Isn’t JSDF Member’s Appearance in LDP Convention Political?

What was wrong for a member of Japan Self-defense Force (JSDF) to sing the national anthem, Kimigayo, in national convention of the Liberal Democratic Party? Official answer to this question by Sanae Takaichi administration was “It was not illegal.” Nevertheless, criticisms are rising not only from opposition parties, but from leading coalition. Minister of Defense, Shinjiro Koizumi, questioned communication system in his ministry, ignoring his SNS posting with the singer. 

As well as they have brass bands, each self-defense force has professional-level singers among the members to perform in ceremonies. In the LDP national convention on April 12th, a sergeant with Ground Self-defense Force in uniform sangKimigayo at the beginning of convention. Koizumi posted his photo with the sergeant on X, attaching a comment that he was proud of music band of JSDF.

 

Article 61 of Self-defense Forces Act prohibits a member of the JSDF to be involved in any of “political activities” except voting in elections for public officers. Article 86 of Enforcement Ordinance of Self-defense Forces Act defines “political activities” as supporting or opposing a specific party, or specific policy with intention of affecting direction of politics.

 

Ministry of Defense and the LDP did not gave the sergeant their full support. They explained that the sergeant participated in the LDP national convention as a private citizen, not as a member of JSDF, even though she appeared to the audience in JSDF uniform. Takaichi spoke to the press that she did not recognize the performance illegal, because singing the national anthem would not be a political activity.

 

Takaichi said in her speech to the LDP national convention that she would pave the way for initiating constitutional amendment within a year. The LDP argues that the constitution should include a provision which recognizes the self-defense force as a national organization with force. The national convention is the supreme decision-making body of the party. It is hard to say that participation in LDP national convention is not a political activity.

 

The opposition parties are doubtful about political neutrality of inviting a JSDF personnel to LDP’s national convention. Coalition partner of the LDP, Japan Innovation Party, also blamed invitation of JSDF personnel as inappropriate. Even some lawmakers in the LDP recognized that it must have been a problem, if no one in Takaichi administration did not realized that it would be a problem.

 

Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minoru Kihara, realized that communication in Ministry of Defense must been wrong and the ministry had to regret. The sergeant’s participation was proposed by an event planning firm and was not reported to Koizumi or other political appointees in the ministry. Koizumi explained that there might have been another decision, if he had heard about it in advance. Anyway, it must be a responsibility for the minister to let his staffs make a right decision.

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