Japan Supports U.S. Attack on Iran

The United States launched a war on Iran, naming the operation “Epic Fury,” that invited retaliation of Iran to neighbor countries including Israel. As a close ally of the U.S., Japan responded to the war with support for Trump administration. However, there are a lot of concern in Japan about economic impact of the war. Some gaps between politics and the people are seen in recognition of new conflict in the Middle East. 

The news of attack of Iran by U.S. Forces with Israel was brought to Japan in the afternoon of Saturday February 28th. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi got back from her trip to Ishikawa prefecture to support a candidate for gubernatorial election and convened a ministers meeting of National Security Council (NSC) in her official residence in Tokyo. “I ordered related ministries to collect information and best effort to secure Japanese people in the region,” said Takaichi to the reporters late at the night.

 

Ministry for Foreign Affairs raised the level of warning in Iran on January 16th from Level 3, advice of refraining from visiting, to Level 4, which recommended evacuation. However, about 200 Japanese people were in Iran, when U.S. strike in Iran started. The people left in Iran included some diplomatic personnel or staffs of non-governmental organizations. There are some Japanese who were married with Iranian.

 

Ministry of Defense prepares for dispatching self-defense forces to neighbor countries of Iran for evacuation of Japanese citizens. The operation will, if necessary, be made by Minister of Defense with request from Minister for Foreign Affairs.

 

In a press conference after NSC meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minoru Kihara, avoided criticism against the U.S. Instead, he demanded Iran to stop activities including development of nuclear weapons, which would cause instability of the region. “Negotiation between the U.S. and Iran is extremely important for solving Iran’s nuclear issue, and our country has strongly supported it,” said Kihara.

 

In a foreign ministers meeting of Group of Seven (G7) in the morning of March 1st, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Toshimitsu Motegi, explained Japan’s standpoint as supporting efforts of the U.S. for solution in Iran’s nuclear issue through dialogue, based on the notion that development of nuclear weapon by Iran was intolerant.

 

 

About 95 percent of Japan’s oil import depends on Middle East, most of which is transported through Strait of Hormuz. Iranian navy issued prohibition of traffic in Strait of Hormuz after U.S. strikes on Iran. Shipping industries of Japan, which are Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), refrained from passing the strait. Japan has reservation of crude oil for 254 days ahead. However, it is unclear whether the war will end within months.

 

As an only country that suffered from atomic bombs, Japan has a sentiment against nuclear weapons. Secretary General of Centrist Reform Alliance, Takeshi Shina, questioned U.S. operation, which might be made with a resolution of United Nations Security Council. One of the leaders of Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations issued a comment that doubted U.S. strike as contradicting their hope for the world without nuclear weapons and wars.

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