Nervous Japanese Want More Military Muscle

by Suvendrini Kakuchi

In fact, as late as last year, it was still hard to find a Japanese who thought Tokyo should strengthen Japan's present military, which under the post-war constitution is supposed to be for self-defense purposes only.

But as fears continue about North Korea's reported plan to launch a second missile test, more and more Japanese say that perhaps it is time for the military to have more muscle.

Some even say Japan should begin to wean itself from the United States, with which it has had a defense treaty for decades and whose security umbrella Tokyo has relied upon for defense.

In truth, a defense white paper that is being prepared is said to be tilting toward that direction. Scheduled to be released at the end of this month, the paper has been reported to emphasize three major challenges that Japan is facing in the area of defense.

While it focuses on the threat of a missile attack from North Korea -- Pyongyang's earlier test firing last year flew over Japanese territory -- the paper also outlines the need to reform the current military weapons procurement system.

In addition, it seeks new guidelines for the operations of the Self-defense Forces around Japan.

These have set off rumblings across the nation, and many Japanese admit that they are fearful of getting involved in another war again.

Yet at the same time, they also say that being too dependent on the United States to defend Japan may not be the best solution.

For instance, 59-year-old salaryman Kenji Mochizuki says he hates the former Japanese military, of which he considers himself a victim.

He still believes that the Imperial Army is at fault for most of the miseries Japan suffered in the hands of the Allies and the shame the Japanese endured after their country lost the war.

But he says he also remembers how the victorious Allies burned most of Japan and adds: "I am not happy with allowing the Americans to dictate to us all the time."

For decades, the Japanese agreed to have such an emasculated military for a pacifist country.

But a restive North Korea and a desire by some to "grow up" without U.S. "protection" has apparently made many take a closer look at the Japanese armed forces, and decide the military needs more than what it has now.

In a poll conducted in July by Japan's largest daily, the 'Yomiuri Shimbun,' almost 70 percent of the 3,000 respondents supported plans to strengthen Japan's defense because they worried over the threat to the nation's security.

Some 30 percent, meanwhile, said they were not satisfied with how the government was forced to rely on the U.S. response to reports earlier this year that North Korean spy ships had crossed into Japanese waters.

These respondents also said they wanted new legislation that would allow unrestricted action by Japan alone, when needed.

Mochizuki puts it this way: "We Japanese managed to bury the ugly past by working hard to rebuild the country and our lives. But now the situation is changing."

But there are also many Japanese who are getting upset with such talk, which has dredged up unpleasant wartime memories. As it is, they say, Japan's military defense has already been given a boost by bills passed in June.

Both flag and anthem had long been associated with Japan's pre-war past and the Imperial Army's tactic of playing on the nationalist sentiments of the people to get what it wanted.

Homemaker Atsume Yasumoto, 70, says that in particular, the hoisting of the Sun flag and the new defense guidelines with the US that will allow Japan to play a more active military role -- -- bring hot tears of anger flowing down cheeks.

"I recall the period when as a child I was taught to bow to the sun flag as a symbol of the Emperor every morning and night declaring my total loyalty for him," she says. "I realize how I was cheated and duped by the state that used Japanese citizens as instruments of war."

But many more Japanese insist that dwelling in the past will not protect Japan from present and future threats. Says Shunsuje Nakajime, 25: "The new way must be for Japan to become militarily strong again."

Nakajime, however, does not agree that Japan should begin distancing itself from the United States in the matter of defense.

"We should not break off our alliance with the United States," he says, "because after all, it is the world leader and it is to our advantage to work together."

For his part, Mochizuki says he will give his nod to such an arrangement if only to ensure that the Japanese government will be unable to "turn the nation into a war machine again". He adds: "It is still difficult for me to really trust our politicians."