JPRS ID: 10582 JAPAN REPORT
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- JPRS L/10582
11 June 1982 - ~
= J~ ~n Re or~ ~
p ~
- (FOUO 34/82)
_ ~g~S FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORM~TION SERVI~E
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JPRS L/10582
11 June 1982
~ ~
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JAPAN REPORT
~
- (FOUO 34/82)
- CONTENTS
- POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL
Prime Minister Suzuki's Relationship with LDP Hawks Examined
- (ASAHI SHIMBUN, 16 Apr 82) 1
Possibility of Fukuda's Bid for Power Discussed
. (YOMIURI SHIMBUN, 11 Apr 82) 5
Nakasone's Dilemma Described
~Kenji Kitahara; T~iE DAILY YOMIURI, 8 May 82) 8
- Nakasone Faction's Role Analyzed ~
(Tetsuo Tamura; THE J~pAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL, 18 May 82) 9
Changed Nature of Labor Spring Offensive Analyzed
(NIHON KEIZAI SHIMBUN, 16, 17, 18 Apr 82) 10
Handling of ~'-4 Phantom Issue Criticized
(Shintaro Ishihara; BUNGEI SHUNJU, May 2) 17
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Government, Private, Academic Biotechnology Effort~ Reported
- (NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN, 10 Feb 82) 32
- DNA Experiment Guideline, H. Sai~o Interview
- Four Applications of Biotechnology
Active Enterprises in Western Japan
Mounting Interests, Expectations
' - a - [III - ASIA - 111 FOUO]
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PRIME MINISTER SUZUKI'S RELATIONSHIP WITH LDP HAWKS EXAMINED
Tokyo ASAHI SHIMBUN in Japanese 16 Apr 82 p 2
- [Fifth in series of articles: "Prime Minister Suzu~i's Hurdles"] .
[Text] Speeches and ar_tivities relating to former Prime Minister Kakuei
- Tanaka, who is good at handling matters realistically, have recently tended
to be hawkish.
- A party was held on the evening of 17 Merch to celebrate former Prime Ministea~
Nobusuke Kishi's becoming and LDP supreme counselor. Before approxiamately
- 80 people from the political arena and business world, former Prime Minister
Tanaka proclaimed in a raised voice: "A canstitution written under the
occupation of anather country is not a constitution. Although constitutional
amendment has been considered taboo, our party upi:olds the establishment of
an autonomous constitution in its plat~orm, does it not?"
Sense of Security From a Stable Ma.3ority
On the same day, at a party co~emorating a publication of a Tanaka faction
Diet member, former Prime Minister Tanaka said: "It is good to study amend-
ment of the constitution which was given us by the occupation force." Of
the 60 Diet members who endorsed the Co~nmittee of 100 Requesting Revision of
_ the Japan-?t:c, Security Treaty that was founded in the middle of March, one-
third are Tanaka ia~tion members. In the case of the Japan Strategic Research
Center organized by Mr Shin Kanemalru, former director of the Defense Agency
- and a 1Eading member of the Tanaka faction, whic~ has gathered together
- retired uniformed officers of the Self Defense Forces and military specialists,
- the important positions are all occupied by members of the Tanaka faction.
~ The reason behind this hawkish zendency which has encompassed the Tanaka
faction is the sense of security that arose following escape from the evenly
balanced situation between the ruling and opposition parties in the Diet and
regaining a stable ma~ority after a long hiatus.
~ Since then Justice Minister Okuno's remark about constitutional amendn~ent last
year has occurred, the membership of the Diet Members' lUnion for Realization
of an Autonomous Constitution has increased to over 300, and the LDP's three
. highest nfficials, including Mr Nikaido, have become vice presidents.
~ 1
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The number of parti.cipants in tha~ Diet A:embers~ Group to Pay Universal Respect
tu thc: Yasukuni Shrine is 321. '.Jine cabinet members, including Prime Minister
Suzuki, paid visits to the Yasukuni Shrine last year. Moreover, virtually all
cabinet members are going to pay respect to the Yasukuni Shrine on 15 August
this year.
A party circular letter to restrain antinuclear and arms-reduction.movement
was issued. There is a movement to strengthen inspection of school textbooks.
Tt?e Defense White Paper placed emphasis on patriotic education.
As the LDP has bPSn gradually realizing its long-term desires, the Tan~ka
~ faction's attitude h~s also becnme clear. In regard to olijectives, some
- people observe t:iat: "For the Tanaka faction , awaiting the conclusion of
the Lockheed trial, thQ Suzui-.i rpgime is absolutely necessary as a protective
wall.. In order for Suzuki to be reelected, the Tanaka faction is trying to
- fill the gap between the prime mir.ister, who sometimes shows dovish tendencies,
~ anu hawkish gruups. It i; a farsighted and deeply laid tactic." Can protec-
tion of the Tanaka faction really contribute to r.iaintenance of ttxe Suzuki
regime?
The Uni*_ed States Provokes the LDP Hawks
~ Whether or not the United States has observed a change in the condition of the
- LDP, U.S. maneuvering of the LDP has become active. Concerning the issue of
increases in defense power, in particular, the United States seems to have
concluded that "it is more efficient to fill in from an outer moat--the
LDP--rather than attacking the Suzuki administration itself."
Sir.ce last month, pro--Japanese America~s have visited Japan one after another.
Form~r presidential adviser Allen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
- Shoesmith, farmer Secretary of Defense Brown, former Minister to Japan (cur-
rently ambassador to the United Nations) Sherman, and Congressman Solarz have
- had meeting with important members of the LDP. All of them conveyed ~he
severity of U.S. congressional criticism of Japan over the trade friction
issue. They i.mpressed upon the Japanese that the "U.S. Government stands in
front of these tough opinions which are directed toward Japan" (Motoo Shiina,
- director of the Assoc.iation for Study of Asian Pr~blems). While giving such
_ an impression,.they deman3ed that "Japan should therefore ~arry out the
prime minister's pu'~lic promise" and realize "~efense of the sea lanes for
1,000 nautical miles."
This kind of behind-t~se~-scenes mane~ivering by the United States is reflected
in the LDP's Security R~search Committee Subcommitcee on Maintenance of
Defense Power. The U.S. maneuverst an eye on the compilation of next fiscal
year's budget dratt, have stimulated subcommittee moves to eliminate the
- "within 1 percent of GNP" upper ceiling on defense expenditure. They are also
intended "to open a road through the leadership of the LDP sin:.e the Suzuki
administratior_ cannot do it" (a tormer Defense Agency director).
Considering this~kind of condition within the LDP, the prime ~inister's
reputation is not necessarily favorablee
- i
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At the palace banquet to welcome Italian President petrini on 10 March, the
_ prime minister and an elder LDP Diet member had a chat:
"A n~ovement to revise the Japan-U.3. Security Treaty has come into tihe open."
~ Prime Minister: "If one thinks it possible..t~~ amend the constitution or
revise the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, he is ~~squalified as a politican."
"Then, it is netter for you to speak out."
Prime Minister:
Doing Everything ~o Maintain an Equilibrium for Relec.tion
Certainly the prime minister is prudent 3bout constitutional amendment and
revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. In the JaF~n-U.S. summit.meeting
- Iield last year, he made c'!_ear the items Japan should reserve in regard to
increases in Japanese defense power. His instzuctions for a"por.cupine-like
defense system ap~+ropriate to a maritime nation" is a moderate opinion in
the LDP.
Tokuma Utsunomiya, a former member of the LDP's dovish fa~ .ion and currently
a member of the House of Councilors, sympathizes with the prime minister,
saying: "Mr Zenko is preferable~~:.n the midst of domination by the hawkish
factions." The prime minister s~e.ms to be losing the support of the hawkish
factions to the same extent as he. ia gaining sympathy from someone lilce
Mr Utsunomiya.
Nevertheless, the prime minister pulls the hawkish groups back to his side
= by shifting in his attitude from time to time. While he is eager to attend
- the special general meeting of the United Nations for arms reduction he re-
jects endorsement of the antinuclear movement oecause it will generate an
anti-American atmosphere. He once opposed a big increase in the defense
budget, but in the end he approved it. In regard to the LDP's requests for
official visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by cabinet members and establishment
of a day to mourn the war dead, the prime minister re~ected the former but
accepted the latter by entrusting it to a third party for detailed study.
The prime minister's politics of "harmony" sometimes maintain a balance by
following the strongest forces and the loudest voices. For example, he
~ appointed members of the Tanaka faction, the largest faction, to various
, positions. He accepted reexamination of the green card system. He held back
_ from addressing political ethics. He raised the producer price of rice in
the last fiscal year. Whether or not these are due to his skillful main-
- tenance of political power, at any rate he does not step outside the bounds of
trends within the LDP, which are often marked by overeagerness. The leading
member of ~he Suzuki faction says:
"Considering the path towa,~d reelection, there are many instances when the
prime minister cannot push through his opinions." He also admits that the
- prime minister's political technique is rather effective.
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I'VK Vr~It.~nl. v~~: ~~~~~a
Which way this prime minist~r's sense of balance for the purpose ef reelection
directed the course of Japan is a question that will be asked when we look
back at our history in the future.
COPYRIGHT: Asahi Shimbun Tokyo Honsha 1982
9896
~ CSO: 4105/100
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POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL
POSSIBILITY OF FUKUDA'S BID ~OR POWER DISCUSSED
Tokyo YOMIURI SHIMBUN in Japanese 11 Apr 82 p 2 ~
[Text] "The revenue deficit in the FY-81 budget is going to be big. Since
a revenue deficit is a financial issue, in that sense it becomes a political
i:ssue." Thus predicted former Prime Minister Fukuda. As if to substantiate
his prediction, the issue of the revenue deficit came out at the cabinet meet-
ing and the 1.DP Executive Committee meeting of the 9th. The government has
begun reexaming.its economic management. Alth_~ugh Pri.me Minister Suzuku still
maintains an aggressive stance and says that "the goal of reducing deficit
government bonds to zero remains unchanged," he is undeniably caught in a
- pinch.
On the other hand, Mr Fukuda avoids talking about the political situation as
much as possible and remains calm and quiet. What has happened to Mr Fukuda's
other pr.ediction of "a great disturbance in the world?" Contrary to former
- Prime Minister Tanaka, who is much talked about one way or another, Mr Fukuda
continues to hold an uncanny sil~ence.
~ "This year is going to be a year of much disturbance. Even though we do not
move, heaven will move."
- At the beginn~ng of this year, Mr Fukuda uttered sensational remarks one
after another. He may have spoken them because of his bitter feeling toward
- "ihe Suzuki-Tanaka axis," which dared to appoint Mr Nikaido secretary gen~ral
in t~e cabinet reshuffle at the end of last year. A more likely reason is,
however, that he was picturing to himself the thorny path toward November's
- LDP presidential election, which will include the first verdicts for politici-~.
- ans who are defendants in the All Nippon Airways case of the Lockheed trial
scheduleci.in the spring, a verdict for former Prime Minister Tanaka which
early this year was expected to be handed down this fall, a di.fficult recon-
structuion of national finances and economic management, and furthermore,
' external pressures surrounding trade and defense. It is not hard to imagine
that Mr Fukuda was picturing himse'f the path at the beginning ~of this year.
The political schedule Mr Fukuda fixed is certainly falling to pieces at least
partizlly because of countermeasures by the Tanaka side, including a
delay in the verdict on Tanaka. However, the revenue deficit has become a
- political issue entangled with speculation on the political situation. The
- Suzuki administration is being forced to correct its economic management
5
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E~u.tLcleS. At tlits tlme, ls Mr Fukuda ready to change hls previous attitude
of- "supporting Suzuki" and become "active?" Attention in the political arena
is now focused on just this point.
Recently a Diet member of a certain large faction visited Mr Fukuda. Mr .
Fukuda pointed out to him again the importance of the revenue deficit issue
and told him the following: "Mr Suzuici's reelection must be considered care-
fully. However, the question is who is to succeed." Restraining the Diet
member who replied, "Mr Fukuda, you ahould become prime minister," Mr Fukuda
supposedly said that "the age of the new leaders will inevitably come, but
- before them how about Mr Komoto (director of the Economtc Planning Agency)?"
According to the analysis of the same experienced Diet member, Mr Fukuda is
in a complex state of mind: (1) Although he has doubts about Suzuki's reelec-
tion, he cannot find a good candidate that he can support as Suzuki's succes-
sor. (2) He cannot completely deny his own desire for a comeback as prime
minister. (3) Although he feels a clcseness to Mr Komoto, the situation has
~ not yet reached the stage for a"Fukuda-Komoto tie."
Although he is very critical of the concentration of power in the Tanaka
faction that is the other support of the Suzuki administration and distrusts
~Suzuki's politics, Mr Fukuda still cannot decide to take action to turn the
political situation. His mind is still unsettled. As if seeing through his
- mind, the Suzuki and Tanaka factions make cynical remarks about Fukuda. "Be-
cause Fukuda himself wants to relieve the prime minister, he neither seriously
- su~ports Komoto nor takes rough actions to antagonize us" {a leading member
of the Suzuki faction).
- Putting aside these speculations from the outfield bleachers, Mr Fukuda
- himself enjoys his present position considerab'_~ by making pinpricks at
Suzuki and Tanaka. "Although nothing will happen by summer, there will be
many crises by November's presidential election. I will store my energy
for a while." "Th2 basis of people's trust in politics is clean p~litics."
- Then, when and how will Mr Fukuda turn to the offensive? In particular, how
is he going to respond to the~presidential election? This is going to be a
focus of attention.
"If the prime minister's leadership is firm, there will be no primary election.
How Mr Nakasone (director of the Administra~ive Management Agency) acts will
- determine the future political situation."
� Although Mr Fukuda has been negative about the primary election beca~+se he
has thought it would have too many adverse effects and until last Sear
declared that there would be no primary election, since he is one of the two
powerful men along wit:~ former Prime Minister Tanaka, indica~.ions of recrgani-
zation in the political arena such as "a Fukuda-Komoto tie" or "Fukuda-Komoto
plus the middle-of-the-road parties" glimmer fitfully in the distant
background.
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ln any case, he is certatnly expecting "u great disturbunc~" tu ~sc~~ur b~~~weeu
8 June, ~ahen verdicts will be handed down to the defendants in All Nippon
Airways case of the Lockheed txial, and the middle of next year. Former
Prime Minister Tanak.a, Fukuda's rival, is also busy every day tightening up
hia own camp as if to say "Be aware of Fukuda."
