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Let me analyze several things about Japanese role from now.

First, Japanese concept after second World War ended, this year will be the 60th anniversary after the war ended.

And I think after the war ended, Japan, not the government but the people all realized the desperate necessity of the economic reconstruction b/c everything was completely bombed, almost empty.  So we realized economic reconstruction was priority number one political issue and on for surviving years.  And about ten years, including during the occupation, the occupation went on for about seven years, and fortunately, yes fortunately, Korean War started and that accelerated Japanese economic reconstruction b/c the US had to require so many subsidiaries and so many logistics for injured soldiers in hospitals and so on. The overall health of the Japanese economic reconstruction, and it worked very well.

And ten years have passed, in 1955, Liberal party and Democratic party merged together and so-called liberal democratic party started. Since then, this is the 50th anniversary, this November will be the 50th anniversary of LDP.  And since then, we could’ve hold, the ruling party of Japan for about 50 years, except one year, not like the labour party.  But through the, near the ruling party, for 50 years, straight, almost.  And after we, LDP, got the power under stable condition, our, Japanese concept is peace and happiness through economic prosperity.  That is kind of mutual understanding and concept of Japan, and it worked very very well since then.  Of course there is many political argument and turmoil and struggle and so on, but fortunately the ruling party, under the free economy, our opposition party was socialist, and whether we should social or capitalism, it’s a big argument, but fortunately LDP won.

And it worked fairly well, and consequently Japan reached number two economy in the world.  Gross Domestic Product is now stood at 500 trillion yen.  Still, under the recession, we are still about the same.  Well, of course there are many difficulties, such as 1973 or so, oil crisis, we import oil energy, mainly oil from the Middle East, and that price from 2 dollars to 8 dollars, four times more expensive than previous year, in one year.  It was a big issue, but fortunately the government stressed on every single private company, we’ve got to find some technology, save energy, this is the priority number one issue for, vital issue, and desperate issue for Japan, and it worked.  Our auto industry, oil consumption is much less than that of America, and the other oil falling cost, it could’ve saved our lives. Maybe second crisis was happened in 1985, November, so-called Plaza agreement.  At that time, yen suddenly re-evaluated from 240 yen to 120 yen in one year.  Evaluation doubled in one year, and it went on during 1994, April the 28th, yen reevaluated.  Finally 80 yen.

It was a very serious issue.  And at that time, what we have done, we cannot make a product in Japan and export it to other countries.  We have to go out, and make a factory, and make products in America, in Asia, so and so.  And we all said our technology, money, people, factories and so on, mainly in Asia.  Why?  Labour cost was cheaper.  That was biggest reason I think.  And we all, manufacturing companies, all moved their factories out of Japan.  Well, so many countries have done it before, such as Europe did the same thing to Africa.  United States of America did the same thing in Latin America.  We did the same thing in Asia.  But Africa, as you know, not in good shape.  Latin America, also.  But Asia took off, so-called mini-dragons, or four dragons, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore.  Those countries take off, and land, and their economy have become far better, such as Singapore’s private income was higher than United Kingdom.  It worked.  Why?  Europe did the same thing, and America did the same thing also.  But only it worked in Asia.  From now on, this is my own prejudice and dogma, but I think Japanese are the only people who worked with the people in there, such as in Malaysia, worked with Malay, in Philippines, worked with Filipinos, in Singapore, we all worked together in the factory, sweated in head, forehead, and working with them in public.

9:16

Many years ago I lived in Africa, a country called Sierra Leone, I was working for diamond minings for two years.  I never seen any whites working with black African in the factory.  I used to live in San Paulo, about one year.  Again, I never seen any Americans who was working in the factory with Brazilian.  But in Asia, go there and you will see many middle-aged Japanese working with Asians in the factory.  It’s the same thing, work XXX 10:00.  What is the difference?  I think it is one thing, only, maybe one thing.  “If I work as hard as that Japanese, I may get that levels, not a Casablanca, white house, big house, no.  Ordinary house, with two or three maids, including a chauffer.  Small families, but beautiful and not filthy rich, but ordinary life, we may have, if I work as hard as he does.  But in Latin America, there are huge house, but we cannot find any middle class in Latin America, as far as I know.  Can you find any middle class people in Africa?  Very difficult.  Similar things are happening in China and Russia too. I talked to Russian yesterday.  I must say, filthy rich.  Living in London with a huge house, but do you have middle-class in last 15 years, fifteen years means since the Berlin Wall crushed in 1990, or 1989, so nearly 15 years has passed.  Have you found a middle-class Russian?  Many rich Russians, but I cannot see any middle-class Russians, either poor or rich, there is no one in the middle.  Or the same thing is happening in China too.

