July 2012 – Shanti Phula's Blog

[Gendai] Mr. Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate for Economics “Tax Hike Policy by Noda Administration Is Wrong”

Information from Mr. Takeshita posted on his blog – July 27, 2012 –

English translation of a Japanese article: Gendai Net – July 24, 2012 –

Mr. J.E. Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate in Economics, Gives Repeated Warnings:

“Tax Hike Policy by Noda Administration Is Wrong”

This economic policy makes the 99 percent unhappy.

A rebuttal statement by the grand old man of economics to the nonsense of tax hike policy Prime Minister Noda is going headlong into has finally made an appearance. “THE PRICE OF IINEQUALITY” by Mr. Joseph E. Stiglitz, the Nobel laureate in economics in 2001, released in U.S. was published (entitled “Economy Making the 99 Percent Unhappy” in Japanese) in Japan on 21st.

At once paging through the book, we find it astounding. He completely criticizes fiscal austerity by means of the cuts in expenditures and tax hike which the U.S. and Europe have been obsessively devoted to.

The book is summarized as follows:

*Promotion of fiscal austerity will simply aggravate economic downturn and never produce betterment of fiscal situation as expected.

*To make the taxation system not only fairer but more graduated, it is necessary to plug up loopholes and apply tax hike and reduction in tax rate to the richest and the poorest, respectively.

*It is recommendable to abolish hidden subsidies buried in the taxation system and to delete loopholes and other special clauses which have so often enabled so many corporations to evade tax which they are supposed to pay.

*Earnings of the top 1 percent account for more than 20 percent of the whole national income. With 10 percent increase in tax rate imposed on them, tax revenues equal to approximately 2 percent of the nation’s GDP will be created.

Mr. Stigliz’s opinions and suggestions are based on the fact that this world has been divided into the richest 1 percent and the poor 99 percent. As politicians and their supporters always carry out policies only for the 1 percent, the 99 percent remain unhappy. He argues that that is fundamentally wrong. Many countries in the world have confronted the same tragedy. The Noda administration is going to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. Stiglitz served on the US Council of Economic Advisors during the Clinton administration in 1993 and served as the vice chairman of the Council between 1995 and 1997. Subsequently he took office as the World Bank’s senior vice president and concurrently chief economist until January 2000. He is also known as an active person and joined in a demonstration to protest against widened economic disparities in Wall Street, New York, U.S. in October last year.

Yaroku Koyayashi, a professor emeritus at Tsukuba University, comments as follows:

“EU countries have escalated the fiscal austerity with too much prioritizing financial reconstruction. As a result of it, the real economy has declined. In France there was a change in president as a result of the election and they have switched over from a policy of free competition to a policy aiming for ‘improving employment situation.’ As Mr. Stiglitz says, global trend is changing to active macroeconomic policy for business recovery. On the other hand, Japan is going to take tax-hike measures. Japan has been left behind the global trend.”

If a tax hike is forced to be carried out under such conditions, only Japan will be isolated.

[Ryusaku Tanaka] Yomiuri Goes All Out for Personnel of “Nuclear Regulatory Commission”

“Let’s all support Mr. Ryusaku Tanaka.”

Masatoshi Takeshita

* Mr. Ryusaku Tanaka is a freelance journalist. He needs financial support to continue his news gathering activities.

English translation of a Japanese article: Ryusaku Tanaka Journal – July 25, 2012

Yomiuri Goes All Out for Personnel of “Nuclear Regulatory Commission”

On 20th morning in front of the prime minister’s official residence, a meeting to protest against restarting nuclear power plants was held. Some media reported the personnel of Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

= In front of the prime minister’s official residence on 20th evening. Photo by Suwa =

We have never seen such personnel that show sheer contempt for the people of Japan. I wonder what the lesson of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident was. Mr. Shunichi Tanaka, the former chairman of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, reportedly has been unofficially appointed as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission slated to be established in September.

The government was going to propose the personnel to the Diet on 20th. However, this information was leaked to some media (Yomiuri and Nikkei) and the LDP responded strongly against them. For this reason, proposal of the personnel is behind the schedule. Yomiuri and Nikkei reported the personnel in the morning edition on 20th and other newspapers followed suit in the evening edition.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is located superior to the Nuclear Regulatory Agency with sole responsibility for public administration on nuclear regulation, which has been decentralized among the Cabinet Office (Nuclear Safety Commission), the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry (Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Technology (Radiation Monitoring Department). The chairman of the Commission with the greatest authority, therefore, will exert considerable influence over restarting of nuclear power plants that electric power companies are planning for.