COPYRIGHT: Yomiuri Shimbunsha 1982
9896
CSO: 4105/98
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h'uK urrt~~AL ua~, u,~~Y
POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGIGAL
- NAKASONE'S DILEMMA D::SCRIBED
- Tokyo THE DAILY YOMIURI in English 8 May 82 p 3
- ["Political Beat" column by Kenji Kitahara]
[ Text ] ~Z ~in trying not to be preoccupied witti o! strategy.
ambition aad not to be sensitive. i will One of them is to thoroughiy carry out
never take any lnitiative." the task of administrative reform in line
These ars the ' words ot Yaauhiro Pia- with Prlme Minister Su2u~'a directives.
kasone, dlrector-Beneral oi the Admialat- However, there Sa a dlspute within ths
rative Management Agency, wt~o ia a Sgure government as to which should come flrst,
in the political world at a tim~ when busineas stimulation or u~minlatrative re-
politics are being stirred up a6~ after a Qa~ a~d
by Komoto ras Naka onees riva2
period oi Lranquility.
Nakason~ spent ~he hoIIdays oi "(3olden !a becoming louder.
Week" at a larm in the Tama area o_' In this sltuation Nakasone aibaa to
- western Tokyo and at hia villa in Karuiza- strengthen his position by urging the
wa. Nagano-ken. premier to continue pressing for admin-
- His vacatioa was appareatly aimed at fstrative reform.
stockpiling energy !or the preparation oi "Noth:ng ventured, nothing galned." Na-
sectional reports to be submitted ia or kasone apparently would llke to learn '
. aiter mid-May aad the basic report on ad- something irom this ~roverb. .
ministrative reform to be compiled in July. The other strategy is more positive. Na-
Whethei Prime MinlBter Sa'~uki will be ' kasone may be able to casE the decidinb
- reelected ia the Liberal-Democratic Party: vote i! Suzuki, supported by hLs faction
y (LDP) presidential electioa scheduled ior and that of Tanaka, and ~ Komoto, backed
December depeads upon how Nakasone by Fukuda and Nakagawa, are atymied be-
and Toahio Komoto, director-general of cause of the bslance o! power.
the Economic Plaaning Agency, will act. I! thls occurs, Nakasone will announce
- Komoto, ovha is close to former paime _ that he will not run in the preliminary
minister Takeo Fukuda and ia deepenin6 .election and that he will support Suzuki
relations with. ichiro Nakagawa, director- ~in order to carry out administrative re-
general of the 3cience and T'echnalogp form in a bid to secure victory for Suzuki.
Agency, aad Ikko Kasuga, adviser to the If thia comes to pa-c, it is speculated
Democratic-3ocla1lst Party, is conductinq that �.the 3uzuki and Tanaka factions
an open race for the LDP preaidency. would become indebted, to Nakasone and
Iiowever, obaerver~ feel Naka?sone's plans age~ Lo suport hlm a~ the LDP president
seem obacurs. to . iollow Suzuki.
This may be due to the tact that Naka- His ailence encourages this kind o! spe-
- soae 1s now trapped in the task of ad- culation.
minfatrative reform as former psemier ~a- Hut there la no guarantee that the po-
kuei Tanaka points out or due to a more 1ltical sltuation wlll develop !n this way
complicated strategy as ore oi the iavor- conaiderinB the constant shifts of alliances.
ites in the race. But there seems to be tto other choice but
According to those who are close to Na- this, and it la reported that this was whut
kaaone, he is actuallq planniag two tyyes Nakasone tald his assoctates. .
COPYRIGHT: The Daily Yomiuri 1982
CSO: 4120/271 8
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POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL
r
NAKASONE FACTION'S ROLE ANALY.�.ED
' Tokyo THE JAPAN ECONOMIC JOURPiAL in English 18 May 82 p 10
["Political ~cene" column by 'Yet~uo Tamura: "Nakasone Faction May Have Deci3ing
- Power"]
There is a growing belief among politic~l party president (and the premier) right
[Text] circles that Yasuhiro Nakasone, director away. But if he did,~ Japan's poliGcs would
~ general of the Administrative Management become chaotic. There also would be a
_ Agency, and his faction will have the decid- probability that Nakasone would incur the
ing vote on the outcome of the ruiing Liberal wrath of the Tanaka and Suzuki factions and
� Democratic Party's presidential election lose his chance to be the party president.
slated tor Nwember. Tne reason is simple: Furthermore, even it Fukuda, Miki, Naka-
the Nakasone faction, a quasi-mainstream sone and Nakagawa joined hands under the
Eaction" aligned with mainstream Tanaka banner of "anti-Suzuki," there would be a
and Suzuki factions, could �eriously aftect chancP that thase four factions could not
the Suzuki Cabinet's fate if it moves even an reach a consensus on a successor to Suzuki,
inch toward "anti-mainstream" factiu~s. and after much confusian, Suzuki would be
That is, if the Nakasone faction joins the rew~ecte~; to the presidency.
camp of "anti-mainstream" Fukuda, Miki Faced with this praspect, Nakasone and
and Nakagawa factions, the LDP's present ~s faction are keeping fheir stance as a
tactionally-balanced framework cauld be ~�yuasi-mainsUeam" faction in an attempt to
_ disintegrated very easily, thereby staggering W~~ ~Wer with support from the Tanaka and
- the very toundation of the Suzuki Cabinet and Suzuki tactions. There are a number af
suddenly throwing the LDP into a very un- ~~ues which could passibly threaten the
stable situation. faundation of the Suzuki Administration,
For example, if Nakasone decided to clear- such as the -expected shortfall o[ ~ 3 trillion
ly go againsl Prime Minister Suzuki and run ~ revenues [or fiscal 1981 and the court rul-
- in the coming presidential election, it wauld ~~8 ~une 8 on defendant (and incumbent
be almast certain that the election would be Dietman) Takayuki Sato in the Lockheed
- held. At present, Prime Minister Suzuki, PaY~t case.
Director General Tashio Komoto ot the Eco- Under such circumstances, one cannot
nomic Planning Agency, and Director Gen- deny the passibility that the Nakasone fac-
- eral Ichiro Nakagawa of the Science and Csan will change its mind and suddenly join
Technology Agency have expressed iheir ~e ~~anti-mainsUeam" camp when the occa-
intention to run in the election. If Nakasone sion arises. At present, a prevailing view
joins those three, there will be tour candi- within the LDP does not warrant Nakasone's
dates, and lhe presidential election must be chances to succeed Suzuki, but there is no
- held according to party nyles. That is, if denying that Nakasone is the most likely
- there are only three running, there will be no candidate to become the next premier. For
need to hold a primary election and the run- this reason, everyone is keeping a conslant
off election by LDP's Dietment will decide watch on~every move of the Nakasone tac-
who should become the next party president. tion. If viewed from a ditferent angle, how
In that case, party leaders wil! probably hold Nakasone sees things and what action i?~
- talks to avoid confusion and conflict~ and takes by this November will determine the
- Suzuki is very likely to be reelected to the final outcome of the LDP's presidential elec-
presidency. tion and the future course of Japanese
On the other hand, even if Nakasone de p�~~tics.
cided to be "anti�~Suzuki," it would not en-
. hance his chance of becoming the next
COPYRIGHT: 1982 The Nihon Keizai 5himbunsha, Inc.
cso: 4i2o/2~0 9
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- POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL
CH~'JGED NATURE OF LAI;~iR SPRING UFFENSIVE ANALYZED
- Tokyo NIHON KEIZAI SHIMBUN in Japanese 16, 17, 18 Apr 82
[16 Apr 82 p 2]
[Text] "It will conclude with a bluff fight." (Top-level executive of the
General Ccsncil of Trade Unions of Japan) The 1982 spring offensive was the
� first "spring of~ensive without a transportation strike" in the history of
; spring offensives because a strik~ of the ~ajor private railway companies and
= the Japanese National Railways was averted. Amid the administrative ~eform
storm and the criticism of "the good old government will foot the bil]." atti-
~ tude, there is no way of concealing the ebbing of the National Cour~cil of Gov-
ernment and Public Workers Union (Kankoro), which until now has taken upon
- itself the role of axis of the labor movement. The labor tide has started to
shift froa~ Kankoro to private union leadership centered in the labor front
Unification Preparatory Association (Toitsu Jumbi-kai).
National Council of Government and Public Workers Union Disheartened
Kaoru Ota, chairman of the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan (Sohyo),
who is bath the originator and father of the spring offensive, preached the
- "end of the spring offensive" in 1975 with the comment.: "A settlement was
- reached on the price offered by the employers via their response to the iron
~ and steel workers." It is forecast that this year's spring offensive wage in-
- crease will somehow reach the 7 percent level and "actual disposable income
will increase about 2 percent." (Chairman Miyata of the Metal Workers Federa-
tion) And there is no f eeling af defeat in the labor unions. Rather, it is
held that private industrial unions, such as the International Metal Workers
Federation-Japan Council's common front of steel, electro~ics and automobile
workers and the General Federation of Private Railway and Bus Workers Unions
of Japan (Shitetsu Soren) have "fought well."
Kankoro, through the Natior?al Railway Workers Unions (Kokuro) and the National
Railway Locomotive Enginee~rs Union (Doro), and Sohyo, in which Kankoro occupies
the main current, have beeu battered. The fact of "no JNR strike" for 2 con-
secutive years has clearly given the impression of a decline in Kankora's
_ power. Given the stormy sea of the "administrative reform spring offensive,"
Kokuro officials have been locked in a prone position since the beginning of
the year, saying: "If possible, we want to avoid a strike." The criticism
that the workplace discipline is lax has also helped, and it may be accurate
to say that Kokuro is "no longer able to wage a strike."
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- Rise of Labor Front Unification Preparatory Association
On the one hand, Shitetsu Soren, th~ main power in Sohyo affiliated pri~vate in-
dustrial unions, made application to partic.ipate in Toitsu Jumbi-kai before the
- spring offensive, and intensified its "separation from the government uniona."
An illustration of the coordination of strike dates strategy until now is that
Sohyo proffioted coordination with Kokuro. PJevertheless, Shitetsu Soren indepen-
- dently set a strike for the 13th and 14th, and after that the Council of Public
Corporation Workers Union (Korokyo), such as Kokuro, went along with them, de-
- ciding to strike for half a day on the 13th. Backbiting com~ents, such as "we
carried a heavy burden" or "an ugl.y woman's persistent attachment," we~e heard
~ from within Shitetsu Soren. Chairman Katayama of the Federation of Independent
Unions (Churitsu Roren) (chairman of the Federation of Electrical Workers Unions)
- has predicted that "leadership by the private unions will be strengthened more
and more."
Toitsu Jumbi-kai is at the stage of recognizing participation of the second
echelon of Sohyo, such as Shitetsu Soren and the National Trade Union of Metal
and Engineering Workers, on the 17th. If so, infZuential private industrial
unions will be assembled in ~oitsu Jumbi-kai and about 4.3 million members
will col.lectively have the strength to match the membership of Sohyo (4.57
million members). It is inevitable that in the fa].1 Toitsu Jumbi-kai will
expand and reorganize into a"council," and will assume leadership of the
spring offensive next year.
In some ~aays, this spring offensive was also the spring offensive which ques-
- tioned how the "Toitsu Jumbi-kai spring offensive shou~d be." L~t ~he beginning
of April, Noboru Goto, president of Tokyo Electric Express Railway, Ltd, ob-
served that "this year will see a serious spring offensive in that Toitsu
- Jumbi-kai has been allowed to take root," and that he would send back a
= generous answer to Shitetsu Soren as a congratulatory gift for its joining
Toitsu Jumbi-kai. Management's "parental affection" in fostering the sprout-
ing Toitsu Jumbi-kai could be seen at every turn.
Birth Pains in Next Year's Spring Offensive
As for the rise of Toitsu Jumbi-kai, zhe view concerning the National Spring
Offensive United Front Congress, comprised o~ Sohyo and Churitsu Roren and
others, that "next year Dhuritsu Roren will pull away fro m the congres~ and
the congress will noz be organized" is spreading. (A11-Japan Telecommunica-
tions Workers Union official) They have been placed in a life or death
crisis.
- Chairman Katayama himself, one of the rounders of Toitsu Jumbi-kai, spoke
ambiguously with these comments: "If Toitsu Jumb i-kai is substantially
_ strengthened, naturally the private united front will becom,e its axis. How-
- ever, if the view of labor f ront unity does not grow a little more, the
spring offensive united front may last only one more year." It is certain
that the "decline of the spring offensive united front" has drawn near.
The end of the spring offensive. Granting that the spring offensive format
does not disappear, the spring offensive formula to date, whereby the wage
i.ncrease market is pushed up via the effect of riding together under the
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backdrop of a strike, has, in substance, become a mere shell of itself. And
- the Sohyo style labor linkage with Kankoro as its core is standing az a turn-
= ing point.
In such a situation, wili ~he Toitsu Jumbi-kai and private unions' spring
offensrve give birth to a new spring offQnsive formula? The private railways'
labor and management have already begun to grope for a labor-management coop-
erative "united response formula" similar to that of the steel workers. Even
- within Sohyo, the assessment has been voiced that "because it will be the end
- of a one-shot response comes to the forefront; we will do our utmost until a
- reply is given; it is worth a three-shot response." (Sohyo official)
Therefore, this also has the defect of making it easy to fall into a"spring
- offensive controlled" by management. While Sohyo and Kankoro are searching
for the path to a painful ?-ebirth, in the meanti~e, fi.he private unions for
which Toitsu Jumbi-kai is a mother's womb seem to be experiencing the birth
~ pains of a new spring offensive pattern.
[17 Apr 82 p 2]
= [Text] "It is presimnptuous for us to grade this year's wage increase offen-
sive, but won't everyone give us a prize for our fighting spirit?" On the 8th,
when a simultaneous response was given ta the metal wo-rkers federation (Inter-
national Metal Workers Federation-Japan Council, six metal and electrical
workers unions), Ichiro Shio~i, chairman of the Federation of Automobile Work-
- ers Unions, boastf ully made the above co~nents. The rate of consumer price
- increase in FY 81 was 4 percent, a reduction by half over the previous year
(7.8 percent). Since it was expected that this year a wage market "in con-
formity with prices would drop sharply compared to last year's 7.7 percent
average, this may be called an expression of confidence from labor, whose out-
- look was that a 7-percent increase could be maintained throughout the Japan
Council.
However, the view is strongly held that in this year's spring offensive, the
employers judged there would be no transportation strike by private and gov-
ernment railway workers from the very beginning, and joining forces, they
worked out a higher than anticipated wage increase. The response to the steel-
workers, which is the standard for the response to the private railway workers,
was Y3,100 yen, a 6.36-percent increase, less than last year by only 400 yen
- or 0.63 percent. The private railway workers answer topped ttit steelworkers
offer by 1,200 yen during the last 2 years. The private railway management
promptly declared early in April that "a difference of 1,200 yen will be main-
tained this year as well." It can be said that the private railway response
was set at more than 14,300 yen.