But in Asia, except mainland China, there are many many many middle-class Asian, in Malaysia, in Thailand, and in India also.  20% of Indian nowadays, they are now being called middle-class, economically.  I think this is very very important.  If I worked as he does, I may reach that level.  That stimulates XXXX 13:00.  This is my prejudice maybe.  But usually, doing something, do this, that, is most convincing.  Lecture, do it, in front of them, and show them how you can make it.  And it worked.  Why we Japan, Japanese, do things like this?  Again, this is my own dogma and prejudice.  According to the old bible, Islam, Catholic, Jewish, using the same bible, old bible, what it says, good example is Adam and Eve.  God gave punishment to Adam because he double-crossed the agreement with God.  And God gave Adam work as punishment.  Work is a punishment, according to the old bible.  It says so.

1-3

Very very very minority in Japan.  But most Japanese, as you know, are Shinto, our religion.  Kind of, typical shamanism.  Shamanism is a dochakushuukyo in Japan, okay?  Bible, no no no no no.  Not so.  High quality one.  No no no no.  We don’t have it.  Bible, no no no, we don’t have it.  But the oldest one, called Kojiki, this is THE oldest one published in Japan.  If you read, you will see, God Amaterasu, who was a woman, priority number one god was a woman, not a man.  God Amaterasu was, got out from the textiles factories, I am sure it means she was working there.  And what is my gods are doing, mean is, god is not a single god.  Plural.  Polygamy.  Not monogamy.  And open the amano work door, the heavy door, opened this way, like this way.  Open door, and what is my gods are doing, and gods are all working in the field, rice field, it says so, on the oldest book in Japan.  It’s not a bible, it’s the oldest book.  Gods were working, means, gods never does a evil.  God never gave punishment.  Work is a virtue.  God, work is not a punishment, work is a virtue.  Good example is this.  When Europeans were Christian, when they retirement age, like me, I am 65 now, but age about 60 or so, most people retire all over the world.  But whenever I am invited to the retirement ceremony, celebration, party, to American, British, or whoever it is.  It is a huge party, it finish the punishment.  Right?

On the contrary in Japan, usually no one opens retirement party.  They leave the factory, company with sadness.  B/c even god got work, but I can’t work anymore.  That kind of mentality, but I think this is the result.

4:00

Go back to the previous issue. Now peacekeeping is the vital issues all over the world.  Now I am minister of internal affairs, very much domestic oriented ministry.  But on the contrary, there are many foreign minister of so and so, come to my office, such as Kadel Adafi, head of Lybia, minister of so and so from Russia, Romania, East Germany, those socialistic country, or totalitarian country, they somehow change their system to prewar democracy.  Many of them come to my office and, what they ask me, telecommunication for one.  We are very advanced in broadband, cheapest and speedwise, most high speed, and cheapest.  That’s one issue.  But most ministers ask me, minister, teachers of local government structure, how to correct local tax?  How to organize local parliament?  They used to be very centralized nation.  They don’t understand local something, local community never existed.  They all ask me, Mr. Aso, you have local government law, on the contrary, we Japan, our ministry never expected to be asked about local government law, in English, or in foreign language.  It’s written in Japanese, translating costs a lot.  And finally we decided to publish in English.  But no one ever asked Japan, local government, decentralized, and if that local area was prosper, under their own regulation and government, that will help the peace.