Of all others, Mr. Tanaka, who played a central role in promotion for nuclear power generation, was unofficially appointed as the chairman. He held “secret meetings” with electric power companies and served as the acting chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission with which a criminal complaint has been filed. Mr. Tanaka, as chairman of the Compensation for Nuclear Damage Review Board, also repeated remarks favorable to TEPCO. He is notorious for his remark “It is not necessary to decontaminate the areas exposed to less than 20 mSv of radiation.” His position is equivalent to village mayor of so-called Nuclear Power Village.

Don’t underestimate him. Even if a change of power should occur in the next general election, we cannot do anything. Being an independent commission, we cannot have a say in the Commission during his five-year term of office. The Nuclear Power Village will desperately make the government approve the personnel. Yomiuri Shimbun splashed a story “Hurry to decide the personnel!” in the editorial. The fact speaks for itself.

(Photo)

Objection to the personnel of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Made

at an emergency press conference

= in the House of Representatives Hall on 24th Photo by Tanaka =

On 24th, residents of Fukushima Prefecture, scholars and environmental groups held an emergency press conference to object to the insane personnel of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Diet. Mass media, which helped the Nuclear Power Village manipulate public opinion, was there not to gather information for writing articles but to inspect the “degree of revulsion” against the personnel.

With knowledge of it, participants thoroughly condemned the personnel which shamelessly ignore public opinion.

“We can say that this is the same personnel by which a leader of a motorcycle gang is appointed as the chief of motorcycle gang crackdown headquarters,” Prof. Toshiro Kojima of Aoyama Gakuin University, who engages in relief of pollution victims, made an extreme remark.

Ms. Sachiko Sato, the representative of “Fukushima Network to Protect Children from Radiation,” represented the indignation of local people and said, “Shunichi Yamashita, vice president of Fukushima Medical University, was appointed as a radiation advisor of Fukushima Prefecture before we knew it, This personnel is the same. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the Nuclear Energy Promotion Commission.”

Mayor Katsutaka Idokawa, Futaba Town, appropriately pointed out. “What should we learn from the Fukushima disaster? What should we appeal for? Without carefully reconsidering it, democracy of Japan will disappear.”

A numerous number of people moved to western Japan to avoid radiation contamination. People who still continue to stay in the Tokyo metropolitan area are frightened by health damage to their children and themselves. It is hard to say how much compensation money will swell up. For the time being, however, it will be shouldered by the government. Resources are our taxpayers’ money.

Unless we objected to the personnel of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in a loud voice, we would be slavers of electric power companies for the rest of our life.

“Ryusaku Tanaka Journal” is sustained by readers’ support. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation.

[Monthly Nippon] Civilization Rebels against Humanity & Noda Administration Slave of Washington Commented by Shizuka Kamei

Information from Mr. Takeshita posted on his blog – July 25, 2012 –

English translation of a Japanese article: Monthly Nippon – July 24, 2012 –

Noda Administration Slave of Washington.
Commented by Shizuka Kamei Civilization Rebels against Humanity

――　A lot of people have joined a demonstration against restarting nuclear power plants in front of the prime minister’s official residence and the demonstration has arose a big tidal wave of denuclearization movement.

Kamei:
I was also watching the demonstration. A great number of people got together in swarms in front of the prime minister’s official residence. And yet participants were only ordinary citizens like housewives who never make any political claims.

If I say this kind of think, you might think I am possessed by the supernatural. I feel God’s hand has brought about this tidal wave. We can no longer stop this tide.

Japan has been devoted only to making money for a long time without paying attention to the sufferings of others and destruction of environment. The perfect example was construction of nuclear power plants. The public spirit has continued being destroyed. The soul of the Japanese has disappeared.

Under such circumstances, a nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima occurred. Why did it occur in Japan, not in other counties? That is because Japan was given a mission to play a role as a forerunner. The mission is the voice of God who orders us to break away from dependence on nuclear power energy and lead the world.

Japan is not the only suffering country. Grass-roots movements of the same sort are occurring in Middle East, Europe, the U.S. and hinterlands of China, too. Every field, including politics, economics and culture, is fraying around the edges. Humanity is rebelled against by culture.