High Offer Was Effective
At this stage, the observation that "There will hardly be a transportation
- strike" began to be made by some within the Japan Council. After all, the
second reply to the private railway workers which came on the 12th was settled
at 14,500 yen, which added 200 yen to the bottom line, plus cost of living
allowance (1,000 yen beginning in October).
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While the negotiations were continuing to the utmost before the second reply,
thera were even union officials in the major private railway workers union~
who were sayin~, "If we get 14,500 yen, there will be no strike even without
the living .allowance given last year." It can be said that the employers'
deep attachment to a"no strike" was the reason for the high response.
One person connected with the National Ra~lway Workers Union (Kokuro) made
the follc+wing analysis : "It was handled perfectly by m~*�3gement. Kc~kuro and
Doro could not have a stri::e independently. Ii ~here is no private railway
workers strike, a sCrike by Kokuro and Doro would autamatically disap~;ear.
_ Next year and thereafter, private railway management will make a high offer
and try to continue the 'no strike'; aren't they aiming at a single shot re-
sponse in the future?"
Kokuro and Doro Also Pull Back From Strike
Amid severe criticism of ~NR, such as blackmarketing and working while drunk,
Kokuro and Doro have conspicuously lost ground. Nevertheless, this year from
_ their position of honor as the "core unions" in the spring offensive up until
now, Kokuro and Doro set the strike dates--a half day on the 13th beginning
- with the first train departure until noon f'or the ~?ational Railways commuter
� trains in the capital and Osaka areas, in t~itison with the major privatE. rail-
way workers; on the 15th for the principal arterial railroads; and or. :.he
16th, simultaneously throughout the entire country. But from the velry begin-
ning, they had no intention of striking. There are ind.ications that even re-
garding the simultaneous strike with the private railway unions on the 13th,
Kokuro approached the private railway unions about aver~ing a strike.
- What will happen to the private railway unions strike next year and thereafter,
given the phenomenon of Kokuro and Doro which joined forces with them in the
- transportation strike calling for a"pull b3ck from striking?" Likewise,
management does not have a clear and accuratt~ outlook, saying, "If possible,
we will settle with a one-shot response, and ~~e would like to stop making our
passengers nervous, but it will take 4 or 5 more years." (Managing Director
Sudo of the Japan Privately Managed Ra~Llway Association)
Shitetsu Soren (whose chairman is Taiceshi Kur~kawa and which has 203,000 m~-
_ bers) holds a pessimistic view on a no-strike settlement. The problem is the
extent of the reply; it can't be said that the pattern next year will be the
same (as this year, which had an early settlement). It will still. take time
to arrive at a one-shot response. Likewise, there ar.e times when the strike
- itself is the objective (for riaintaining the organization)." (Chief Secretary
Tamura)
~ One key forecasting the direction of the private railway strike is the course
of T.oitsu .7umbi-kai (Labor Front Unification Preparatory Association), which
~ took leave of the Kankoro type labor movement which makes the strike omnipo-
_ tent, and is advancing with the leadership of the private labor unions. Even
though it was. shelved at the managers' conference of Toitsu Jumbi-kai held on
the 16th, Shitetsu Soren's application with Toitsu Jumbi-kai is an already
established route. There is also the view that "management's intention in
hoping that Shitetsu Soren will affiliate with Toitsu Jumbi-kai (whose aim is
~ the no-strike line) is working behind this year's high offer to the private
railwaqs."
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Break-up Deepens in Korokyo
~ l~:oreover, the dreakup wltk?in the Council of Public Corporations Workers Unions
~ (Korokyo), such as Kokuro and Japan Telecommunications Workers Union (Zendent-
su), is showing signs of deepening further. Even concerning this apring's
- basic wage rate increase, it was strongly voiced within Zendentsu whexe busi-
ness is good that "Let's increase the difference with JNR where there is a
- deficit," but in the end, it seemed to settle at about the same rate as in the
past. Apart from the reality, dissatisfaction has a~~c~rmulated with Kor~kyo
which took pride in ~eing a monolith, and there is Lhe potential for the cri-
sis of dissolution.
_ "The private railway unions are going to Toitsu Jumbi-kai, and Kank.oro is being
cut uF, Not to mention t;he private railway objections, th~ decision far no
n
strike will un*:istakabiy take root beginning next year. Such comments from a
Kokuro official appea~~ to suggest a spring offensive next year and thereafter.
[18 Apr 82 p 2]
jText] The backers are outside the mosquito net. The Japan Federation of
- Employer.s Association (Nikkeiren), the General Council of Trade Unions of
Japan (Svhyo) and the Ministry of Labor are the backers needec~ for the spring
- offensive. The wage increase in this year's spring offensive was decided with-
out concern for these backers, who were all put outside the r~osquito net. For
example....
"We are not say~ing, proceed with a wage increase in accordance with the produc-
tivity standard principle, but instead we are saying we want to temper the pro-
~ ductivity standard principle with the ability to pay." (Chairman Otsuki of
- Nikkeiren at a regular interview on the 14th)
"This year's spring offensive is full of changes in comparison with the past.
Official sources are talking about everything from the content of the reply
to the time period. An illegal act!" (Chairman Makieda of Sohyo at a press
conference after a meering with Minister Hatsumura of the Ministry of Labor
on the 12th)
"Each enterprise decided independently on a wage increase with both Zabor and
management. No problems appeared. Our turn never came." (Official of the
~ Ministry of Labor af~er agree~ment in the wage increase negotiations with the
private railways)
Nikkeiren Ignored
It was Nikkeiren which waved the flag of wage restraint, insisting on "a wage
increase within the limits of a productivity increase rate." But when the re-
sults were known, the major private companies went with a 7-percent wage in-
- crease. ~oth labor and management effectively ignored the Nikkeiren guidelines,
- and decided on "their own" wage with labor and management cooperating. It can
be said that Nikkeren's wage increase tk~eory ended in "empty talk."
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Condition of Piajor i'rivate Industrial Union Wage Increases
Last Year's Years
Amount and Base Actual ResulL~ Aver- of Em-
Percentage Wage (yen and age ~loy--
of Offer ( en percentage) Age ment
Electronics (14 companies) 13,072 + a 175,560 13,344 (8.1) 32.7 12.2
(7.5+ a)
Automobiles (11 companies) 13,223(7..4) 179,424 13,611 (8:0) 34.4 11.4
Iron and~steel (5 companies) 13,100(6.36)206,000 13,500 (7.0) 35.0 15.0
Shipbuilding (7 companies) 13,100(6.6) 197,366 13,500 ~7.1) 37.5 16.0
_ Power utilities (9 companies) 13,800(6.3) 219,Ob2 14,300 (6.9) 35.5 1b.6
Private railways (8 companies) 14,500(7.06)205,467 14,700 (7.6) 39.%+ 19.0
= (N.B.) Only steel differs from the other industries in the standard laborer's
formula.
This is also the reason for~the weak-hearted words from Chairman Otsuki, speak-
_ ing on behalf of Nikkeiren: "We want to temper the productivity standard prin-
ciple."
The situation is the same with Sohyo. In addition to the "pressure" from ad-
ministrative reform, disorder in the National Ra~.lways labor union which
- symbolizes Kankoro is the subject of all-out public criticism. Even though
- Sohyo wanted to get a word in on the spring offensive, the circumstances did
not allow it. Shitetsu Soren, which leans most toward Kankoro am~ng ^the pri-
vate labor unions, explicitly broke away from Kankoro in this year's spring
offensive and 3oined the private unions. Sohyo, that is, Kankoro, stood com-
pletely alone. The spring offensive was an affair symbolizing change.
In this situation, a no-strike spring offensive materialized for the fist time
and, as it were, generally settled down with a wage increase standard. The
_ Ministry of Labor also has no turn in an undisputed spring offensive. A spring
offensive. close to the Ministry of Labor~'s ideal materialized but ironically
resulted in dimming the significance of the existence of the Ministry of Labor.
Disposable Income In.crease Expected
- In this year's spring offensive, labor and management of the ma~or private
companies realized a 7-percent wage increase without being bothered by the
backers. Since many factors, such as business trends, the enterprise's earn-
ings, labor-management relations, trends in other companies in the same indus-
try, and labor supply and demand were counted in the 7 percent. Tlxe wisdom of
both labor and management was pooled.
What inf luence will this wage increas~ have on business (especially the indivi-
dual consumer) and prices?
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First of a1Z, Iet's look at the influence on individual consumption. It is said
_ that one reason.for the stagnation in consumption is the decrease in real wages.
~ Especially ~ith the natural tax increase~ real disposable income has dropped for
2 consecutive years. There is no hope for a recovery i~ consumption. However,
the Ministry of Labor's analysis is that with the 7 percent increase, "about a
1 percent increase in real disposable incoffie is firm."
The condition for a recover~? in individual consinnption has been tentatively
- arranged, and the prominent view is that "the psychological effect of gaining
a 7-percent increase will sL~:a?ulate individual consumntion." (Ministry of
Labor) Nevertheless, cor~sidering future business trends, the~t are also impor-
tant factors such as rhe decrease in overtime work and a constriction of the
bonus. There is little possibility of total cash wages expanding more than last
year.
And even considering the influenr_e on prices, the generai view is that "I don't
- think it will be a factor in price increases." (Chairman Otsuki) However, this
does not mean it is not a matter for concern. "When the future international
competitive ability is considered, I feel it was a little high." (Chairman
Otsuki)
Further Acceleration of Private Leadership
Certainly, the United Automobile [7o~kers of the United States and West Germany's
- Metal Worktrs Union accepted an actual decrease in wages in this year's wage
- revision. ::oncerning wage increase, a phenomenon of passing each other occurred
between Japan and Europe and the United Statesa This is a matter of concern for
~ management looking at the mid- and long-term views.
- However, the majority in the financial world voice the opinion that ti;e movement
of "employment over wages" in Europe and the United States is two or three
= rounds behind Japan." It is not thought that a 7-percent wage'incrF.ase will
have an effect on international competitive ability.
Concerning this y~ar's spring offensive, certain persons in the financial world
- stated: "Real ~aages increased and public sentiment will stabilize." It can
also be seen that~in thisyear's spring offensive, Japan's labor and management
made the "wisest" decision both macroeconomically and politically.
In this year's spring offensive, this pattern became quite clear--the influen-
tial power of the old backers dimmed and the negotiations of private labor and
management will clecide the spring o'r."fensive market. Such movement will
accelerate ~even more in the spring offensives next year and thereafter.
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha 1982
9400
- CSO: 4105/93 .
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POLITICAL AI~ID SOCIOLOGICAL .
HANDLING OF F-4 PHANTOM ISSUE CRITICIZED
Tokyo BUNGEI SHUNJU in Japsnese May 2 pp 136-146
[Article by writer and Diet member Shintaro Ishihara: "F-4 Phantom Deception"J
_ [Text] Philistine Politica Rejected
Unsound "Diet Policy"
Broadly speaking, as long as there are internal politics and external pol-
~ itics, the political aims of any government are varied. In addition, those
aims are organically intertwined, and the political means and methods for
their attainment are implemente3 while interacting with each other in a com-
plez manner.
In this sense, except for very unusual circumstances under given conditions in
_ a given era, a singular and absolute political aim or theme is difficult to
conceive. The prir..ri:ies within a variety of political aims are not deter-
mined e~.sily, and if thep are determined they are inevitably altered due to
changes in eras or other pa?~*_ical coeff icients.
It is very dangerous for politicians in posi~tions of leadership--i.e., a
limited group of people who have a powerful influence not only on politics
but also on society in general from the standpoint of social engineering, in-
cluding the spirit and psychology of the national anasses--to easily de~ermine
the prioritfes of aims within the politics at their disposal. The upshot is
that the range of political choices is narrowed down and rendered inf lexible,
while the nation and the people are likely to be compelled to bear ~nnecessary
sacrifices and losses.
~Poday, unnoticed by the people, politicians are always acutely sensitive to
_ the handling of legislative and political affai.rs by the Diet and the govern-
ment~ There is a firm order of top priorities concerning political goals. It
is called "Diet policy" and all political issues must yield to Diet policy.
Nevertheless, "Diet policy" is merely a means of Diet operation and should
be subordinated to concreCe political issues. But in the present politias,
the cart is being placed before the horse.
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Roughly speaking, a judgment of political values is made only by induction
in re lat3.on to politically indispensable matters--ma.inly the budget and elec-
tions.
- However, a budget is only a budget, be it the ma.in budget or a supplemental
' budget. It is merely 3 political derivative, while an election is merely a
component of pelitics. Of course, it depends on the nature of things, but a
political theme which can influence the fate of a:.ation can also become a
factor in basically influencing a national budget in proportion to its im-
portance. It can also provide the political impetus for a new election, de-
pending on the political situation. Nonetheless, in Japan's politics today,
_ the cart is placed before the horse, and regardless of the importance of a
political issue, discussions are held only in the framework of such a per-
- ve rs ion.
_ This has resulted in a serious confrontation in Diet deliberations, and the
_ more likely an issue is to evoke heated debate, the more possible it is for a
budget to be denied speedy approval, depending on the Diet policy of the op-
= position. Therefore, ir. order to provide impetus for a new.election, the
ruling party would attempt to water down the key political issues by resort-
ing to superEicial debate and deliberation, while the opposition would demand
concessions from the government party, irrationally distorting the substance
of the issues, in order to prevent the formation and implementation of the
- budget. Meanwhile, whenever there is the possibility of an issue being
- linked to an election, it is customary for the substance of the issue to be
_ diffused amid stormy debate from the two sides.
The individual political i~sues which become the subject of Diet deliberation
constitute the heart of p~litics, while the derivative issues and procedures
such as budgets and elections are mere auxiliary affairs. However, the
sterility of modern Japanese politics stems from the reversal of .these two
- elements. It could perhaps be offered as solid proof of the qualitative de-
cay of an advanced culture which Sei Ito predicted long ago in his thesis on
culture during the early stage ~f Japan's consumer society.
The forma.tion and implementation of a budget are indispensable in government
administration. However, as long as the separation between the executive and
legislative branches of government is a key prerequisite for demacracy, it
cannot be considered sound from the standFoint of the functior~~.ng of democracy
for the concepts of the executive branch to coincide completely with those of
the legislati.ve branch in which a political party plays a role, although tha.t
party happens to be the party of a long-reighing government. The formation and
im~lementation of a budget are most important to a government official, next to
- his life. Or rather, it is the raison d'etre of a goverrunent official.
Despite this, and regardless of the existence of a large number of former of-
ficials as Diet members of the ruling party, it is definitely unsound for them
- to completely dominate the party's concept of values and purpose. The absolute
_ control of the Japanese nation by its bureaucrats is clearly evident, judging
from the concepts held by the ruling party.