AS I told you at the beginning, peace and happiness through economic prosperity.  For instance, Malaysia, used to be British colony, and there are many communist guerrilla, but once Malaysia reached certain economic living standard, there are no more communist guerrilla, all gone, and their lives have become much better than before.  That’s what’s happening in Malaysia.  So I told you from the very beginning, peace and prosperity through economic prosperity, this is the issue I would like to tell you.  One, and and second thing is work is not a punishment, but work is a virtue.  This is my understanding, and show it in public, and in factory, work with them, and that is the way for them to react, I can do, even that old man can do, why can’t I do? That kind of stimulation, which we gave to Asia.  That’s why they started to work with their own motivation.  However hard I work, I can’t be Casablanca, I can’t have Casablanca house, big huge house, from the very beginning they give up.  They just follow your order, that’s all. They don’t do it by themselves, they don’t want to do it, they are not anxious to do so, they just follow your order.  That doesn’t make any money, that doesn’t create economy.

Anyway, I think there are many Peace Keeping forces being required all over the world.  Not only in Iraq, Afghanistan, but many in Africa, and East Timor in Indonesia, and so on.  But after it’s fixed, what are you going to do?  They don’t know what to do!  But after they got a kind of liberal order, peace, what is the next requirement?  Economic prosperity.  Economy, if the economy went up, they started to work by themselves.  And not receiving donation.  They make money by themselves.  Of course you have to buy some of their products in the beginning, but once they have started to do it, they can make it better than you.  At least this is happening in Asia, and we are importing so many consumption goods from Asia, made in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong.  Your shirts are made somewhere in Asia.  You are helping their economic prosperity.  You buy cheaper shirts, and not bad shirts, but it helps their economy, and their confidence.

12:12

Now the serious issue in Iraq. American soldiers say they are already experienced in so-called colonization.  For instance, British send troops to certain part of Iraq, but all soldiers are trained in police section for three months.  But U.S soldiers, many of them, no draft anymore in the US.  They all collect state soldiers.  And they collect state soldiers, all volunteers, not requirements.  And state soldiers join the military and went Iraq.  But none of them are experienced in being a police.  Why police is important?  Soldier and police look the same, but the basic difference, army, they can stay there without any help by the people.  They can survive somehow without any help, that’s military.  On the contrary, police, they have to live there, with their people, that’s a way to get the information.  Order should be done by the police, not by the soldiers.  Defenses, for instance, if you met a stranger, police say, may I see your identification card, may I see your passport?  U.S. says, “freeze, hold on.”  Big differences. Soldiers and police, attitude to other people are very different.  And soldiers behaviour create hostility of people there.  I think how to train people in that area, US soldiers, I told this to Vice President Cheney about this about 3, 4 days ago.  “You are doing this wrong.  I think you will have to learn how to get order through the police.”

Why, we Japan can say so?  We had very similar problem, similar situation, in Manchurian area before the war started.  1936, we made Manchuria in Northern part of China.  There are many terrorists at the beginning, but we changed the system and moved the power to Manchurians.  And they, Manchurians, became policemen, 90,000 Manchurian policemen. There are no more Japanese soldiers in public.  It took three years but after 1932(?), we made Manchuria nation, and moved the power to Manchurian police four years later.  But after police power moved to Manchuria.  From 1936 till the end of the war, about ten years, Harbin and so on, these areas were the safest cities, big cities, safest cities, even women can walk, alone, at midnight.  There is only one city in whole of China.

I think this is very important, but UK knows it, and Japan knows it too.  And these things are very important knowledge, and I think U.S didn’t know, and it started since half a year.  All terrorists know it, nowadays all terrorists attack police station, police training session, etc.  They now all concentrate on attacking those.  Americans are not dying there, many of them are Iraqis being killed.  This is a fact.  Of course there are few exceptions, but mainly not American soldiers but Iraqis.  And terrorists getting a kind of hostility from ordinary Iraqis.  And their government started three days ago, they are going to have a constitution, general election again under the new constitution, and they are going to have their own government, which is being elected officially by the people, I think order will start after those system is fixed.  This is my understanding.