In Japan at the last days of the Edo Era, a movement called “Eejanaika Movement” occurred. In the movement citizens fanatically danced a dance, shouting “Eejanakai (Don’t mind dance)!” This reflects the public’s unconscious reaction to the crisis the then Japan faced.

This demonstration for abolition of nuclear energy is comparable to the movement. Japan today also faces a big crisis.

However, the DPJ administration cannot sense the crisis. I hear Prime Minister Noda gave a comment on the demonstration, saying “A lot of noise.” He has no idea of why such big-scale demonstrations are occurring in Japan where it has been said that demonstrations would never occur and why the people show anger with a loud voice.

Noda Administration Turns into Slave of Washington

―― Washington made a thorough investigation of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident and took the data back home.

Kamei:
That was not the first time. Immediately after the A-bombing of Hiroshima, they constructed facilities on a hill Hijiyama to examine and record the reality of radiation damage caused by the A-bomb. They thoroughly examined the citizens exposed to radiation. I know it well because my sister worked there.

――　In the first place, the nuclear reactors developed by the General Electric Company (GE) was defective in that the volume of containment vessel as a whole was small. There exists a fact that a designer of the reactors showed concerns about the safety and later left the company for that reason.

Kamei:
Not exclusively nuclear power plants. Everything including Japan’s economic system and political circumstances is Americanized. Every one of them is defective.

To move out of such situation, a change in power was made three years ago. Its aim was to free ourselves from American values which had run rampant across the country, reconsider the Japan-U.S. relations, have a say with Washington and demand whatever is necessary.

This is not emotional anti-Americanism. Bilateral equal partnership has a positive effect on both countries. Japan has to accomplish independence from Washington in order to cooperate closely with it in the true sense of the term.

With this aim, we froze the postal privatization. We aimed to break away from market fundamentalism which never fits in the culture of Japan. And under the leadership of Prime Minister Hatoyama, we tried to solve the Futenma issue.

However, our goals and plans were met by strong backlash. Under the subsequent Kan Administration, the DPJ reverted to the conventional policy-making in compliance with Washington’s wishes, which was common practice at the times of the LDP and New Komeito. Noda Administration has also swallowed his pride to obey Washington as requested as if he were their slave.

( Please see the August issue of our monthly for continuing story. )

[Video] A Girl Making Appeal to Soldiers!

I want you to listen to what a real goddess says.

Masatoshi Takeshita

from 0:15

She said:

STOP! STOP! PLEASE!
Why you treat my friend like that!??
He is my bestest friend!
HI LOVE HIM!
HI LOVE!
If you ear me ...
You do not crazy...
But you are realy crazy!
I DO NOT WANT TO GO!!
JUST YOU! want to go from my space!
I want justice...
Why do you come in the night?
I can't sleep in the night...
That's all the night...
You are coming, coming and coming...
Why you coming?
Why you coming...??
In his eyes I see the Sun!
In his smile I see the Moon...
And I wonder...
I always wonder...
Who is right and who is wrong...
And I wonder...
If the TRUTH has a TOUNGE!

English Translation of a Japanese article: Trend of Japan, World and Universe – Jul 21, 2012 –

A Girl Making Appeal to Soldiers!

You will see a little girl making a desperate appeal to soldiers in the video below. Regrettably, however, the place is not identified. Judging from the film, perhaps it is somewhere along the border between Israel and Palestine. Perhaps Israeli soldiers invaded Palestinian land and kept cracking down on Palestinians. This girt speaks English fluently. It is said that this is not play or fake.

On June 22, 2012,　local people staged a demonstration on the spot and were appealing for something to Israeli soldiers. A brave girl suddenly stepped forward and began to spontaneously make an appeal to them. Perhaps one of her friends was taken away. The soldiers listening to her seem to go all quiet and to be unable to do anything. What this girl is appealing for is very significant. Stupid adults cannot make such an appeal. Perhaps this very girl was born to accomplish a special mission.

If adults in the world, especially men learned from her, and laid down their weapons and stopped wars or struggles which they are forced to stage by those with power, the world would be peaceful soon.

[Akiko Kamei] Aiming at Forming New Parliamentary Group “Midori no Kaze” (Green Wind)

Hearing to this news, I thought “I’ve finally found the group I can cast a ballot for.” I want Diet member Akio Kamei and other members to form a political party.