,
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- As long as politics reflect their concept of values--or rather, their sense
- of highest priority regarding their methods and practices as government of-
ficials--there can be no hope for dynamic politics. There would be no reason
to expect foresight on the part of politicians to tranacend the present or to
itave a historical awareness. Their concepts should not move ahead of the
cycle of budget formation, nor could they willingly accept the correct3an
and revision of their past errors due to their excesaive self-pride.
To conduct all political affairs on the basis of induction from the forma-
tion and implementation of the budget--tt~at is, the methods of the present
_ Libera 1 Democratic Party (LDP) and its government in placing top priority
on "Diet policy"--may be easily explained away as self-defense, even when a
- basic error has been couunitted, but to that extent they are only being irre-
sponsibl.e and philistinely customary.
I would venture to say that the charge often made by the ruling party, to the
effect that the perennial immaturity unique to the opposition and its irrespon-
sible brazenn.ess in refusing to acknowledge that fact has produced the present
- state of Diet policy, is actua.lly the opposite of reality. That state was
actually derived from the disposition of the ruling LDP itself.
_ 1 i
.
, ~ ~
- ~
-
~
r~r~?~I'~ ~ .
- ~
\ ~
_ ~ ~ � \
~ ~ % ~ 1
~ ~ ' �I ~
.f! Mr. I
i~ I ~
- ~
~ . ~ �
J f 405iif ~
" ~ 508' .4'.
~ ' F-4EJ
~ ~ t5400iif~
' ~ ' /S00i'it'4liil
~ � 1x4 i~Mlr# ~
~
, F-15 ~ 280' ~
; ~ ~ ~ . F-4EJ � 7 0' 4.
- ~ ; i ~ i~ F-1 !�1200i~T
' 1'~ ~T
_ ~ / \ 895' !E
_ ~ ~ - ~ ~ _ 412i~!
Ih800iK~
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xey:
1. Map of Japan and Its Environs
- 2. 405 nautical ~iles
3. 508 nautical miles
4. F-4EJ
about 400 nautical miles
(500-1b bombs x 4 aboard)
5. F-15 about 280 nautical miles
6. F-4EJ about 250 nautical miles
7o F-1 about 200 nautical miles
. 8. 335 nautica? miles
9. 895 nautical miles
10. ~+12 nautical miles
11. about 800 nautical miles
~ Government Views Fail To Present Perspective
My preface has been somewha~ lengthy. The ma~ority of the people who pre- -
sented the i~DP with an unexpectedly decisive victory, albeit tacitly, in the
previous general election of 1980, had hoped that the party in pocuer would
bring about a drastic reform in response to this turning point in history,
and to make possible a new development on the basis of the reform. I have
been frustrated and irritated by the almost total failure of the government
and its party to respond to this challenge following the election. The rea-
son is, ever since I became a politician, I have seen with my awn eyes the un-
changing philistine attitude of the LDP in its political management~
_ The constitutional debate sparke.d by Justice Minister Okuno, which became an
issue in the postelection Suzuki cabinet; the problem of interpreting the three
antinuclear principles relative to the pros and cons of port calls and pa.ssage
through territorial waters under present inte rnationai conditions; the con-
= fusion arising from the interpretation~ of the U.S.-Japan "alliance" in the
- joint statement which was signed by the prime minister himself; the adminis-
- trative reform which was tentati.vely effective in bringing about a zero ceiling
in this year's fiscal budget, but which has subsequently shawn signs of taper-
ing off; especially the major overhaul of the totally dilapidated National
Railway Sytem, which not only is the greatest minus factor in Japan's gavern-
ment and finance, but could also adversely affect the spiritu~z] health and
= judgment of the masses; and the futile controve rsy in the budget committee
this year over the remodelling of the F-4 jet, which was an apprQpriate
medium for the dispersal of previous deceptive notions concerning self-defense--
despite the fact that these are all more or less equally crucial issues sur-
roundir.g the nation's fate, and even today when their political coefficients
have clearly changed in comparison to the points in time when their seeds were
planted or were first brought to attention, the government has not rendered
any statement or manifested any attitude which would contr.ibute favor ably to
- any solution or progress of the issues in terms of the interest of the nation
and the people. The views expressed by the government have been absolutely
stupid repetitions of past p~actices~
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They are apparently unabl~ to see the steep and treacherous incline of the
_ stagea in hi.story whicn they themselves have climbed. They barely see the
_ individual steps, fiont and back--i.e., tf~e budg~;t cycles--and do not bother to
stop and look back at the steep steps they have climbed or are about to climb.
With regard to the normalization of Japan-South Korea relatione, the U.S.-
Japan security pact, etc., the I~ P formerly resorted to free-for-all fighting,,.
adoption through steamroller tacCics, and unilateral adoption in the unain Diet
sessions. Moreover, only a minority of the people today criticize as wrong
those choices which could only have been made by such methods. The opposi-
tion also submitted numerous proposals of non-confidence, criticized the slow
pace of the administration and conducted nonstop deliberations for as many as
_ 4 days on end, late into the nighto To that extent, at least, the people
focused their attention on politics. Toc~ay, hawever, neither the ruling
_ party nox the opposition has such volition or energy. When did such rigidity
= and secrecy begin to set in into real politics, alienating the people? It
= probably began under the ruie of Prime Minister Sato, who boasted of his long-
= reigning government. Mor eover, the cl:ronic and endless decline of the LD P pro-
- ceeded parallel with it.
It seems ttaat, after the previous general election, the seeds of the key
_ political issues pl;iced on the agenda were sawn mostly during the Sato era.
Witness the establishment of the peace constitution, wtiich was repeatedly men-
- tioned by Prime Minister Suzuki in the same wo.rds. Witness his atatement
- that "no constitutional reform y~ill be contemplated during my term af of-
_ fice"; the three antinuclear principles which were actually two antinuclear
principles according to its rhetoric; the coldblooded abandonment, during ,
parl:y Presi3ent Isozaki's era, of support for the National Railway's move-
ment to increase productivity for fear of a strike, resulting in the National
Railw3y's ruin and decline; and witness the foolieh attemgt to decrease the
capability of the F-4 planes which were bought at high cost.
- Of course, Prime Minister Sato did have a political goal to which he gave high
priority--that is, the return of Okinawa. For its early return, regardless of
the costs and apparently denying himself any thought of a wider r~nge of
choices and with surprising casualness, Prime Minister Sato ignored the im-
portance of all other political issues. His merciless curt dismissal of all
cabinet members who caused problems was described as "the cutting off of the
lizard's tail." Probably in his view even a single mosquito which disturbed
the issue of Okinawa's return was cause for anxiety and could not be spared.
Seeds Sown During Sato Era
- At the time, I made an interpellation befoie the Budget Cou�nittee af the Upper
House regarding Prime Minister Sato's attempt to establish the three anti-
r?uclear principles by accepting the broad interpretation o= the opposition.
I stated that the denial of port calls and passage through territorial waters
and the renunciation of the "manufacture, possession and entry'~ of nuclear
weapons was typical Japanese jibberish which ignored the strategic and tacti-
cal principles of, self-defense; that it would result in a serious disaster
under certain conditions in the future. I incurred the wrath of Prime
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Minister Sato. As I recall, the prime minister said: "What do you mean by
_ jibberish? If you don't lilce it, you can leave the party." As long as~such
an obstinate "conviction" on the part of the prime minister was based on his
desire for the return of Okinaraa, the party probably really had no alter-
_ native but to quietly follaw suit. Nonetheless, the seeds of the three
antinuclear principles, which have gained attention again recently, and the
bombing equipment problem concerning the F-4, we re indeed sown during this
era.
It is unbelievable that even today, when the international situa.tion surround-
ing Japan has changed drastically, the government's position on these issues
remains unchanged. _tegarding the port calls and passage of nuclear weapons-
- carrying warships, Prime Minister Suzuki replied at the outset as a mater of
course: "We will deal with them on the basis of reality." It~was probably
an honest reply based on the fact that the political coefficients had changed
since the Sato era, or it was the hackneyed phrase used by politiciana who are
not knowledgable about the circumstances involved. Ironically, however, fram .
the standpoint of those who were well-advised, it was a very appropriate state-
- ment.
However, extremnly absurd views which were counter to the common~ense of Prime
- Minister Suzuki--a man of co~mmonsense who was not an expert regarding such is-
sues--had been pursued as policy throughout the years, beginning with the Sato
era. The superficial newspapers pointed this out and the government hastily
compelled the prime minister to retract his statement. If the prime min-
ister's advisers had backed his very practical vaw to "deal with the situ-
= ation realistically," there might have been some debate, but it would have
resulted in a re~urn close to the direction af commonaense. However, politics
- emphasizing the supremacy of Diet policy forced a compromise for the sake of
maintaining a pacified Diet policy. .
Despite the U.S.-Japan security pact, there is no right on Japan's part.to
search U.S. ships entering Japanese ports, and if we consider the case of the
Soviet nucl~ar submarine which had an accident in the vicinity of the Nansei
- Islands and pushed its way through our territorial waters despite warnings
from the Japanese side, Japan does not have the power to check or prevent
the passage of nuclear weapons. If that is so, the problem of port calls and
free passage under the three antinuclear principles is actually a hollow is-
- sue. Also, while the United States and the Soviet Union are 1~ughing behind
our backs, the United States, an ally, carries on a dialog as to whether or_
not it will bring in nuclear weapons~
Therefore, the Question is why such a hnllow issue is so important. Such ~
deception could grRa'tly impede the proper awareness of the people who must
support political ct:oice~ when they count. Moreover, this could beco~e a
great strategic advantage to the Soviet Un3.on, an adversary. In fact, the
- Kremlin immediately responded to an antinuclear manifesto issued by
Japanese literary figures and called for strong support of the three anti-
nuclear principles. A political principle which does not recognize port
calls and free passage for the ships of the United States, an ally, would
clearly be advantageous to the adversary from both the strategic and tactical
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- standpoints if it were to be actually enforced. Even though we are aware
that it is a hollow issue, some people in Japan would use it as a pretext
to accuse the government and the United States, which would become a minor
but effective factor in bringing about political confusion. In any case,
failure to deal with reality and continuing the lies and nonsense which
originated more than a dozen years ago would only result in benefitting the
adversary.
It is said that as long as it is within the time limit of its mandate to rule,
_ the government could successfully deceiva the people. There is arrogance on
the part of the bureaucr~3ts who say, "Let the people come to us," and pre-
- sumptuousness in their ~~~iew that there would be no time to argue the pros and
cons of port calls and free passage in the case of a showdown. At the same
time, they say there may be no chance of it coming to a showdown. As ~ae
_ wrote in this magazine the other day, it is a baseless optimism which in
fact comes from a typically Japanese world outlook based on insular self-
_ righteousness.
In fact, the chief cabinet secretary clearly stated that there is some per-
_ ception gap between the United States and Japan concerning the Soviet Union.
And at a public hearing in the U.S. Congress, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan
- Johnson referred to the statement and clearly testified that the ultimate
- cause of the crisis in U.S.-Japan relations lies in a perception gap between
the two countries regarding the Soviet Union.
_ He was probably referring chiefly to awareness of the Soviet military threat,
which constitutes the greatest factor in present international politics, in-
- cluding the defense problem. Hawever, there has been no tangible explanation
by the government concerning the difference in perception and, first of a11,
= there is no reason to expect Japan to have its own information or analysis
which would be the source of such a perception gap. From the standpoint of
preserving U.S.-Japan relations amid the friction centering on several issues,
= if there is a perception gap between the U.S. and Japanese Governments concern-
ing the grave question of a Soviet threat, then the Japanese side should pre-
sent its views and propose a debate in order to overcome the gap. However,
that does not seem possible. Typically vague Japanese statements are made for
the sake of preserving U.S.-Japan relations, and still a perception gap is ad-
- mitted to exist.
- His dissatisfaction with the procedures aside, Prime Minister Suzuki person~
ally signed the recent joint statement expressing satisfaction with the con-
tents. Meanwhile, the cabinet spokesman admitted the existence of a per-
ception gap between the two nations regarding the Soviet Union. Which is
_ the government's true opinion? If the gap is not crucial to the government,
it should, as the U.S. side has frequently pointed out and Japan has agreed,
_ assume its "fair".share of the buxden for its awn security within the frame-
_ work of retaliatory strategy by the free nations.
Before the percentage of the GNP as allocation for its defense budget or the
number of new planes for purchase are ta be discussed, a"fair" share of the
= burden can only be realized amid the present international tension, to which
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the Soviet threat is a main contributing factor, by rejecting the habit of seek-
ing help from others on defense--a habit which was understandable under past
international conditions when Japan did not have its present world status--ar.d
by shedding the bas~less optimism rooted in that habit. But first the decep-
tion:which pern?itted the existence of those factors must be removefl.
Incidentally, the government's words and actions concerning the modification
_ of the F-4 fighter plane, which recently elicited a fierce debate in the Diet,
merely added to the clearly erroneous government view when it became an is-
- sue during the Sato era, or rather to the unquestionable deception without
any attempt to correct it. The F-4 issue is actually not limited to the
- strategic value of t'ie fighter-bombero The debate between the government and
= the opposition over the plane symbolizes the strange and dangerous idealism
- which has prevail~d in postwar Japan and which is present in the "peace con-
stitution." It also symbolizes the empty rhetoric based on unrealistic poli-
tical rules which prevail only in Japanese politics and the detriment to the
- national interest which is fostered by such rhetoric. Otherwise, it was a
- great opportunity to stem the negative trend and to restore a sound policy.
Absurd F-4 Debate
The Defense Agency attempted to increase its defense capability as demanded
- and concurrently to cut its spending in various areas to conform with admin-
istrative reforms. By equipping the previous second-lir~ F-4 fighter with
modern electronic instruments and devices, it planned to increase its longev-
ity as a self-defense weapon from the original 3,000 hours to 5,000 ho~ s
- (about 10 years in real terms). By recycling obsolete equipment, as it were,
it contemplated its inclusion in the defense power buildup plan. The F-4,
costing 3.8 billion (yen) per plane at the contracting r~int in FSj-77, was
_ trial u~nufactured at a cost of 1,33 billiori (yen) in F'Y-81 and again at a
cost of 8.496 billion (6en; in FY-82. After :~n.~icigat~ad results are con-
firmed, it is planned to similarly modify the other F-4's in order to boost
_ their capability and prolong their longevity. If the initial tri~l manufac-
_ ture is successful, the cost of modifying the remaining F-4's beginning 3 years
later with the second plane will cost no more than 1 billion (yen) per plane,
an:i for certain types of combat it will have a capability equal to the F-1S
fi.ghter. Incidentally, the cost of the F-15 at its contra~ting point in FY-82
was as high as 11.2 billion (yen) per plane. Although perhaps not equal to r_he
- F-15, the 132 F-4's in Japanese possession could be seen as an investment with
_ a very high rate of return. The modifications will involve changing the radar
- system to add the capability to attack a low target in a low-altitude approach,
- and adding a central computer similar to the one mounted on the F-25, thus
increasing accuracy by replacing the simple, human-eye operated bombing sys-
tem with a modern electronic device.
