End of the Peace Pose | Japan Is Becoming a Warmonger, Jokingly or Not!

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's prime minister, is moving to change one of the most fundamental principles of the country's policy since World War II: distancing itself from pacifism and transforming Japan into a military power capable of responding to regional threats, particularly from China.

According to Ambassador Arjan, in a report, SPIEGEL presents an image of a politician who, despite an ordinary background, has become a popular figure in social networks and is now seeking to redefine Japan's military position.

Takaichi, 65, who enjoys heavy metal music and motorcycle riding, says his goal is to make Japan a "normal" country; A country that can defend the lives of its citizens. After breaking the ruling conservative party's long-standing alliance with a peace-loving party, he swept the snap election with a landslide victory.

After Japan's defeat in World War II, its constitution renounced war as a means of resolving international disputes. Article 9 of the Constitution became the legal basis of this country's pacifist policy; However, Japan actually formed its own defense forces.

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For decades, Tokyo kept its military spending under control, even as China, Russia and North Korea expanded their military might. But Takaichi now wants to reduce the limitations caused by this approach. His administration is pursuing a more rapid development of the armed forces, the creation of a central intelligence agency, and a review of Japan's military role in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Even the issue of deploying nuclear weapons, which has a historical sensitivity in Japan due to the atomic attacks of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has entered into political debates.

One of the reasons for Takaichi's popularity is his different image compared to traditional Japanese politicians. He came from an ordinary family in the city of Nara; His father worked in the Toyota group and his mother was an employee of the provincial police. Despite his family's opposition to him studying at a university far from home, Takaichi studied business administration at Kobe University.

In his youth, he was interested in the music of groups such as Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath, and pursued playing drums. Old pictures of him on a motorcycle or behind the drums are reposted on social networks today. His short hairstyle and style of covering has also become a model for some fans.

In 1987, Takaichi, after visiting US Congressman Pat Schroeder, went to his office in Washington for a while and got to know the way Americans do politics. He entered the Japanese parliament in 1993 and gradually became one of the prominent figures of the conservative movement.

Critics say Takaichi's social popularity should not obscure his right-wing politics. He opposed reforms to make it easier for married women to keep their surnames, did not support expanding the possibility of women in imperial positions, and during the election campaign took a stance on the behavior of foreign tourists in Nara Park.

His government has also drastically increased the cost of applying for permanent residency and has passed a law to punish the public destruction of the national flag; According to Human Rights Watch, this action can threaten freedom of expression.

Peace activists are particularly concerned about Takaichi's efforts to normalize Japan's military power. They criticize his historical stances on World War II, including describing Japan's war as a defensive action and downplaying some historical atrocities. Opponents warn that a military buildup without fully confronting the past could pave the way for the return of extreme nationalism.

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At the annual commemoration of the end of the war on August 15, Takaichi, unlike some previous prime ministers, refrained from openly expressing regret for Japan's wartime past. Instead, he emphasized on preventing the recurrence of war and making Japan a reliable model in the Indo-Pacific region.

In the background of this change are the security developments in East Asia: China's increasing military power, Beijing's threats against Taiwan, and North Korea's military cooperation with Russia. On the other hand, Japan no longer wants to depend on American support for its security.

Takaichi has announced in the parliament that if China encircles Taiwan and takes force against it, such a situation may be considered a threat to Japan's existence. This comment was far from the usual cautious positions of Japanese governments and was a sign of his readiness to define a more active role for his country in regional crises.