A Simple Focus on Respecting Life

By Shintaro David Ichihara

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution clearly renounces war. This is why many call the document the “Peace Constitution.” Needless to say, this peace constitution is a response to the enormous sufferings during World War II, including the invasions by the Japanese Imperial Army and the two atomic bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, the Japanese government has shifted its attitude towards war, especially in the last few years. And the younger generations, who have not experienced war, have an increasing tendency not to reject armed conflict.

There is much debate over the constitutionality of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, but the national government has clearly set its policy to expand the permitted actions of the SDF to make Japan a more “normal” country – that is, one which has armed forces without any constitutional restrictions.

Technically, Japan renounced the right to have military strength in Article 9. But Japan retains an armed force known as the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF). There is much debate over the constitutionality of the SDF, but the national government has clearly set its policy to expand the permitted actions of the SDF to make Japan a more “normal” country – that is, one which has armed forces without any constitutional restrictions. I still doubt that the public sentiment completely concurs with the governmental policy, but there seems to be a trend that more people support the idea of being a “normal country” in this regard. According to the latest opinion poll by one newspaper, Asahi , 60% of respondents said that Article 9 should not be changed while 31% believed that it should. A similar opinion poll in 2001, by contrast, reflected a 74% - 20% split.  

This shift has gradually occurred against a backdrop of precedent-breaking events. The 1991 UN Peace Keeping Operation in Cambodia opened the door to the dispatch of the SDF abroad. In 1996, the U.S. and Japan agreed to reexamine the “guidelines” of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, so that Japan can assist the U.S. in case of war, even if the armed conflict occurs outside of Japanese jurisdiction. After 9/11/01, Japan's move towards militarization was dramatic. Now the SDF is working in Iraq to provide “humanitarian and reconstruction assistance” under the Law Concerning the Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq, which was approved by a Parliamentary majority from the ruling parties, despite considerable dissent from the opposition.

Many members of these ruling parties are considered conservative, and they tend to forward what they regard as traditional Japanese values. A second track of the recent surge of militarization is to promote nationalism among the people, especially in the field of education. For example, the Flag-and-Anthem Bill was enacted in 1999. With the implementation of this law, use of the national flag and anthem in schools, especially in ceremonies, became compulsory in many schools. In Tokyo, teachers of public schools receive official warnings if they do not stand and sing the anthem. Part-time teachers will not have their contract renewed if they do not follow this policy. But the national flag and anthem are the same as they were before World War II, so many see them as a painful reminder of Imperial Japan.

Comprising less than one percent of the population, Christians are in the minority here in Japan. Yet Christians are quite visible in peace and justice movements. This is partly because many people who provide concrete support for peace and justice are also in the minority of our society, and these two small groups overlap. We are finding increasingly that we need to work with many people from other minority groups, such as people of minority ethnicity, people of other religions, people from citizens' groups for human rights, etc. I would say that many types of minorities support peace and justice movements in Japan.

This January and February, I spent a great deal of time opposing the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq. Late one Sunday afternoon, I received news that some people would start an 80-hour sit-in at the center of Nagoya, the city where I live. I could join the sit-in only in intervals, but I had the opportunity to meet some new people. One homeless gentleman, who is from Hokkaido, shared his story with us. He worked for the SDF in Hokkaido before, and his younger brother remains with the Forces. The division in which his younger brother works was about to be deployed to Iraq. The gentleman has many ex-colleagues in the division, too. He said, “I cannot help doing something, regardless of my social situation, because if anyone I know dies in this operation, I will deeply regret not having stopped them from going. My brother has two primary-school-age kids. What happens to them if their father dies? How can I let them go?” And the gentleman had the imagination to relate his personal situation to the struggling people of Iraq, which gave him another reason to be against the deployment.

What he said is so simple: don't kill anyone. He said this simple message without having any social power. Being poor does not merely mean being financially poor. No doubt he is not a rich man, but the more important thing is his simple focus; free of having many things around him, he was able to concentrate on one thing.

Some people may criticize his opinion as merely emotional and personal, but his words were very touching to me – mostly because of his poverty. What he said is so simple: don't kill anyone. He said this simple message without having any social power. Being poor does not merely mean being financially poor. No doubt he is not a rich man, but the more important thing is his simple focus; free of having many things around him, he was able to concentrate on one thing. To be simple in this society is not an easy job, as sleeping outside in winter is far from an easy life.

As a Christian in Japan, I strongly believe that having such a simple focus like him is the most important thing for all of us who live as minorities in society. We cannot assert our influence merely because we are Christians, but we can work for justice and peace with many other people who are also in the minority. What we should do now is say no to any decisions on our behalf that do not respect life, which Jesus redeemed by his death and resurrection. We can work for this together with many people, including those who are non-Christians, when we simply focus on life.

I agree that the situation in Japan gives us no ground for optimism, but at this difficult moment I like to remember the words of Brother Roger of Taizé in his open letter “To the Wellsprings of Joy” in 2004: “It is not only the leaders of nations who build the world of tomorrow. The most obscure and humble people can play a part in bringing about a future of peace and trust.” My hope is to live and work with such people as part of the Christian minority.

The Rev. Shintaro David Ichihara is a deacon in the Diocese of Chubu of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK), who now works as a chaplain and a lecturer of Christianity at Ryujo Junior College in Nagoya. He and his wife Shoko are actively involved in justice and peace events in greater Nagoya. He may be reached by email at ichihara.chubu@nskk.org .