The Japan Socialist Party (JSP) raised opposition to the proposal and the
Diet recessed amid turmoil. From the standpoint of the JSP, which emphasizes
unarmed neutrality--i.e., against the use of a single r~fle--the argument is
that, for whatever reason, it is a breach of promise to suddenly reequip the
F-4, whose electronic bombsight was removed because of a commitment made
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during the Sato era, with the same device to improve its capability. The JSP
considers it a deviation from the explanation made in the Diet.
From the standpoint of the Defense Agency, it wanted to ask why the JSP was
acting at this stage like it was half asleep, but it refrained. Instead,
the agency explained that, in view of the general improvement of a broad
range of weapons, the restoration of an accurate bombing capability to the
F-4 does not pose the relatively aggressive threat to an adversary that it
� did before. Moreover, the F-15, which is superior to the F-4, has subse-
_ quently been purchased and deployed, so the agency assumed it was understood
- that the basis for the F-4 threat had become relatively nonexistent with the
change of times. In fact, the F-4 was not a threat during the Sato era.
Diet member Oide, who made the statement opposing the reequipment of the F-4,
also demanded removal of the bombsight from the F-15 as an excessive threat.
_ The issue was skirted at the time with the statement that a repl.y would be
forthcoming after a technical study was ma.de on the basis of an original pro-
duction design. The JSP refused this time to be circumvented. However, was
_ it necessary at this juncture for the government to reply to this kind of
argument at the pace of the opposition? In doing so, hasn't the government
_ tied its own hands, and isn't it bound to suffer a serious setback both
~tangibly and intangibly?
.Truthfully, it i.s sophistry to argue in this age of rapid technological pro-
gress that the F-15, which appeared several years �later than the F-4,~is a
purely interceptor type considered inferior to the F-4 in its bombing cap-
- ability. It would have been better not to purchase such a type of new plane.
It proves that the debate in the name of Diet deliberation, using arguments
which no one really believes, is conducted only for the sake of a low-
dimensional "Diet policy" whose results and arguments of pro and con deviate
from the real substance.
Following Suit With the Fukuda Statement
Following the uproar, I read the government's view which was made public on
- 9 March, and was again disappointed. The gist of the government's explanation
- was that the spirit of the statement by forsner Defense A gency Director
Ma.suda--i.e., the basic policy of not possessing equipment presenting an ag-
gressive threat to other nations--would be upheld. It also stated that, since
the F-4 bombing device is no longer a threat relative to the improvement of
capabilities in other weapons, the governmerit would proceed with its
- scheduled plans.
_ Since the deceptive statement which Director Ma~uda issued or was forced to
issue during the Sato era has been upheld with another overlay of lies, the
- government has planted and left the seeds for similar unproductive debate.to
_ future generations.
i~hat, then, are the lies and deception in the Masuda statement which the gov-
ernment has recently upheld? First of all, what did the JSP mean by "an ag-
- gressive threat to othar nations?"
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By other nations, at the time it meant the Soviet i`nion, China and North Korea.
~ Today, China would be excluded. By "thraat" it meant that the principal
cities of those nations would fall within the fli~;'~t range of the F-4 or F-15.
However, aside from reconnaissance flights, any ?:'::~.cl of plane would have to be
equipped for combat in order to present a threat~ 'I'he F-4 can ordinarily
carry eight 500-pound bombs, but with such a 1~::~: its fligk~t range would be
_ 250 nautical miles one way even in a beeline 'r.o~.:,r.dtrip flight. If so, it
- could not reach any of the cities in the aforementioned nations, even from
= domestic bases in Chitose, Misawa, Koma.tsu, Tsuiki, Nyutabaru and Nahao
Therefore, the JSP attacked the Defense Agency;on the basis of a hypotheticall,y
- reduced load of four bombs in ordsr to increase the flight range, and the gov-
ernment responded in accordance with that hypothesis.
Data is available on a map which was often displayed at the time. It is a
- linear map with a radiu~ of 400 n~utical miles one way for an F-4 carrying
four bombs from principa.l bases in Japan. Actually, an accurate radius of
- . 400 nautical miles ~aould not encompass Shanghai, Pyongyang, Vladivostok or
Khabarovsk.
- Nonetheles~, the Masuda statement implies that those ci~ties would fall within
- the flight range of an F-4 carrying a half load of bombs.
- The argument seems to be that even if the F-4 were to reacl-~ those cities, it
would not be equipped with a central computer for pinpoint bombing. There-
fore, it would not go on any raid which might prove useless, and if it were
not equipped with the device it would not become a threat. Even a child would
- laiow, in this day and age, that a strategic or tactical threat is not such a
simple matter.
Strictly speaking, a military threat is based not only on the quality, quan-
tity and capability of military equipment, but foremost on the intent behind
= ~ their use. Without quoting the example of constitutivnal constraint, it is
clear that Japan has neither the intent nor necessity to invade and attack
those nations.
- As proof, one can look at the fligYit squadrons of Japan's .Air Self Defense
Force and see that there isn't a single attack squadron. They are all inter-
ceptor squadrons.
- In contrast, the division-size troops deployed by the U~SR in recent years
on the four northern islands are excessively large to be justified as so-
_ called "defense of the islands (Who on earth are they goin g to defend the is-
lands against--the islands they seized from us?)." Also, qualitativel.y speak-
- ing, their landing hovercrafts are nothing but aggressive infiltration wea-
pons suited to Japan's topography. On the basis of these facts, we cannot
_ help deducing their intentions and as a result Qense a strong threat trom
_ them.
- Such appropriate debate on the essence of a threat was never brought to the
fore by the government at the time. And even today, when the brazen
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deployment of heavy fighting pawer under the Soviet world strategy has been
confirmed on the four northern islands, why doesn't the government attempt .
to conduct a fundamental dE~bate regarding such defense problems by centering
on the F-4 issue?
Furthermore, what was meant by the threat of the F-4 at one point was none
_ other than the F-4's bombing capability compared to othex weapons. That is
why the gov~rnment recognized the F-4 as a plane with a more variable pur-
p~ose than the F-15. Therefore, the nuclear bombing capability, which is the
F-4's real threat, could be nullified merely by removing the nuclear control
system, and the F-4 should not became an issue aven though it may be equip-
_ ped with a gauge for bomb:.ng purposes.
, Nuclear Weapon No Rival bf Tyranny
- The ~reatest decegtion of the Masuda statement lies in the fact that while
advocating pure self~defense and procurring equipment for that purpose under
heavy cost, the government has fallen prey to laud and unwarranted criticism
- from the opposition and, without thinking of the various possibilities for
Japan's self-defense in an emergency situ~;.tion or without referring to it
~ even if it did, it. has only made compromises.
= Of course, the .7apanese islands are narraw in shape, but they are lengthy in
distance. The distance from Wakkanai to the Yonagunijima I~lands at the
_ ~~uthernmost tip of Okinawa is 3,200 kilometers or about 1,800 nautical miles.
If a large-scale invasion should be made directly against Japan, the islands
could easily be split in two. If one were to hypothesize defense combat
supgort under these circumstances, it would mean in extreme terms that the
capital area (Tokyo) or even Hokkaido would have to be defended by air combat
units stationed in Naha. Half of the entire length of the Japanese islands
= would be 900 nautical miles. None of the fighter planes or fighter bombers
used by Japan as interceptors could amply cover this distance. If planes
- capable of protective sorties from Naha to Tokyo, and from Komatsu in the
Hokuriku region of the Tohoku region and Hokkaido, were to be selected, the
opposition would again undoubtedly draw radical lines with their compass and
cry "aggression."
Considering only the F-4 or F-15, from a strictly tactical aspect of Japan's
_ self-defense, studies should be made to extend the flight rante of existing
- planes incZuding the use of in-flight refueling systems.
- As a result, even if the planes at hand should have the cruising capability
_ to reach some foreign areas, they would not in the least constitute a threat
hy Japan, which could not possibly entertain such an intent. If foreign
- countries should be concerned about such a capability, it would not extend
- beyond a deterrent capability.
~ At one time in the secret chamber called the D iet--whether or not it was for
the purpose of paving the way for the return of Okinawa--enormous national
funds were invested to purchase fighter planes. Regarding those planes, argu-
= ment for the sake o� argument was used, calling them a threat to peace or to
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- pure self-defense and using words for their awn sake whosec:true meanings were
- incomprehensible. It resulted in a bizarre conclusion, and a quite common
question was asked among the people who observed this from a distance: "How
- could our nation be protected with weapans which present no threat to any un-
known nation?" From the standpoin*_ of th~ perception of the masses, taking
the trouble to dismantle a computer for accurate bombing from a fighter bomber
- purchased for defense purposes and depending solely on the pilot's intuition,
_ which could prove to be unreliable, wo~ild be as frustrating as adjusting and
lowering the speed of a new ly�purchased car to a level which meets standard
- regulatians--although the present driving regulations do limit speed. One
may argue that they are two different matters, but if the speed limit for cars
_ is for personal prot.:ction, the high capability cf weapons is also for per-
- sonal protectiono ,
Although it may sound like a play on words, if the capability is of the ad-
versary's attention, i*_ would serve as a deterrent as long as there is no in-
- tent of aggression on our part. It only becomes a threat when the intent is
altered.
Many Japanese who have the bad habiL of viewing things in a narrow sense,
from only one aspect or with inflexibility, cannot comprehend the organic and
complex functions of deterrFnt powero Often, when in passession of a certain
amount of power, they could only visualize the military effect resulting from
the actual use of that pawer. To be able only to think in terms of actually
- using deployed weapons is like being born to poverty, or it is sheer impetu-
- ousness. Half of the efforts, including the money spent, would then be in
_ vain.
Not only in the area of military affairs involving the use of weapons but
: also in the area of foreign diplomacy through the use of language, and
especially in the area of international political strategy involving the use
of both, isn't it custamary to use various tangible and intangible ruses, in-
cluding bluffing, before the actual clash? Or to bargain and maneuver on the
- side, or to compete with each other?
For example, there is within the retaliatory political strategy evolved by the
Reagan administration vis-a-vis the Soviet Un3.on the view that a limited war
is possible. The real purpose is not so much the meaning of the words per se,
- but the anticipated effect of the pronouncement of those words on the aver-
sary. However, the Europeans whose theater is the target naturally feel
anxious and protest. Fully expecting this, the European governments never-
theless support the U.S. strategy, which is an example of the intric~cies of
str~tegic maneuvering. The Japanese seea to forget that where there is ten-
sion, there is naturally an adversary.
Diverting somewhat from the main subject, the antinuclear campaign, which
naturally arose in Europe, has spread to Japan. The Kremlin immediately re-
sponded to an antinuclear statement issued by a group of Japanese literary
figures, sending a reply in the name of the secretary gener.al of the Soviet
Communist Party and calling for support of an unprecedented three antinuclear
prinaiples which exist in no other country. It promised that to that extent
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: the Soviet Union would not attack Japan. Do those people who call for the
suppo.rt of rhe communique actually understand the intent of the Soviet
- Union, which is not involved in the three antinuclear principles? The 75
- SS-20's, which are placed near La.ke Baykal and pointed taward Japan and
_ China, are equipped with megaton nuclear missiles which could destroy all
of Japan. Those who cannot see them, or who close t:heir eyes to what they
don't know, surely cannot claim to haye the power of calm persuasion.
The antinuclear campaign, which spread to 3apan as I had feared, developed
in the torm of strict observance of the three antinuclear principles. It
- went further and developed into a call for opposition to the U.S.-Japan
. security pact. In anyone's mind, nuclear weapons are naturally fearsome
and foolish. However, in order to prevent those politically immature
- leaders of the communist society from committing destruction and to bring
_ them to the discussion table to point out their losses or gains, the anly
= way after every effort has been~ exhausted is to use the warning effect of
a possible limited war, and in the meantime to produce similar weapons in
quantities equal to that of the adversary. In effect, the United States,
, which controls the world whether we like it or not and which decided to re-
arm in order to prevent a holocaust, knows the dynamics of political
strategy, being well aware of the huge and wasteful cost. We should also
be aware of such dynamics in order to prevent destruction.
_ Both nuclear and conventional weapons kill great numbers of humans and have
done so in the past. Today, people are tr gnbling in fear of a crisis in
which further large-scale massacres will be committed. We must not forget
that, in the Soviet Union which has almost single-handedly brought about
such a condition and is an immature society despite its enormous power,
actually more people than nuclear weapons could kill are being buried alive
under a warped and deeply deluded ~iic!-atorship. ~~varenass of such conditiona
_ depends on whether one considers a man's freedom more important, or the value
_ of a man's life.
There is no free man who doesn't fear and hate nuclear arms. Ho~wever, the
- evasion of nuclear weapons must not be linked to unchallenged permissiveness
of murder in disguise through the deprivation Af political freedom.
Philistine Politics Could Ruin a Nation
I am afraid that an idealistic and impulsive political movement is again about '
, to occur in Japan which could strangle the freedom af the peopZe. I believe
_ the politxcians themselves should realize that their form of politics in re-
fusing to examine their awn lies and deceptions concerning the F-4 or the three
antinuclear principles, and their philistine concern rPgarding their self-
preservation, are fostering such a danger. -
= Now that I am a politician, I feel able to understand better, but when I saw
the demonstrations among you~g intellectuals in opposition to the unilateral
passage of the 1960 U.S.-Japan security pact in the Diet develop in a short
time into an antisecurity pact movement, a number of us who were sympathet-
ically involved left the movement. Jun Eto recently wrote about his awn
similar experience.
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At the time, the chairman of the Japan Writers and Artists Society asked prob-
ingly at the board meeting after the day~s meeting had ended: "There is a
strong movement in society opposing the security pact, so what do you think
about us drafting an antipact resolution, too?" Whereupon the naw deceased
Shiro Ozaki and Fusao Hayashi both countered: "We are for it. But why are
you fellaws against the pact" We would like an explanation." The~chairman _
could not reply. Tlie meeting adjourned without any solution, and there was
no further mention of the subjecto It seema to me like an almost pathetically
- comic episode. Meaciwhile, Prime Irlinister Kishi unilaterally pushed the pact
through the Diet and provoked criticism even within the ruself heard~thet it
eventually won support from the nation. At the time,�I my _
chairmen of the ruling and opposition parties support the pact. It was�the
first time such an event had occurred in Japan. I recall being surprised _
that Prime Minister Kishi, whom I disliked for no other reason except that
he was a former war criminal, showed excellent persuasion in his argument.