I think nowadays we Japan, or UK knows how to train those policeman.  Don’t forget, UK, one of the very few countries, Japan too, police don’t shoot.  They don’t have pistol.  In Japan, police shot, a one single shot, newspaper next day.  No no no no.  even one single shot, police shot, fired, it will be announced.  It’s very very rare, police shot a pistol in the public.  It’s a very rare case, once a month, once every two month maybe.  That is a fact.  So I think the so many things, we have similar experiences and similar situations, and I think we can do so many things in those peacekeeping.  Not only forces, but economy, order, local governments, on those fields, we can contribute more than what we Japanese are thinking.  Mostly Japanese ideas, peacekeeping means armed forces.  But as a matter of fact, peacekeeping requires economic development at least.  Under the poverty XXX 21:40.

One more thing, this is not today’s subject, but many Americans, Dick Cheney, Halla, Rumsfeld, and so on, I met many of them, they are in similar position in our relationship with China.  I am sure here are many Chinese audiences maybe.  But, this was my answer.  China and Japan relationships, never ever at a stable level with harmonization in our entire history of 1,500 years.  Other nations, next to the big continent, like the UK.  Your relationship with France, Germany, was it very good?  We have similar problem.  Next to big country called China, how to keep our sovereignty, our independence as nation, the priority number one diplomatic issue of Japan for over 1,600 years.  This is a fact.  China was stronger, Japan was stronger, never equal, in our entire history.  In last few decades, 10, 20 years maybe, economic growing of China, and now this is the first time for both Chinese and Japanese, how to get along, how to harmonize together, this is first experience, but it is not a question of last 50, 60 years.  We are not in very well harmonized relationships.  I talked with many Chinese, and they all agree. Now we are learning.  The other matured nation, we will find some solution.  It takes some time.  This is first time. It takes some time but we will get the solution.  But no one knows that our relationship with China is for over 1,600 years.  So these are things I would like to say in 30 minutes.  Fortunately my duties are over.

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25:50

Question and Answer Session

Audience 1: I have a hypothetical question, hypothetical question.  If you became prime minister, I would like to ask you a question about related to international relations, with China and Asia.  If you became prime minister, would you go to visit the Yasukuni Jinja?

Aso: I go almost, at least once a week, ah, once a year I think.

Audience 1: As a Catholic.

Aso: Yeah, as a Catholic, of course.  Don’t forget, we Japanese are polygamist.  Eight million…

Audience: Polytheist!

Aso: Polytheist, okay.  And ah, 8,018,000 gods being XXXX [27:04] So, as a Catholic, as a Japanese, I go, honestly.  Since I was nine years old, when my grandfather was prime minister, and April 20th, 1952, was the independence day, after the San Francisco treaty finished in previous year, and started in next year.  That was the day he came to our school, took my hands, and brought me to the shrine, and today the independence day of Japan.  Those [27:52] soldiers, enshrined there.  They are XXX our nation.  Not only the last second World War.  There are six UK soldiers, enshrined there.  UK soldiers.  Serious maybe, b/c they helped Japan-UK treaty against Russia, exactly 100 years ago.  They died for Japan, they are also enshrined there.  So many many over 3 million soldiers who sacrificed for our nation, and government has to response, with the highest courtesies.  This is the natural thing.  This is my understanding.

China, what they are saying is, they are just talking about last second World War.  But there are many soldiers and people are being enshrined there.  Since the Meiji Restoration in 1868, so I think nearly 3 million soldiers are being enshrined, like Arlington Cemetery in the US.  I think this is a very natural thing, for me to visit, to go there.  This is my understanding.

Audience 1: As an individual though.  As a prime minister you would go?

Aso: I think so, I think so.  But, what China is saying is, are they sure, or are they just making a kind of difficulty to Japan?  That is a question.  B/c I talked with them in the beginning of January, and suddenly they asked me about the history recognition.  And this was my answer.  I will try to repeat as closely as possible.  Last year, it was world cup soccer, world cup trial held in China.  China Japan.  And they are very unfair XXX [30:40] by the Chinese.  But at the same time, Shinji Tanimura, the pop singer, he sang a song in China.  Nearly 30,000 audience, and finally he sang a song for XXX.  90% of the Chinese stood up and sang a song in Japanese, same Chinese.  Last year, Chinese nuclear submarine came into our area.  Well, Japanese soldiers did something, ah… our soldier invaded XXX [31:50] in China, before the war.  Same soldiers, politicians, always having a difficulty to control soldiers, not only in China but in Japan too.  You ask about the historical recognition, I XXXX what about America, [32:16] and when I look at their textbook, compulsory education textbook, in so-called deep south, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia and so on, so-called XXX area, it said, civil war, they say northen invasion.  Same country, compulsory education, but this is as if there is northern invasion.  United Kingdom, well, American independence war, it said, turmoil of a colony.  It’s true from the English side point of view.  Same anglo-saxon, in the same nation.  To get the same historical recognition.  Same historical recognition is very difficult.  China, Japan, more difficult I think.  This is my answer, and their answer was “Minister, let’s go back to the subject of mobile phones.  They changed subject.

