An Interview with the New Minister of Defense
(Provisional Translation)

Question:
You were assigned as the Minister of Defense in September 2011, about six months after the Great East Japan Earthquake, when activities of the Self-Defense Force (SDF) attracted major attention. How did you feel at that time?

Minister:
Since I first became a Diet member before becoming a Minister, it has been my conviction that diet members should take an interest in and have their own ideas on the nation's security and diplomatic policies. Furthermore, my constituent includes Komatsu City of Ishikawa Prefecture, where the Komatsu Air Base of the Air Self Defense Force is situated. So, I understand how people living around a base feel while also fully understanding the role and the importance of the nation's defense policy. I accepted the position because I wanted to do my very best in my own way based on these understandings. There was one thing I thought when I was appointed. Coming from a farming family and having worked in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, I have always thought that food sufficiency is the foundation of the nation's stability. Looking around the world, there is no end to conflict in countries that are in a poor food situation. Similarly, defense policy is also pivotal for a nation. In this sense, food and defense have in common the fact that both of them are pillars of national safety and security. SDF personnel, too, would not be able to show their ability in critical moments if they were not eating good food.

Question:
Being at the top of the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Force, what do you think about your leadership?

Minister:
The duty of the SDF is centered on daily training in preparation for eventualities. I think it is the role of the top to create an environment for SDF personnel to pursue their duties with pride. At the same time, we should adopt the defense/security policies that can win public understanding and make people say: "I see. I want you to work hard to implement them." With public support and understanding, SDF personnel will be encouraged to try even harder. I hope all people working at the Ministry of Defense and the SDF fully apply themselves in their duties with the citizens' viewpoint always in mind, and will conduct a review in order to maintain such an organization. Specifically, for example, when we discuss or examine defense policies among ourselves, it is natural for us to use difficult technical terms, but we should use plain words when we explain this to the public. We will make more efforts to give citizens an accurate understanding of our activities and their necessity.

Question:
Have you already inspected SDF troops since your appointment?

Minister:
Yes, I have. I inspected the destroyer "Hyuga" and the submarine "Narushio" of the MSDF at Yokosuka Area, the GSDF First Division at Camp Nerima and Iruma Air Base of the ASDF. I will actively visit SDF troops across the country as the occasion arises.

Question:
What impressed you during the inspections?

Minister:
I felt that with having different tasks and fields of operation, each of the GSDF, MSDF and the ASDF has its unique sense of tension. What impressed me most was the submarine. I was allowed to enter inside. The space was small, indeed. In order to carry out duties properly in such an environment, you need to be sound both in mind and body. You may be training your body on a daily basis but it is also important to keep the mind healthy, isn't it? SDF personnel who were dispatched to the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake must have been physically tired but I heard that their psychological fatigue was also considerable after seeing remains and catastrophic damages with their own eyes. Because the importance of mental care for SDF personnel will increase, I will provide firm support.
What has long been my impression of the SDF is the sincerity, strong sense of responsibility and compassion for others. I would like to give full credit to these qualities. They may be qualities that most Japanese citizens share but I think it is due to the appreciation of these good points of the SDF personnel that the SDF's reputation is growing in the world through PKO and international cooperation activities. I hope that continuing steady efforts and getting results will convince the world that "if we are friendly with Japan, our reconstruction/development will succeed." Then we will be able to conduct activities without having to carry weapons. I think this is the best way.

Question:
Why did you aspire to become a politician? Was there something in particular that motivated you?

Minister:
As I mentioned earlier, I am the only child of a farming family, so I wondered what should be done to eliminate the hardship of farmers and joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (currently the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.) Originally, I intended to return to my hometown in due time. However, when my father who had been in the Ishikawa Prefectural Assembly died, people of his support group encouraged me to succeed him. They said that otherwise they would have no one to support. So I plunged into active politics following in my father's footsteps.

Question:
What belief and philosophy do you have as a politician?

Minister:
"Work wholeheartedly on everything," though this may sound quite ordinary. One of my personal mottos is "Shisei Tsuten" ("do things in good faith and your wish will reach heaven"). My support group is named "Isseikai" ("single sincerity group"). The name sounds really pedestrian but I think that this is most important for anyone. For example, there is a motto "Senri Dofu" ("same wind across a thousand miles") put up by a unit of the ASDF. I heard that this means "We will work hard with the same feeling wherever we are." I wish to be "Senri Issei" in the sense that I will be nothing but sincere at all times.

Question:
How do you spend holidays and what are your hobbies?

Minister:
There has been no time for holidays since I was appointed as Minister, but I used to enjoy field work when I had time in my hometown. Our family farm is managed by my wife and local people. It's not major farming; just sweating it out with a hoe or sickle in my hand. I also love painting. I used to work with oil but now I do just watercolors and sketching because I don't have enough time for oil. I often visit art museums as well. I also enjoyed sports and often played baseball and sumo when I was young, but recently I don't do any of that as I'm getting old.

Question:
Please give your message to SDF personnel all over the country.

Minister:
The SDF plays on the center stage at the time of a disaster or crisis of the country. Therefore, at other times it is better for the SDF to be inconspicuous as a backseat player. So, I hope that you fully apply yourselves in your training and train yourself on a daily basis so that you can show your true ability when the need arises. I will work to create an environment for you to pursue your duties with pride and an objective in mind. Now, the SDF is receiving high expectations and attention of the citizens. Each of you must have a hometown. I hope you will tackle your daily duties with the people of your hometown and the community in mind. By doing this, I think we will never fail to win the support and backing of our citizens.

Question:
Lastly, I would like to ask you as the Mister of Defense to give a message to the citizens.

Minister:
To protect the peace and independence and preserve the safety of Japan are major responsibilities and roles of the government and the Ministry of Defense. Because we will firmly operate the large organization of the SDF in order to protect your peace and safety, I ask for your kind understanding. Rest assured that the Ministry of Defense and the SDF will continue training and self-improvement of their organization in order to ensure prompt and correct response to any awful disaster like the Great East Japan Earthquake or the typhoon in September this year.

interviewer : Y.Nogishi
photograph : H.Nagao
(transferred from "MAMOR" January, 2012 issue)