On the other hand, Kishi's brother, Prime Minister Sato, cou3,d be said to
have conducted a form of politics during his ru2e which was ~n a sense the
- opposite of his brother's. It was after the return of Okinawa when the
university disputes were at their peak. Prior to the opening of the Diet
where great controversy over the university legislation and health insurance
reforms was anticipated, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hori, in accordance with
Prime Minister Sato's wish, invite@ several literary figures including my-
self, who was also a member of the Upper House, to ask our opinions. At the =
time, I recalled the impression I had received of Prime MinisCer Kishi on
- television during the 1960 security pact debate, and made a request regarding
the prime minister's government policy speech. Mr Hori tentatively agreed:
_ "That's a very good idea. Hawever, he Iater retracted: "No, I don't think
we should. If we do, I'mt'afraid the Diet debate will heat up." His words
probably reflected his concern about the character and basic political posture
of the prime minister whom he served. My rebuttal, that the people w ill not
focus their attention on nor be enlightened by any debate which does not heat
up, was in vain..
Because of the persistence during the Sato era regarding the return of
Okinawa, the recurring Diet deliberation on the subject r::~slted in weeding
out such disturbing practices as free-for-all fights, all-night debates and
steamroller passage of resolutions in the Diet. Hawever, amid the ostensible
tranquility and quiet, there was no telling how many importan* political ttiemes
- failed to receive proper debate and to be shielded from the people. As a re-
sult, the people were deprived unnecessarily in both a material and spiritual
sense.
Amid great changes in the political coefficients concerning issues, it is a~
hisCorical necessity to der3ve proper conclusions through appropriate deliber-
ation and debate. To ignore this and to idly follaw the political posture of
- the past is apt to result in a loss to the nation which is far greater than it
- was at the point in time in which the action took place.
- The prime minister, above all, and all politicians should refresh their minds
_ to the fact that, unless we once again review such outdated and distorted
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issues as the three antinuclear principles and the F-4 problem, and unless
we fall into proper step, not only the ruling party but the nation and the
_ people will also come to ruin.
The politicians and the people who observe the political scene should heed
- the words of Chigaku Tanaka: "Stupidity ~~ithout evil thoughts" can thought-
lessly invert the order of a political theme and its method, and result in
destroying a nation. It only pursues self-preservati~n and indolence, and
is fastered within a philistine brand of politics which is d~void of true
courage.
COPYRIGHT: 1982 Bungei Shunju Ltd.
5884
CSO: 41U5/88
z
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FUK Uh'h'IC:IAL US~: UNLY
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE, ACADEMIC BIOTECHNOLOGY EFFORTS REPORTED
DNA Experiment ~uideline
- Tokyo NIflON KOGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 10 Feb 82~p 4
[Interview with Professor H. Saito, Institute of Applied Microbiology, Tokyo
. University (Science and Technology Agency Expert Co~nittee member) by
T. Inemori, NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN Osaka office)
[Text] Leading Technology Using Genetic Recombination, Cell Fusion--
Spurred by Relaxation of DNA Experimental Guidelines
Recently, biotechnology has been in the limelight. It
spread mainly in the United States and Europe as a leading
technology using genetic recombination and cell fusion.
- . It involves a broad field, from pharmaceuticals and food,
to chemicals and~energy. In Japan, MITI incorporated it ~
in the "Next Generation Basic Technology Development Pro-
- ject" which be~an in 1981; and in the private sector, the ~
Federation of Economic Organizations established the "Life
Science Committee," with the participation of ~any cor-
porations, including the energy-re2.ated industry, and
lively activity is in progress. In particular, the strin-
gent Japanese recombinant DNA (deoxyrib~nucleic acid)
- experiment guidelines were drastically relaxed recently
through revision by the Science Cauncil of the Ministry
of Education, which has spurred research and developffient.
- In addition, from the academic standpoint, the "Inter^3-
tional Symposium on Applied Microbial Genetics" will be
held in June this year for the first time in Japan at the
Kyoto International Hall. The symposfum is being held on .
- recombinant DNA techniques in broad f ields ranging from
~amino acids to energy, and approximately 1,200 participants
will gather from specialized fields in Japan and abroad.
Therefore, we interviewed Professor H. Saito of the Insti-
tute of Applied ~4icrobiology, Tokyo University (a member
of the Science and Technology Agency Expert Co~nittee)
- regarding problems in biotechnology involving goverimnent,
the problems in biotechnology involving government, the
private sector, and academic institutions.
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Ten Firms Leading in the Pharmaceutical Area
[Question) What headway, in particular, is being made in DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid) research, a technology to open the 21st century?
Saito: Interferon. Specifically, DNA synthesis is being carried out for hor-
mones by Suntory with the guidance of Dr Nakanishi of Kyoto University. Manag- ~
ing director Noguchi and others are working with beta-lipotropin. Wakinaga is
also working on it. Others ir~volved include Toyo Rayon, Kyowa Hakko, Green
Cross, Simmi.tomo Chemical, Kanegafuchi Chemical, etc--soffie 10 firms are in
leading positions.
[Question] Including the late starters, more than 70 firms are working on it
counting just the members of the Federation of Economic Organizations. What
= do you think about this situation?
Saito: They are engaged in textbook technical acquisition. For interferon,
- some of them recruited Itakura's students and are busy acquiring practical
~ techniques. Even then, because of the narrow area, there is also the problem
of too many corporate laboratories being involved. Setting the United States
aside, there seems to be a critical attitude in Europe, especially in England
and France. However~ when i visited Europe last fall, some in England were
- very eager, and in France, the government is taking the lead in working on it.
[Question] The groundwork for research and development lies mainly with the
- pharmaceutical manufacturers, does it not?
Saito: That's because they are equipped with research structures that are
= not of a conventional pattern, but are compatible with advanced amino acid
mass culture and the antibiotics era. They have been working by means of
- gene splicing or cell fu~ion to improve the ability of a type of fungus that
~ resembles Actinomyces bacteria.
: [Question] What about related areas?
Saito: In Belgium, a herbicide has been developed by genetic recombination of
plants. This is not a conventional syn.thetic herbicide; it was made by remov-
ing a nontoxic gene. It is attracting attention as a partner in labor-saving
agriculture and as having an antiseptic effect. ~In addition, alcohol synthesis
= based on the same principle is also being considered. This will, however, take
5 more years looking at the prPSent state of technology. Also anticipated are
petrochemical plants utilizing petroleum reactions at norcnal temperature and
normal pressure as well as highly efficient refining in the mining industry.
Petroleum Development by Making Fatty Acids
[Question] Rather than processes, for example, is energy such as petroleum
conceivable?
Saito: Petroleum is a reduced form of a substance that makes fatty acids.
Therefore; theoretically it is fully feasible by making the fatty acids. Fatty
acids can be made by extensive genetic recombination. It will require much more
sophisticated biotechnoi-,aical techniques. It will probably take 10 more years.
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[Question] What about petroleum coat by then?
Saito: Considerations are based on the premiae that it will be three times the
current price. Petroleum development will have the effect of reversing this
coet. Cetus, backed by oil companies in the United States, obtained a patent
- for a process to manufa~ture ethylene, etc, by inducing enzyme reactions. Its
cost accounting basis is set at 3 years hence with the p.remise that the price
of oil will double by then. Speaking of oil prices, the United States suffered
from a gasoline shortage in 1979, and cars lined up at gasoline stations on the
West Coast. I was staying in the United ~tates at the time and understood
their feeling well. There, voices were asking for gasoline prices to be raiaed
rather than having tc+ line up, and the price of 70 cents ~wnped to $1.40. It
was a realistic solutinn and no complaint was heard. Thus, the incre~se for
oil will probably occur at an unexpectedly fast pace. We should not fall behind
overseas countries in petroleum development using gene splicing or cell fusion.
- If we do fall behind, it's important to catch up immediately.
Government Should Take the Initiative in Mass Development
[Question] I understand. But are Japanese corporations thinking that far ahead?
Saito: In their current condition, they haven't got extra force to spare.
Following the past pattern, they will make a connection immediately with pharma-
ceuticals, choosing those that have high added values with small quantity. Cost
accounting comes first, and Chis makes things difficult. Since this is directed
toward large quantity rather than small quantity production, the governaient--
for example, MITI or the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery--should
take the initiative.
[Question] What about their administrative guidelines?
Saito: The authorities concerned are the following five ministries: the Science
and Technology Agency, the Ministry of Education, MTTT, the Ministry of Agri-
culture, Forestry and Fishery, and the Ministry of Hea1Ch and Welfare. The
first guidelines were announced in March 1979 by the Science Council of the
Ministry of Education, followed by an announcement and notification by the
Science and Technology Agency through the government's advisory organ, the
Council for Science and Technology, in August of the same year. Aside from
DNA experiments, MITI, for example, initiated a 10-year "Next Generatio~ Basic
Industrial Technology Research and Development Basic Program" and began devel-
opment of recombination and application techniques in FY-81. Among the various
agencies, there are aspects that differ from each other, and their coordination,
- which is now being handled by the Science and Technology Agency, is important.
_ [Question] Recently, the Science Council of the Piinistry of Education took the
initiative, in its interim report, to relax the recombinant DNA experiment
~ guidelines, which are said to be the most stringent in the world, to the ,
European-American level. Any opinion?
Saito: Tne "subcommittee" compiled the revisio n proposal and publicly
announced it. The Counc:Ll for Science and Technology, which stipulates the
guidelines, will also study them and is likely to announce them in early FY-82.
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The donors may be handled at the Pl level, and some that are associated with
experimental facilities can be handled at the P2 level; and two- to three-step
relaxation (from P3 and P4) compared to the present guidelines will take place.
However, on the other. hand, new rules are included as to the handling of new
microorganisms produced by recombination. In this respect, it may be said
that the contents received full consideration. Naw, the research structure
of t~ie concerted government and private efforts wi11 be greatly accelerated.
jQuestion] In the ~rivate sector, President Suzuki of Mitsubishi Chemical is
fervently carrying out the activities of the Federation of Economic Organiza-
tions; and collaborative arti#icial DNA development by the brewing and pharma-
ceutical industries is attracting attention. Any thoughts?
Saito: It is interesting that they have each gone beyond the other's franne-
- work. Especially, in the comaaittee of the Federation of Economic Organiza-
tions, firms other than life science concerna are also included, which I think
will help in formulating the technological groundwork. Regarding artificial ~
DNA, a broad area from interferon, insulin, to amino acid trimmers has been
targeted. I'm lookin~ forward to their achievements.
Situation Very Similar to Penicillin Development
[Question] It is said that the biotechnology rush is very similar to the time
of the penicillin development. Is it?
SaitA: During the 1948-1949 penicillin boom after World War II, approximately
70 firms appeared. After a while, those which survived included only Takeda
and three others which were in mass production at 10- and 20-tons, and the
rest stayed at the test-tube f acility stage producing 4 or 5 tdns. Mass pro-
duction from fungi entails restrictions as well, and they fell behind in tech-
nical and cost-accounting aspects. However, most of the 70 firms in this re-
- search development acquired the basic knowledge regarding the genetic movement
and culture~of microorganisms and tied it to the later mass production and dis-
tribution of amino acids and antibiotics. The penicillin preparation from fung~
was not in vain by any means. The same can be said ab~st biotechnology. The
genetic technology that has been established by approximately 10 firms at
present will spread to 20 or 30 firms. However, even if firms are weeded out
later, there will be some technology where their DNA work will be useful. Even
if they don't achieve an energy source such as petrolewn, tY~ere are broad areas
ranging from pharmaceuticals to food and petrochemicals.
~ jQuestion] What is the situation oversea~, especial.ly in the United States?
Saito: Among the numerous venture businesses, Genentech is well known. It
has grown more than 10-fold, from a staff of 23, 4 years ago, to nearly 350.
Cetus Corporation is also engaged in a broad area of reaearch and development
ranging from pharmaceuticala to chemical processes, food, and energy. In
addition, Proiessor Kornberg (Stanford University), a Nobel laureate for gene- .
tic research, ~oined DNAX and ALZA as a research consultant and is engaged in
the development of inanune drugs. As is seen in these examples, they are aombi-
- tious and there is a several 10-fold difference in research funds and 100-fold
- in research staff. Basic biotechnology research has become a regular part of
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biology programs in U.S. universities, and numerous research institutes exist.
In general, I believe that Japan is 3 or 4 years behind. In application, there
are some that are more than competitive with a few products such as i.nterferon,
hormones, etc, but the difference is due partly to the delayed experimental
guidelines, etc. However, when it cc~mes ~o mass culture and market development,
the Japanese senses are fully ac~tivated, and they are fast in reaching a reason-
- able level. Especi.ally in private~industries, I think their response is quick
once they see the prospect for coiamercializatian.
- First Symposium ih Japan To Be Held
[Question] La.stly, ? wouYd like.to ask you about the "Fourth International
Symposium on Applied Microbial Genetics" to be held in Japan for the first
- time. ~
- Saito: That meeting will be hel.d in Kyoto in June of this year, and Dr Y.
- Ikeda, professor emiritus of Tokyo University, is the chairman of the organiz-
_ ing committee. Symposia have been held twice in Europe, once in the United
- States, and this is the first time in Asia. I am in charge of program formula-
tion (chair~an). We are incorporating sub3ects such as amino acids antibiotics
production, yeast breeding, genetics of food and energy production, recombinant
DNA mudification, etc. As of now, we are expecting participation by 37 coun-
tries attended by approximately 1,20~ exp~rtis from both at home and abroad.
With the relaxation of guidelines, the environment is ripe in Japan, and I
hope many will participate in the symposium.
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Kogyo Shimbunsha Tokyo Honsha 1982
Four AppliGations of Biotechnology
Tokyo NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 10 Feb 82 p 4
- [Text] Recently, in industrial circles, interest in the life science has
rapidly increased. Originally, life science was a comprehensive science in
which the mysteries of life were sought, and it included academic fields such
as biology, physiology, biochemistry, medicine, pharmacology, ecology, psy-
- chology, etc. However, as a result of progress made in molecular b3:ology in
- which the phenomena of living organisms are studied at the molecular level,
biological functions have been elucidated, which has opened tl?~ way for appli-
- cation in industrial and technological aspects. That applied technology is
~ "biotechnology." Research and development in this aspect began following the
_ ~ eludication of the molecular structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in
1953 by Watson and Crick, barely 30 years ago. Subsequently, in 1973, genetic
recombination (recombinant DNA) experiments were conducted for the first time
in the world by Cohen (Professor at Stanford University, U.S.A.), 8oyer (Pro-
- fessor at University of California, U.S.A.), and others, resulting in a rapid
development. Bas,ic and applied research are being advanced mainly in the
United States.