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Audience 2: My question is related to, as far as I understand it, the direct problem, narrow problem of Yasukuni Shrine is that they have A-class War criminals.  What do u think about, do u actually genuinely object to the decision XXX 34:09?

Aso: A-CLASS CRIMINALS, YES. BUT IT BEING DONE NOT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT, BUT AN OCCUPATION ARMY. RIGHT? NOT ACCORDING TO OUR LAW, BUT WITH OUTSIDE LAW. THIS IS MY ANSWER.

Audience 2: Japan is hoping to get a permanent seat of the UN.  There are two proposals, A and B.  Japan supports the A proposal to get a permanent seat, whereas B, it would be temporary seat.  In light of Japan-China friction, are you optimistic that you will be able to get a permanent seat?

Aso: we Japan under the enemy clause, according to UN constitution, we are enemies right?  Enemy of the UN.  Although we are paying 19.5% of total expenditure of the UN.  Is this fair?  This is my understanding.  19%!  How much [35:39]  How much is UK paying? We are paying enormous amount of money but we are under the enemy clause.  This is not fair.  And when the UN started in 1941, war was not ended in Japan.  It still went on, so automatically enemy – understandable.  But 50 years is going to pass by August this year.  Are you still asking me to pay this amount of money, contribution, ODA, and still under enemy clause?  This is not fair.  This is my understanding. And if we do something more, we should be treated as ordinary.

Audience 2: SO you think, b/c of your great monetary contribution, that should help you get a permanent seat?

Aso: Permanent seat, it’s kind of dream I think.  Being treated badly, last six years, although we are paying.  But no one pay attention on enemy.

Audience 2: I think it’s Germany as well.  But I think these reforms will go through, but just finally, are you optimistic?

Aso: Not very optimistic.  I personally think, do we have to be a permanent member, anxiously?  Many Japanese say so, especially diplomatic people, but if we don’t XXX, why do we have to pay that amount of tuition?

Audience 2: B option then.

Aso: We don’t have to pay, but we do our own ODA by ourselves, reduce the tuition, and do it by ourselves, this may be more efficient in being thanked more from the particular nation, then they will say yes, XXXX.

Audience 2: If A plan (getting permanent seat) doesn’t go through, then does it mean Japan’s economic contribution will go down?

Aso: Are we going to reduce it? XXX XXX.  We will not do it immediately.

Audience 2: I am a Japanese graduate student.  Although Japan has apologized officially so many time, and also has given enormously to the development of China, still Chinese govt is accusing us.  It’s frustrating.  Even though we have economic power, we are poor in foreign ministry.

Aso: Military power is important.  Whether you use it or not, depends on your will, desire.  Japan, in last sixty years, we didn’t have much desire or intention to use the economic power.  Being nice XXX, that’s typical Japanese view, until my age, I was born in 1940, so it was war started, I am already 65, young man like you are my son’s age, my son is 20 something.  Yes I am very late.  I talked with my son’s friends, and their reaction is very much like yours.  That is, I think young generation is being abroad more frequently, and their reaction is like yours, and younger generation’s reaction is changing.  It used to be that I was hawk, not a pigeon.  But now I am just in the middle.  I’ve changed left to right, in the last 5~10 years.  Why?  B/c Kim jong il shot Taepodong across Japan, without any notice.  That influenced Japanese public poll.