Masatoshi Takeshita

Akiko Kamei (2nd from right) formed a new parliamentary group

with three female Diet members who left the DPJ(Democratic Party of Japan)

They aims at organizing a new type of political party

(On July 17, 2012)

English translation of a Japanese article of Akiko Kamei’s website- July 17, 2012 –

Hello, I’m Akiko Kamei.

On July 17, 2012, I held a press conference together with three female Diet members who left the DPJ on the same day- Kuniko Ikuta, Tomoko Tanioka and Yasue Funayama- to announce to form a new parliamentary group “Midori no Kaze.” As we have to take the necessary steps within the Diet to establish a parliamentary group, Ｉthink the group will be officially established after a week or so.

We were all elected for the first time in 2007. For the last five years, we have witnessed six changes in prime minister (Abe→Fukuda→Asou→Hatoyama→Kan→Noda) and got through drastic changes in political situation: as the opposition party in the twisted Diet, as the ruling party after change of administration, and as the ruling party in the twisted Diet.

In the midst of confusion within the Diet, “indecisive policy” is definitely a problem. However, it is inexcusable to make decisions about the consumption tax increase and the promotion of nuclear energy use, which are directly related to the public’s life and safety, in backroom wheeling and dealing by the ruling party and opposition parties, called “three-party agreement” the people never accept. They made a mistake in ignoring the wishes of the public in decision-making process. Now Prime Minister blows his own trumpet by saying he changed direction of policy from “indecisive policy” to “decisive policy.” We should keep in mind that democracy can exist only if legitimate procedures are taken. Prime Minster Noda’s political style is “dictatorship” now and never parliamentary democracy. The prime minister cuts off objections within the party, makes party members obey him by wielding power of “entrustment to the leadership” and “restrictions on individual members”, and forces to pass legislation through the Diet by means of the “three-party agreement” reached by the executives of the ruling and opposition parties, and the “restrictions on individual members.” His political approach is dictatorial government itself. I could have sworn that the people chose a change of administration, but before we knew it, “Taisei-yokusankai”, or a huge network of political organizations led by the government has begun to exist, which is the same situation as before the war. I think we have faced a serious crisis which will mislead Japan.

The “twisted Diet” and “change of administration” were the outcome of the election and the choice of the people. I understand that the first twisted Diet, change of administration and the second twisted Diet reflected the will of the people: control over the landslide victory of the ruling party won by the dissolution of the House of Representatives over postal privatization, hope for change, and opposition to the consumption tax increase, respectively. In the House of Councilors election five years ago, public anger was directed toward “the lost pension money” and “Medical Care System for People Aged 75 and over.” As a result of the party’s promise to review these issues, the DPJ won the election and finally succeeded in change of power. Who can dare to say that “We will set the consumption tax rate of 10 percent tentatively. We will set up a panel of experts to discuss the issues on pension and medical system”? I cannot say that kind of thing. Four of us would like to go back to our first objective, make the best use of our five-year experience and engage in political activities for the remaining one-year of term.

The House of Councilors is originally the seat of good sense and the seat of reconsideration. There will be no significance of the House’s existence if it repeats the same political situation as seen in the House of Representatives. I am afraid that in future elections, the twisted Diet will be normal state of affairs. We would like to form a new parliamentary group first, then increase friends who will join us, and aim at organizing a new type of political party, where we impose no restrictions on individual members. We have formed the parliamentary group with four women, but we are going to ask male Diet members to join us, too.

Preparation for War: ”Watching YouTube Videos Not Punished” Agency of Cultural Affairs Disclosed Q and A on Imposition of Criminal Punishment on Illegal Download

We have to keep an eye on this law. It is likely that innocent people will be arrested simply because they are critical about the government. This is one of necessary steps leading up to war.

Masatoshi Takeshita

English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: bizmash!:nifty July 13, 2012

“Watching YouTube Videos Not Punished”
Agency of Cultural Affairs Discloses Q and A on Imposition of Criminal Punishment on Illegal Download

Amidst spreading concerns about imposition of criminal punishment on illegal download, the Agency of Cultural Affairs has disclosed Q and A on this problem to the public. The agency shows its view that it is no problem to watch videos on “YouTube,” video-sharing website.

The revised Copyright Law, which includes imposition of criminal punishment on illegal download, was enacted on June 20, 2012. It stipulates that on and after October 1, 2012, a person who knowingly downloads music or videos somebody illegally uploaded shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or a fine of not more than 2 million yen.

