to index to japanese
From a Grobal View

We are going to interview to key persons of various fields about article 9 of Japanese peace constitution.

 
portrait

OTA@Masahide
1925 Born in Okinawa, Japan
1954 Graduated from Waseda University
1956 Earned M.A. in Journalism at the Syracuse University
1968 Professor of Ryukyu University in Okinawa
1990 | 1998 Governor of Okinawa Prefecture
Currently Member of Upper House, Chairman of Ota Peace Research Institute.
He has written 60 Books about Battle of Okinawa.

After World War II, when I was released from the internment camp, I went around collecting the remains of my friends and teachers who died in the war.
I couldnft forget about my suffering in the war and the internment camp, and I often woke up from nightmares.
My body and soul were totally worn out, and I didnft feel like doing anything.
That continued for a whole year, I think.

But one day, a teacher of mine showed me the new constitution, asking, gHave you read this?h
That was in 1947. The constitution read, hcthe Japanese people forever renounce war, and military forces will never be maintainedg.
Upon reading this, I was deeply impressed, feeling, gAh, we will be free from war foreverh.
This constitution gave me the power to live.

I can never forget how impressed I was.
Thatfs why I cannot let anybody change Article 9.
Under no circumstances will I ever agree to changing to changing Article 9.

The younger generation knows nothing about how dreadful war is.
I canft blame them their lack of experience, but I do feel they should study more.
Even newspaper reporters donft know what war is actually like.
I fear that the media is changing and becoming dangerous.

In Okinawa, many people who went through extreme conditions under the war are even now experiencing extreme anxiety and depression.
The remains of 4000-5000 dead Okinawans have yet to be collected.
Unexploded bombs are all over, without being treated.
Some experts says that it will take 50-60 more years to complete the treatment of unexploded bombs of the battles in Okinawa.
Not only that, even after the war, at least 5200 Okinawans have been the victims of crimes committed by American soldiers.

Thus the war is still going on for the people in Okinawa.
Why shall we start preparing for a new war, while the old war is not over yet?

I truly donft understand.

Articles Wanted!
Please send us your article in English if you have anything to say about the Japan of Today!
Qualifications : Non-Japanese people, or Japanese people living abroad
Length : 1000-1300 words
We will send you our original eMagazine 9f goods if your article is used.
e-mail:global@magazine9.jp
to index
(C) 2007 magazine 9 All Rights Reserved.