Last year, we passed missile defense expenditure in the XXX session.  Ishiba san was the minister of defense, before the session started, I talked with him several times.  The missile defense expenditure would be the most touching issue during the session.  But what did happen?  More, can’t imagine, more XXX.  And emergency crisis control law also passed in both upper and lower house.  Hundred thousand XXX, 90% agreed.  Even democrats agreed.  Never expected ten, even five years ago, impossible.  This law was the XXXX of the LDP, this is the vital issue, fortunately cold war structure was going on, so we were under US umbrella, but now the situation has changed.  The cold war structure has finished, and nowadays not 1/2 but 1/4 US only.  Under the cold war structure, geographically we are next to China, next to Russia, next to US.  We exist just in the middle.  From their standing point of view, they think that Japan should be on their side, but that structure has finished.  Situation has changed.  Even ordinary Japanese are realizing recent situation.  This is the basic reason why the public poll has changed.

Audience 2: will it be more hawky?

Aso: Japan is going to change its constitution.  I think we are going to propose our constitution, new constitution, by November, and it will be a big issue, but I think it will pass.

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Audience 3: you are quite well known for being blunt.  I think it’s an unusual characteristics for a Japanese politician.

Aso: Not only you but everyone says so, so don’t worry.

Audience 3: But to me, sometimes it looks to me it’s actually a disregard for other countries.  For example, you mentioned that Korean war was fortunate for Japan, I can see that it was fortunate for the Japanese economy, but

Aso: Unfortunate for Koreans

Audience 3: Yeah I can’t imagine someone saying that in front of the public if you have any appreciation for other countries, their people’s lives… And you mentioned in your speech as well that you are sometimes prejudiced and you have dogma, so I am quite curious, do you really think you are really qualified to be a leader of Japan?

Aso: Do I qualify?

Audience 3: Do you think you are?

Aso: Yes well, how can I make the decision.

Audience 3: You are the one who is running for the offices.

Aso: Our system is not like British system.  And even if you don’t like Blair or somebody, being elected by the parliament, it’s our system, not a presidential system.

Audience 3: Yeah, and you are the one who is running for the offices.

Aso: Right, I am sure there is, there are, there will be, there will be many candidates, yes, and I am going to run, and whether I will make it, that’s the question.

Audience 3: Then I am just curious why you think you might be qualified?

Aso: It’s comparison.

Audience 3: No..?

Aso: How about the others, it’s comparisons, if they are better than me they will make it, if they are worse than me I will make it.  It’s a question of comparison.

Audience 3: So you think you are better than the other candidates.

Aso: Without that confidence how can I run?  Whether I make it, that’s a different story.

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Audience 4: I must say first of all that I am absolutely astounded by your XXX.  And I was particularly horrified by your suggestion that the Japanese invasion of Manchuria XXX is a model worth replicating in other areas of the world.  Absolutely amazed to hear that.  And for someone who has an ambition to lead your country, that you could say things like that, in a international gathering like this, in public, is it any wonder that your Asian neighbours don’t trust Japan, don’t think Japan has learned from its militaristic past, and don’t want to see Japan seeking permanent seat in the UN?

Aso: I just told you the truth, historical truth.  That was my standing point of view.  You don’t know it, you didn’t know it, right?  But I just told you that story, a historical truth.

Audience 4: I am afraid that XXX XXX

Aso: But you didn’t know how we…

Audience 4: studying international relations, there is certain amount of truth that the vast majority of the world understands.

Aso: But you didn’t know what happened in Manchuria, right? You didn’t know it, do you?  You didn’t know what we have done, using Manchurians as police, and got order.

Audience 4: On contrary, I closely studied Manchurian case.  So I know what exactly happened.  That’s why I am so amazed to XXX, that you think that should be replicated in the middle east or anywhere else.  It’s absolutely amazing that…

Aso: But use the Iraqis as the police, is it wrong?  You use Iraq people as police under Iraq government.  It’s a very natural things for them to get XXX, rather than using the US forces, don’t you think?

Audience 4: I absolutely agree.

Aso: That’s what I am recommending.  And I recommended to the ambassador Baker, etc, that you better use Iraq people rather than American soldiers, that’s my recommendation.  In Manchurian case, that’s the way we got the order.  If we kept our Japanese soldiers as police, there would’ve been a disaster.