"Akiyama-san, please read all the reports of the defence round-table, especially the minutes and the reference materials, because they contain everything. "
Sakuma Makoto, the ex-chairman of the Joint Staff Council, advised Akiyama, who is now in charge of the review of the National Defense Guidelines, to do so, according to the book "Japan-US Strategic Dialogue Has Begun". (page 22)
The Higuchi Report was a move led by the defence top officials (Sakuma, Hatakeyama, Nishihiro, Murata and others) who were concerned about Japan's and the world's post-Cold War security. Mr Akiyama has inherited their concern. It is likely that it is these defence officials who are most pleased with the recent six-nation joint exercise over the Indo-Pacific.
Sakuma Makoto 統合幕僚会議議長 防衛問題懇談会委員
Nishihiro Seiki 防衛事務次官 防衛問題懇談会委員
Hatakeyama Shigeru 防衛庁事務次官
Murata Naoaki 防衛局長
Again, this report was compiled by my mentor, Professor Watanabe Akio, who was a member of the committee. It was chaired by Mr. Higuchi Hirotaro of Asahi Breweries, with Mr. Moroi Ken as deputy chairman, and its members were Inokuchi Kuniko, Okawara Yoshio, Gyoten Toyoo, Sakuma Hajime, Nishihiro Seiki, Fukukawa Shinji and Watanabe Akio.
It started in February 1994 as a private discussion group of the Hosokawa cabinet, holding meetings twice a week. In August of the same year, after 20 meetings, the "Higuchi Report", also known as "The Modality of the security and defense capability of Japan : the outlook for the 21st century", was completed. Professor Watanabe was 62 years old.
There were so many minutes and documents that they were piled up on the floor, and Akiyama read through them all at once.
Prime Minister Hosokawa insisted on the necessity of disarmament and ordered an urgent review of the National Defense Program.
"In contrast to previous Prime Ministers, who wore mourning suits and solemnly read their directives in front of the elite Army, Navy and Air Self-Defense Force officers from all over Japan, Hosokawa, dressed in a business suit and with a microphone in his hand, called on the Self-Defense Forces to disarm, a scene that shocked the SDF." (page 32)
The book reveals the inside story of how Prime Minister Hosokawa made his moves, and how Nishihiro ended up laying the foundations for the talks. Akiyama made a memo of the main points of the defence policy he heard from Nishihiro and included it in the book. I don't have the time to transcribe it, so I'll just post a copy of it.
How was the Higuchi report prepared and how was it received by the government and the US? I will try to keep this as brief as possible, but there is more to come.
