. He said that the issue was already settled down in 
diplomatic route between Japan and US. He indicated there would no room to make
any further modification on the agreement and any of such statement made by 
Ozawa would cause further confusion on the issue. Such topic is not be 
discussed in the election campaign to select a representative of DPJ who will
 become next prime minister of Japan. That may be the logic of Kitazawa on this
issue.

I know and understand what Toshimi Kitazawa meant to say. But I don't agree
with it at all. The issue of Futenma is surely one of a big issue to be 
discussed in the election. It's concerned with very basic diplomatic and
self defense stance of Japan in the future. It's concerned with basic 
Japan and US alliance. 

It is surely the basic question to be raised at this time now, isn't it?
Is it OK for our country to continue the present Japan-US alliance ? Is Japan
an equal partner with US in every aspects of diplomatic and defense 
relationship with US?.  Many people, including myself would say no to that
question.

Ichiro Ozawa is the statesman who has casted a big doubt to that question in
many years. He has insisted to improve such unequal relationship between 
Japan-US in many respects and change Japan-US Security Treaty  in many ways.
I believe that is a natural course of action Japan should take from now on. 

Futenma is just a short term diplomatic and national security issue. Ozawa will
surely follow to any agreement already made between Japan and US including 
Futenma issue, if he would become next Prime Minister. But there exists a 
number of diplomatic and defense issues to be reexamined and reconsidered in 
the light of equal partnership of Japan and US.

People should pay more interest and attention of Ozawa's long range vision on
security and diplomatic relationship not only with US but all other nations
especially with China, the giant neighbors for Japan. Such argument should be
made in many ways in the rest of election campaign between Prime Minister 
Naoto Kan and challenger Ichiro Ozawa.

2010/9/4
Tadashi HAYASE

１９９７

１９９８

１９９９

２０００

２００１

２００２

２００３

２００４

２００５

２００６

２００７

２００８

２００９

２０１０

My Profile :

・Born in Sakai City Osaka Prefecture
・Graduated from Economics Dept.,University of Osaka Pref. 1963
　( University Homepage )
・Graduated from the Graduate School of Business Administration,
　(Haas School of Business) , University of california,Berkeley, 1965
・Fulbright Scholarship 1964 ( Fulbright Grants Program )
・Worked for Japanese firms and American firms for over 30 years
　Engaged in management of general,marketing,manufacturing,data processhing
　and so on.
Living in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Pref. ( Kagawa Net)

My Personal Interest and Hobbies:

・Tennis
・Syougi(Japanese Chess)
・Personal Computer (BBS, Disk Top Music, etc.)
・Senryu (a Purple Willow:literal translation)
・etc.

What I want to do by Internet:

・Participate and debate in some news-group concering Japanese and
　 international issues
・Participate some voluntary consulting activities concerning Japan-
　 US business practice for young people who are engaged in international
　 business
・Creation of Alumini Association net-works
・Enjoy playing chess on on-line　
・Creation of worldwide tennis club network
・Exchange Senryu with Japanese people
・etc.


Drop me e-mail：
Tadashi HAYASE JCG03001@nifty.com

Page Revised on September , 2010 Ver. 8.40
Copy Right (C) 1997-2002 Tadashi HAYASE