Biotechnology is generally defined as "the technology in which the life
phenomena operational in living organisms are elucidated to be utilized in
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solving various problems related to human life ~r in producing useful sub-
= stances"--in short "the applied technology of biological. functions." In other
= words,,it may be referred to as the technology that incorporates the principles
~ of life phenomena inherent in all living organisms on earth such as metabolism,
immunity, proliferation, movement, etc, in~~o the category of applied "engi-
= neering." Specif ically, it can be roughly divided into the following four
techniques.
- (Recombinant DNA Technique)
= The technique, literally, involves the recombination of DNA which carries bio-
- logical genetic information by using enzymes, etc, and growing the living cells
into which genes of different kinds o~ org~nisms are freely inserted. Tt is
~ playing the leading role in biotechnology. The culture cells (host cells) used
include yeast and Bacillus subtilis in addition to Excherichia coli, which has
- a high growth rate. This method enables the mass production of useful sub-
stances which was not previously possible due to restrictions such as material,
etc. Research in the pharmaceutical area is in the forefront; techniques to
manufacture insulin, interferon (I~N), growth hormone, vaccines, vitamins,
amino acids, etc, were developed, and they are now in trial stages for practi-
- cal application. Not only pharmaceuticals, but heat-stable ~nzymes with the
prospect of wide application in areas such as industrial processes and food
technology can also be produced by ~his technique. Tts importance is immense
since it becomes related to technical development in various areas of biotech-
. nology.
(Mass Cell Culture Technique)
- A technique to obtain useful substances efficiently and in large quantities by
mass-culturing animal or plant cells in large quantities that produce useful
substances including various kinds of enzymes, physiologically active sub-
stances, ete. This technology is indispensable in propagating microorganisms
ubtained by gene splicing or new cells created by cell fusion.
This technique is being tested for the cultivation of IFN, urokinase (thrombo-
lytic agent), etc. However, a difficulty in commercialization e.Yists in the
- fact that fetal calf serum, which is expensive and difficult to handle, is
being used in the cultivation mediiun. In order to effect efficient cultiva-
tion, other artificial media or serum-free cultivation is necessary, and the
task is to develop them.
- (Cell Fusion Technique)
- A technique to fuse cells having different advantages to create new eell types
(hybridoma) having the advantages of both cells. As opposed to genetic recom-
bination using lower living organisms such as microorganisms as sub~ects,
- this technique attempts to recombine entire rather than partial genetic infor-
_ mation by adhering cells of higi~er living organisms. It is highly practical in
plant and animal breeding.
It is a well-known fact that tihe Max Planck Institute in West Gex~qany used
this technique to create the "pomato," a mixture of tomato and potato. In
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,Japan, the Gifu Prefectural Agricultural Experimen~al Station succeeded in
_ producing "Hakuran," a"mixed breed" between cabbage and celery lettuce; and
= the Japan Monopoly Corporation succeeded in producing interspecies hybrids
~ between its cultivated species of leaf-tobacco "tabacum" species, and tobacco-
mdsaic resistant "rustica" and "repanda" species. The merit is in the short-
ened time required to create a new breed of agricultural crops that took 6-7
years previously by alternation of generations, etc.
- On the other hared, in the medical field, transformed l~nphocytes and lympho-
cytes with antibody production ability can be fused to create antibody-
~ praducing cells with proliferation ability, which can be cultured to make an
- antibody with high precision (monoclonal antibody). The monoclonal antibodies
currently being used as diagnostic agents are being isolated from animal blood,
and being restricted quantitatively, this technique will open the way for mass
production. It will not remain as an immunodiagnostic, but there is a strong
. possibility that it will lead to immune therapy in such areas as cancer,
allergy, etc. .
~ (Bioreactor)
It is a technique of industrial application in vitro of chemical reactions and
substance metabolism being carried out in a living body using enzymes as
~ catalysts. It is also called a"microbial application reactor" or a"bio-
chemical reactor." The chemical industry heretofore generally used metal
- catalysts under high temperature and high pressure for chemical reactions
- to produce the target substances. As opposed to this, a bioreactor is a
system to manufacture useful substances under normal temperature and normal
pressure by using useful microorganisms and enzymes rather than metal cata-
= lysts. It is an energy-saving, resource-conserving, and nonpolluting process.
When this is realized, huge plants, etc, will become "white elephants." Thus,
the interests of various chemical companies are strong. Both domestic and
_ foreign corporations are positively advancing the research. Cetus in the
United States developed a manufacturing process for ethylene oxide and propy-
lene oxide using a fermentation method and is testing for practical applica-
tion in a pilot plant.
The problem is that the enzymes are very unstable, dnd while they demonstrate
high activity in living cells, they totally lose activity outside. Thus, the
- task is to immobilize enzymes in a form that maintains its activity, is insolu-
ble in water, and is readily usable in industry. I~obilized enzymes are the
- target; and when this technique is established, it will probably revolutionize
th~ chemical processes such as continuous production. In addition to the imuno-
bilization of enzymes, important points are finding and modifying enzyme
sources in microorganisms and the development of thermophilic microorganisms
that do not lose activity at high temperature.
= Ranging From Pharmaceuticals/~'ood to Chemicals/Energy
--Enthusiastic Pharmaceuticals Industry With a"Dream" Anticancer Drug
As explained above, biotechnology is applicable in many areas such as pharmaceu-
ticals, food products, chemical industry, energy, etc, and it also has depth.
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In the pharmaceuticals area, it is no longer a dre~u to develop a~enetic recom-
bination technique for Actinomycetes that produce antibiotics and the develop-
_ ment of antibiotics that distinguish normal cells an3 bacteria and kill only
= bacteria. Prospects ~.n the agricultural field are the development of crogs
- that do not require fertilizers by directly splicing into the crop plants the
genes of atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium); and in the energy
- area, plant breeding for biomass applications and the modification of microor-
_ ganisms for alcohol production, etc; Ieading corporations of the world are in
furious competition.
- With European-American firms taking the lead, centered in the United States,
Japan fell far behind. However, the Japanese firms are now spurring their
- research and development and are catching up. Biotechnology-related ~enture
businesses were established in England and France by goveriunent and private
joint effort. On the other hand, the Japanese Goverrnnent, which fell behind
in ~etting started in the aspect flf forming a national support structure, has
embarked on building a foundation for research and development and is demon-
strating ambitious movement by forming government and private collaborative
projects with the motto "catch up, get ahead."
t~irst, in the pharffiaceutical area, most of the leading drug manufacturers such
- as Takeda Chemical, Green Cross, Shionogi & Co, Fujisawa Pharmaceutical,
- Daiichi Seiyaku, Sankyo, Chugai Pharmaceutic.al, etc, have begun research. In
- particular, Takeda Chemical, Green Cross, and Shionogi & Co are very active.
_ However, research in biotechnology is not limited to major manufacturers. A ~
pharmaceutical manufacturer of inediinn standing, Wakinaga Yakuhin, succeeded,
for the first time in the world, in the synthesis of "secretin," a gastrointes-
tinal hormone that inhibits secretion of gastric juice by a gene splicing
technique using E. coli. Ringen Biochemical Research Laboratory, which estab-
lished a unique technique of producing IFN (alpha type) using hamsters, is in
_ the process of developing a carcinoma breaking factor (CBF) with a new phisio-
logic.activity in a joint study with Mochida Seiyaku. It is a type of lympho-
kine which is produced along with interferon from human lymphoblasts obtained
by mass culture (Ringen hamster technique). In ani~al experiments, data indi-
~ cates that it directly kills cancerous cells while having virtually no effect
- on normal cells. Further studies may still be necessary regarding the mecha-
nism of the action, but it has a high potential as a prospective anticancer
drug. In addition, it i_s said that the ser~ substitution factor "CMA-1"
which was extracted from cholera, a unicellular green alga, aiZd developed by
- Kurorera Kogyo, can replace 90 percent of the fet~l calf serw~n used for media,
- and it is noteworthy as a substance useful in mass culture of IFN, insulin,
etc.
General chemicals firms and petrochemical firms are also leaning strongly to
. biotechnology. In the process of transformation of corporate makeup from
general-purpose chemical products and basic chemica-1 products to fine and
- specialty chemicals, they are advancing research and development by making
- biotechnology the nucleus technology for the next generation; and they are
= busy consolidating the structure. Mitsubishi Chemical develaped restriction
enzymes that play an important role in genetic recombination. Tt also dis-
= covered extrachromosomal genes, plasmids, of E. coli and yeast, and applied
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,
for several patents on ~e preparation processes. While forming a consistent
_ joint research structure with its affiliated company, Mitsubishi Chemical Life
Science Research Institute, it is also involved in monoclonal antibody work
with an American venture business, Hybritech Corporation, and plans to supply
diagnostic drugs. Thus, it is developing research in a wide range fram gene-
tic engineering, cell fusion, to bioreactors. Tn particular, it contemplates
placing emphasis on the development of resource-conserving, energy-saving
chemical processes. On the other hand, Sumitamo Chemical has newly estab-
lished a biotechnology research team to strengthen the research organization,
and at the same time, a Pg level experimental facility will be comgleted soon
to bui13 up the structure ac'the Life Science Research Laboratory. In addi-
tion, a purification plant for IFN-alpha will be completed this summer with
technical importation from the Wellcome Corporation in England, and will start
toward practical application.
In addition, Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals made a technical agreement with Genex for
manufacturing urokinase by genetic manipulation, and is planning to venture
into the pharmaceuticals area. Mitsubi.shi Petrochemical, Shoa Denko, Daicel
Chemical, Asahi Chemical, Toyobo, etc, are also engaged in biotechnology with
a forward posture.
~ The food industry, having traditional strength in the use of micraoxganisms,
- is not merely standing by helplessly, either. Along with Ajinomoto, which has
- succeeded in the mass production of an amino acid, threonine, by breeding in
E. coli, competing firnts are Meiji Seika which is aiming at antibiotic produc-
tion from enzyme research to seed bacteria business,~and Suntory, the Yakuruto
head office, Nisshin Flour Milling Co, and Sanraku Ocean which are contemplat-
ing joining in pharmaceuticals, among others.
- Nisshin Flour Milling Co, along with Green Cross, Earth Seiyaku and Chugai
Pharmaceutical, had their staff attend the Genex seminars on genetic recombina-
tion techniques which started on the 7th, and began to mobilize for technical
acquisition. Kao Soap, Nippon Oils and Fats, and Miyoshi Oil and Fat are all
conducting research geared to biomass. In the area of genetic engineering
alone, in excess of 100 firms have made themselves heard. With leading trad-
ing firms making a move for technological intermediary, the industry is in a
feverish state indeed.
However, even the so-called "modern-day magic" biotechnology cannot be devel-
oped by a fluke. It takes a long time to develop into merchail.'.ise, and the
risk entajled is also great. Investment in basic research is also limited
in private enterprises. Needless to say, it should be undertaken as a national
- project with a concerted national effort.
Serious Growth Effort Also by the Government
Based on these viewpoints, the government is also responding to the interna-
tional technological competition era, and has ranked biotechnology as a lead-
ing technology for the new generation along with ceramics and new functional
polymers, and has begun working for its growth by investment earmarked in the
- national budget. This is the "Next Generation Basic Technology Development
- System" started by the Industrial Science and Technology Agency of MITI in
F'Y-81; rhe development will be promoted by investing a total of 104 billion
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_ yen in the lU-year plan. Out of this, 31 billion yen is estimated to go into
biotechnology. Already secured are 670 million yen for FY-81 and 1.04 billion
- yen for FY-82. The "Biotechnology Development Technical Research Association"
(director: E. Suzuki, presid~nt of Mitsubishi Chemical), which will become
the nucleus for technical development, has also been inaugurated; it includes
- 14 firms and has liegun research activities in the respective subject areas.
_ Gene splicing technique was assigned to Sumitomo Chemical, Mitsui Toatsu Chemi-
cals, and the Mitsubishi Chemical Life Science Re~eaxch Institute; mass cell
culture technique, to Asahi Chemical, Ajinomoto, Kyowa Hakko, Takeda Chemical,
and Toyo Jozo; and bioreactors, to Mitsubishi Chemical, Kao Soap, Daicel
Chemical, the Eleetro Chemical, Mitsui Petxochemic3l, and Mitsubishi Gas
Chemical. They are to proceed with research and d~velop~ent by choosing pro-
~ects with high innovative characteristics. As if to respond to thLs move,
starting in FY-83 the Agency of Science and Technology also plans to incor-
- porate "Biological Information" among the targets under the title of "Creative
Science and Technology Promotion System" in order to advance life science re-
= search forcefully. In addition, 3-year research is being conducted starting
- ln FY-81 on influenza vaceine and hepatitis B vaccine using genetic engineer-
- ing techniques, and preparation is underway to construct a research facility
= for gene splicing at the T~ukuba Science City. The Mini~try of Education and
ttie Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery are also promoting research
- based primarily on their respective standpoints. With the practical applica-
- tion of pharmaceuticals prodaced by biotechnology near at hand, the Ministry
of Health and Welfare plans to evaluate not only the clinical trial of IFN,
but also the method of clinical trials, the evaluation process, etc, and farrnu-
- late a standard for approval of new drugs with a 3-year plan. Although their
research directions differ slightly according to the various ~inistries, their
ob~ectives are the same in that they promote biotechnological research and aim
- for practical application at the earliest time.
The Standard Research Laboratory in the United States cited biotechnology and
ele^tronica as the biggest growth areas in the 1980's. According to the pre-
, diction of an American survey firm, Sheets, Inc. [phonetic], the market scale
- for producta by biotechnology in 1988-1980 [as printed] is estimated to be
$27.1 billion (approximately b trillion yen) annuglly. In the ~urvey of
Mitc~ui information devel.opment~ the market scale in tl~e year 2000 is estimated
a[ 4.2 billian to 6.8 billion yen, and u market acale o� at lea~t 3 billion
yen ie considered a certainty. The impact on industrial circles is indeed
great.
l~owever, there are also problems because of the magnitude. In the rusFi for
deveLopment, the possibility of sloppy management cannot be denied. The prob-
lem Q� bioettiics has already been pointed out. The need for proper regula-
tions are obvious. However, too strict rules can hamper research progress.