However, consumer organizations and lawyers have showed their concern about the ambiguous words used in the Q and A. It might threaten to punish anybody for just watching on YouTube, video-sharing website, depending on how the words are interpreted.

When browsing video-site such as YouTube, data stored within a cache will be automatically created on a PC or a smartphone. According to the Q and A, it is not violation of copyright. And sending and receiving illegally copied music and videos on e-mail between friends is not considered a punishable crime.

Furthermore, duplicating and storing photos and sentences on the Internet is no problem only for private use. However, music and movies are subject to punishment.

However, these are simply the agency’s views, which are not always applicable to the actual operation of the law by the police and the prosecutor, and the judgment of the court. Lawyers also question whether the agency’s views are applicable to the actual operation of the law without fail.

(Reported by Hiroshi Ueki, Newsfront)

Urgent information: “Light of Grace on July 24, 2012 for one hour from 6 p.m. (JST).”

Urgent information : "On July 24, 2012 for one hour from 6 p.m. Japan Standard Time(JST)."

MSG on July 23, 2012 at 5 p.m. Japan Standard Time (JST).

≫ See this page for detail about "Urgent Information"

"It is our great pleasure to inform you that Uruu-hime-nakako-sama will shower us Light of Grace for one hour from 6 p.m. (JST) tomorrow on July 24, 2012."

/* You can find the time for your timezone by Timezone Converter */

As a rule, all of us will be able to receive this light. However, this light will not reach those who have committed many follies and have been excluded from our Sirius System.

Furthermore, we are sure to have more blessings by repeating this Divine name for one hour.

All the people who can take this message would be advised to repeat the name of "Uruu-hime-nakako-sama" for one hour from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. (JST) on July 24, 2012.

You may repeat Her name either aloud or in the silence of your heart. By repeating the divine name, those who have already achieved the absolute passing level will step up to one higher level in their evolutionary stage of consciousness.

Please pass on this message to as many people as possible.

Masatoshi Takeshita

Uruu-hime-nakako-sama

Illustrated by Mrs. Seiko Nakanishi

(Click to view a fine image)

[Mainichi Shimbun] Demonstration in Front of Prime Minister’s Official Residence Prime Minister Can’t Go Out On Friday Night

Now we see the great effect of demonstration.

Masatoshi Takeshita

English translation of a Japanese article: BIGLOBE News – July 13, 2012 - (Source: Mainichi Shimbun)

Demonstration against Nuclear Power Plant Restart Prime Minister Can’t Go Out On Friday Night ….
In Front of Prime Minister’s Official Residence Every Friday

Demonstration to oppose the restart of Kansai Electric Power Co.’s No. 3 & No. 4 reactors at Ohi nuclear power plant, Fukui Pref. has been expanding, which perplexes the Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Noda has been all out to calm down the situation by “trying to listen to various opinions.” He tries not to set a schedule for going out of the official resident on Friday night. He is forced to wait and see now.

On his way home from the prime minister’s office to the official residence adjacent to the office before 8 p.m. on 13th, the prime minister was asked by reporters “The demonstration is expanding, and are you thinking about taking any action?’ He replied “I would like to take various opinions seriously.”

Hearing many participants shouting “opposition to the restart,” on June 29th he made a slip of the tongue, saying “They are making lots of noise.” This provoked a backlash among the participants. Panicked by the reaction, the prime minister, in the House of Representatives Budget Committee on 10th, gave an excuse “I’m sorry, but I have no idea of where and in what form I used the word ‘noise.’” However, he said he has no intention to have second thought of restart itself.

Since June 26 when he decided to restart the Ohi nuclear power plant, he has been virtually bound hand and foot on Friday night, feeling constrained by the protests. He leaves the prime minister’s office directly for the official residence. Those around the prime are fretting about this situation: “He can get out of the back gate. But as a demonstration is staged in front of the main gate, the prime minister cannot furtively go out drinking.”

A demonstration was staged in front of the prime minister’s office on the 13th night too. Demonstrators shouted “No nuclear power plant restart!” Since this day, the Metropolitan Police Department has built iron fences and confined demonstration only to sidewalks. There was no big confusion.

(Reported by Naoki Oida and Shunsuke Kotari)

Japan Finance Ministry is inflaming financial collapse

*Information from Mr. Takeshita posted on his blog July 13, 2012

English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: [Yo ni Kamu Hibi] July 13, 2012

People's Life First [LF] Members Feel Free to Criticize Noda

Yuko Mori grills Noda

Live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings have become a lot of fun after a long interval.

It was a spectacular sight to see Diet member Yuko Mori in the House of Representatives Budget Committee the day before yesterday.

Her “touching a tender spot” was effective enough to make groan in pain not only Noda but also all the people who take hold on the core elements of this country.

Eiji Hata, a follower of Diet member Mori’s tweets:

“Diet member Yuko Mori shot the government which pretends to suffer “fiscal predicament” though it has enough financial power to provide foreign aid with 14 trillion yen. This is going to be a lot of fun.”

July 10, 2012

Yuko Mori Grills Noda Administration in House of Representatives Budget Committee

Yuko Mori:

“I am asking about the total amount of financial aid that you promised to provide for international organization. Don't chop logic as you like.”

“Well, Prime Minister, please answer my question. What is the total amount? The Foreign Ministry and the Finance Ministry reported different figures. Prime Minister, you are not going to answer my question. What is the total amount of aid that you as the Noda Cabinet promised to provide? I think you can answer my question just by looking at the material I have prepared.”

Prime Minister Noda:

“Here is also material for the Committee. Including the maximum amount of financial contributions and that of financial loans, it totals up to 14 trillion 333.3 billion yen shown here.”

Yuko Mori:

“You should have answered so from the very beginning.”

“The Finance Ministry has been spreading a groundless rumor as if the country were going to fall into financial collapse now. However, in fact, Japan still has financial power to provide financial aid in this way.”

(portirland.blogspot.jp/2012/07/14.html)

It is understandable that mass media won't cover this question of Diet member Mori. They have severely mauled, made fun of, and ridiculed the policy of “people's life first” advocated by Mr. Ozawa. If they should cover her question, their justifiable claim and premise will collapse.

Lastly, there was another example to disprove the myth that Japan is on the brink of financial collapse, which was posted on my past blog. I would like to call it a day by introducing it.

(An Omission)

Big Lie of Finance Ministry Inflaming “Financial Collapse” Exposed

(Source: Nikkan Gendai – February 11, 2011 -)

A “People's New Party” member of the House of Councilors, Akiko Kamei accused Finance Ministry on TV.

The people who watched the program “Sunday Discussion” on NHK on 20th yesterday must have been unable to believe their own ears. A People’s New Party member of the House of Councilors, Akiko Kamei, 45, disclosed a big lie of the Finance Ministry inflaming financial collapse.

The People's New Party has advocated that public spending be boosted by issuance of construction bonds and interest-free, tax-exempt government bonds to escape from the deflationary economy. Diet member Kamei made to public the exchange of views on these government bonds with the Finance Ministry. To summarize her remarks on the program, it goes like this.

When I exchanged views (on the interest-free, tax-exempt government bonds) with the Finance Ministry, they said “If we issue such bonds, it will give foreign countries an impression that Japan is having financial difficulties. We don't need to issue them because government debt is stably redeemed.”

I asked “What? Isn't Japan in a financial crisis?”

“No problem,” they answered. (Finance Ministry) says something different to the public and the ruling party.

What a surprise! If what Diet member Kamei said is right, all argument Finance Ministry and Prime Minister Kan make fuss about, saying “consumption tax hike is necessary due to financial crisis” was not based on the fact at all.

“People's New Party's stance is that it is necessary to create a mechanism which allows money to circulate in the market, to boost domestic spending. They will never stick to issuing interest-free, tax-exempt government bonds. They have often asked Finance Ministry to suggest them alternatives if this methodology is not acceptable. They have always evaded answering them.” (By informed source)

We have asked anew Diet member Kamei the real intention of her remarks.

“Finance Ministry premises the consumption tax from the beginning. Issuance of interest-free, tax-exempt government bonds will cause no problem for anybody. And yet, exchange of views has reached a stalemate. Then I summoned a Finance Ministry bureaucrat to our party's office and asked him whether we were in the financial situation of peace time or emergency. He answered ‘Peace time.’ The Finance Ministry explains abroad “Japan is rich in foreign financial assets and more than 90 percent of government bond is held internally. This is because Japan is not in a financial crisis.” On the other hand, the ministry says to the people ‘We are in 900 trillion yen of debt.’ The ministry gives different explanations to foreign countries and the people.”

Two-tongued Finance Ministry bureaucrats who dance to a different tune, depending on the other person they face. I do want Diet member Kamei to grill them in the Diet.