In Japan, guidelines called "Recombinant DNA Experiment Guidelines" were
~:stablished in 1970. However, due to the trend in the United States to relax
regulations, strong voices have also been heard in Japan urging relaxation
along thc same lines. Theae recently resulted in the interim report of the
Sc:ience Council of Japan of the Ministry o� Education which proposed a dras-
- tic relaxa[ion, and it is expected to be announced by early FY-82. The reason
ia that in the United States, genetic recombination can be conducted in an
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- ordinary exper.imental laboratory (P1 level) when E. coli ia used, while the
.Japaneae regulations are the most strin~ent in the wor].d today. Among the
resenrchers worldwide, the ma~ority liold the scientific opinion that safety
= is not a problem regarding the experiments in genetic manipulation themselves
_ ff a proper sequence is used, and this point should be taken into considera-
tion. However, on the other side, it is important to establish ~ researchers
_ code of ethics, and a balanced operation will no doubt bring about the proper
growth of biotechnology.
- COPY~IGHT: Nihon Kogyo Shimbunsha Tokyo Honsha 1982
Active Enterprises in Western Japan
Tokyo NI~TON KOGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 10 Feb 8~2 p 5
[Text~ Business undertakings in b iotechnology are u~ore active among enter-
prises in western Japan than in the eastern part. Full-scale clinical trials
�or pharmaceuticals manufactured by gene splicing will begin in Japan this
year, ~nd most of the druga were manufactured by western enterprises. At tt~e
end oF this month, Shionogi & Co will begln clinical trials on humfln insulin
produced by gene splicing in coli supplied by Eli ],illy of the United
States. 'Ln addition, Sumitomo Chemical wlll also start clinical trials for
a growth hormone produced by gene splicing in E. coli supplied by a Swedish
- firm, Kabi AB. Thereafter, clinical trials for Takeda Chemical's interferon
(IFN) is expected in the spring, followed by those for Green Cross's hepati-
= tis B vaccine. The west~rn firms are currenti.y one step ahead.
- In particular, the major drug manufacturers are enthusiastic about biotech-
nology work. First, the two firms, Takeda Chemical and Green Cross are typi-
= cal. Takeda Chemical is reportedly on.e of the early starters in biotechnology
in Japan, including gene splicing, along with M3.tsubishi Chemical and others.
= It has a large-scale P3 level f acility at the Central Research Laboratory in
Yodo~awa-ku, Osaka, and is making steady progress in research. Regarding IFN,
in particular, a prospective carcinostatic agent~ it has a technical agree-
- mc~nt w1.th Nippon Roche, a Japanese subKtditiry of Roche, whtch ~cqutred the
~~:chn~lclue from tt~e ~~neCic engineerinq specialiFt Genentech in the United
Stritc~s, und 1t Le hurrying with IFN-alphr~ development by gene aplicing of
I:. call, lligh purily T.FN-Filpha t?as ~lready been praduced, r~nd it expect:~ to
go intu c.l.inical tr.lnle ttiis sprl.ng. In nddition Co new drug developmentH
using gene epltcing technique such as Ih'N-beta~ t~epatltia B. vaccine, etc, it
has uppar~ntty undertaken biotechnolugy of ce11 culture, cell fusion, etc.
On tl~e other hand, Green Cross is making a contrasting move. It has not been
long since it began genetic recombination research, but it has actively made
technical agreements with overseas manufacturers and has risen to the top of
- the Japanese biotechnology firms.
Beginning witti the importation in February of a technique for IFN-gamma using
yeast from Collaborative Research Incorporated (CRI) of the United States and
a tecl?nique to produce aZbumin using E. coli from Genentech o� the United
= States, it subsequently imported~bacteriu for producing IFN-alpha and -beta
uaing F. coli from Bristol-Myers Co of the United States. In addition, in
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_ Septerober it imported a manufacturing technique for hepatitis B vaccine using
gene splicing from Biogen in Switzerland, while receiving the basic patent for
genetic recombination held by ~tanford University in the United States, for the
first time in the world. In the meantime, a move was made for capital in-
_ vestment in CRI in the United States; its active technical agreements being
made with overseas firms are attracting attention.
- Moreover, it recently began independent research in genetic recombination and
_ is developing IFN-alpha and a thrombolytic, urokinase, by gene splicing using
E. coli, where it apparently has seen a prospect. In addition, it is advanc-
ing research in biotechnology to collect ~tetanus immune globulin by cell
_ fusion and has already completed production of hybrid cells, hybridoma. After
_ eatablishing production techniques, it plans to begin clinical trials in 2-3
years.
_ Shionogi & Co is now moving rapidly with genetic recombinatfon work. It will
import and market in Japan human inaulin produced by gene splicing by the U.S.
_ Lilly Company through tecY~nical agreement with Genentech. In addition, in
_ Januaxy of ttiia year, it reached agreement with Biogen of Switzerland to com-
_ mercialize human aerum albwnin by gene splicing. In the plan, albwnin produced
- Uy Biogen will be commerc~.alized as early as in tl~e latter half of the 1980's.
- Although it has not been announced, Fu~isawa Pharma~eutical has already estab-
lished a research facility of about P3 level, and is apparently conducting
_ basic research, also. Tt commented: "we cannot say what we will manufacture"
(President T. Fu~isawa), but its interest seems to be as strong as that of
- Takeda Chemical or Shionogi & Co.
In addition, Tanabe Seiyaku is apparently studying the biotechnological area
using the technique of immobilized microorganisms, which has already been put
_ into practical application, rather than geneti~ recombination. Yoshitomi
Pharmaceutical is also making efforta to develop new drugs since it estab-
listied tha autonomous marketing system. As a part of this effort, it is direct-
ing ite attention to biotechnoingy such as gene aplicing and cell fuaion and is
sending staff inembers to res~arch organizations. Ono Pharmaceutical is also
- showing basic interest.
- DNA Syntheeizer--Prospect for New Market
--MAS~; Yroductton P].ant Is Also lietng Studied
Not only in Ll~e ptiarmuceuticals induytry, but many ctiemical companiea are
- venturing into the biotechnology area. Swnitomo Chemical, which has a pharma-
ceuticals business as well, is emphasizing life science since it began colla-
borating with Wellcome of England and has embarked on the commercialization of
_ interferon. Following the completion of a Pg facility in its Osaka plant,
it al.so built a Pg facility at the biochemical research laboratory (Taka,razuka
- city, Hyogo Pref.ecture). At this laboratory it organized a biotechnology team
cor.sisting of some 30 staff inembers. For the time being, they will center
= their work on techniques which have already been in practical application,
suct~ as growth hormone, insulin, etc, and are planning subsequently to venture
inta development of monoclonal antibodies by cell fusion.
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~ Kanegafuc}ii Chemical TnluRtry compleCed a P3 level facility last year at its
- Takaeago plant (Hyogo Prefecture) in an attempt to expand the pharmaceutical
business with new techniques. Since the firm proudly possesses the world's
leading techniques in fermentation and synthesis, it began to put serious
= efforts into gene splicing using its achievements as the basis. Although it
has not disclased what its targets are, it apparently plans to develop unique
= products besides interferon by using biotechnology.
= A top firm in the paint industry, Kansai Paint, is also showing its ambition
in biotechnology by advancing the development of chemical products using the
_ technique of immobilized enzymes. Daicel Chemical is also reportedly advanc-
_ ing research with emphasis on bioreactors using the fermentation technique at
its central research laboratory in Himeji city. Toyo Rubber Industry has
apparently embarked on biotechnology research, a first in the rubber tire indus-
- t.ry, using the technique of immobilized enzymes in which enzymes are sealed�
into polyurethane resins which the �irm successf ully developed.
Beaides the ptiarn~aceuticals and chemical industries, the textile industry,
- mainl.y synthetic fi.ber manufacturers, are also eyeing Che growth in biotech-
nology and are showing a strong interest in it. Toray began conducting inter-
feron research early on along with Green Crosa. In October last year, it,
along with Aaiichi Seiyaku, imported the cechnique for interferon-ga~mna which
- uses gene splicing, and has ventured into the area of genetic recombination
in earneat. Asahi Chemical Industry also completed a P3 facility last year,
and started research on various new substances including interferon using
gene splicing. Niearnahile, it has sent researchers to the United States and is
- aiming for commercialization.
_ In addition, Tei~in is also directing its attention to gene splicing as part
_ of its phanmaceuticals business. Kuraray is also studying the use of gene
splicing in pharmaceuticals and cltemicals. At Unitica, resea~ch on an ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) reproduction reactor is being advanced, and using it
as a lever, it plans to ~mbark on bioreactor development, an area of biotech-
nology. Through such reaearch, it recently began marketing enzymes and plans
_ ta develop bi.otectinology-related products sA a line for a nontextile business
t~i tYic: near future.
lUnung firme in the spinning induatry, Toyobo and Kanebo are active. Using the
= enz,ym~ Cechnlque, wtiich t?ae been commercialized in part, Toyobo wishes to begin
gene r~plicing reeearch, also; la~t year, even Stanford University came to offer
- its gene eplicing patent. It has apparently found a prospect in developing
= severa.t kinds of reatriction enzymes for cutting ttie DNA chains needed for
_ gene ~plicing. lCanebo, noted for development in large-scale new drugs, does
_ not show too much interest in the gene splicing technique. However, it has
begun cell fusion reaearch, and future achievement is anticipated.
In addition, among the vario.us industrial categories, Suntory, Takara Shuzo,
Sun ~itar, etc, are outstanding. In particular, Suntory, led by managing
director T. Noguchi, is demon~trating active movement. Using a rich research
- etaff as a weapon, gene aplicing research is in progress at a rapid pace.
_ La~t year, it succeeded in the artificial creation of alpha-neoendorphin, a
physiologically active substance having analgeaic action similar to morphine.
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It has also succeeded in developing a carcinostatic aubstance by cell fusion
technique and is also among the top group in interferon research and develop-
ment.
As a unique firm, Takara Shuzo may be cited. The firm is a leader in the pro-
duction of sweet sake and shochu [distilled sweet potato wine], but it has
domestically produced for the first time restriction enzymes which are essen-
tial for gene splicing, and it has co~ercialized approximately 20 restriction
enzymes. From the dentifrice industry, Sun Star has started biotechnology re-
- search such as cell culture and cell fusion and is aiming for development of
interferon and new substances.
An insecticide manufacturer, Earth Seiyaku (head office in Sakagoshi, Akao city) ~
- is also showing great interest in gene splicing. In January this year, it sent
development staff inembers to the gene splicing technique training course spon-
sored by the U.S. genetic engineering specialist, Genentech. Since insecticides
use organic compounds as raw materials, mass production by gene splicing is
theoretically feasible as long as th~ molecular structure is known, and their
future growth in research is regardQd as hopeful.
Trading firms are also deeply interested in b iotechnology. Following Mitsui &
Co and Nissho-Iwai, Sumitomo Sho~i recently ventured into biotechnology. It
has a basic agreement to collaborate with Celltech, a semigovernment, semi-
private venture business in biotechnology in England. It plans to sell Cell-
- tech's cell fusion and gene splicing techniques to various firms in the future.
In addition, Matsushita Electric Industry also discovered a new strain of
~ oxygen-resistant methane-producing bacteria, and it is aiming to develop and
- apply it in a methane-production system and to develop a bioaensox using the
immobilized enzyme technique.
Cellular Engineering Center Announces Its Concept--Osaka University
- Now, undertakings in biotechnology are not limited to 7aa~or corporatians, but
= activity is also found among medtum-level firms. A typical example is Wakunaga
Yakuhin (head office in Osaka). In June last year, news that it succeeded in
- producing a gastrointestinal hormone, secretin, by gene splicing for the first
time in Japan, created a sensation. Using the nutrient tonic Kyoleopin as the
main ingredient, it directed its attention to gene splScing early and achieved
_ the development under the direction of chief researcher M. Suzuki. Currently,
besides hastening with the final work for the commercialization of secretin, it
is aiming.to develop various new substances such as interferon, and it is
actually competing with the top class firms in Japanese biotechnology research,
leaving many ma~ar f irms behind.
Like Wakunaga Yakuhin, Ringen Biochemical Research Laboratory (Okayama city)
is also attracting attention suddenly as a biotechnology venture business..
- Using a unique method for mass production of interferon using hamsters, it is
- currently conducting safety tests using animals in collaboration with Otsuka -
Seiyaku and Mochida Seiyaku and will soon start clinical trials. An additional
_ mass production plant for interferon is under construction, with a completion -
= target for the end of the year. Whr ~;,ompleted, the current annual production -
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of 300 billion units will ba increased to 600 billion units/year. In addition, _
as a result of the increased facility, it is expected to establish a mass pro-
duction sysCem for CBF (carcinoma breaking factor) which was successfully _
_ isolated in collaboratio.n with Mochida ~ei~atucollaborativetresearchrwithn� -
- Furthermore, it concluded a deal to car y on research into
Messerschmitt, a spacecraft manufacturer in West Germany,
various physiologically active substances in space. Thus, it continues to _
_ carry out unique activities in the f ield of bioscience.
In addition, in the area of biotechnology hardware, a noteworthy firm is M-S
Kiki thead office in Osaka city), w~hWhiCh isrt eicore ofdthe genest oAsathe
leading apparatus for synthesizing ~ become active, the
gene splicing research o.f various f e~d tolexpandain the future, and it is
demand for a DNA synthesizer is e.~cg
- li~Cely to become a prospective new market.
_ As stated, many western Japanese firms are actively engaged in biotechnolo$y.
- Meanwhile, Osaka University announced the concept for a"cellular engineering
center" l a s t y e a r i n a
n a t t e
m
p t to create a center for life scien l a
~
t ss t og c o n
lea ding te c h n o l o g i e s s u c h a s g e n e s plicing. At this center, i t p
- solidate the foundation for molctedarcelllfusioncin whicheimmune c~
a
ntibody n
w
here b r o a d a p p l i c a t i o n i s e x p e ,
forming cells are fused with proliferative cells for con duc t in g i
m m
u n
o l o g i c a
studies such as allergy, an
d s elective insertion of chemical compoundslans to
= drugs into cancer cells to at~o~aliareacofb4e300ssquare~meterseat the Suita
- construct the center with . I
campus after FY-83.
As a result of such a positive undertaking through the concerted ef~ort of both
= government and private sectors inooe~istantafutureewith theeEuropeanaand Ameri-
shoulder to shoulder in the not t
can firms which are now one step ahead.
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Kogyo Shimbunsha Tokyo Honsha 1982
- Mounting Interests, Expectations
Tokyo NIHON KOGYO SHIMBUN in Japanese 10 Feb 82 p 5
[Statement by E. Suzuki, president, Mitsubishi Chemical Industries, Ltd]
- [Text] Last year,,an undertaking in the life sciences began with seargthat may
- government, academic and private sectors respectively. It was a y
be called the beginning of the life science years in Japan.
Ir. industrial circles, we have a deep sense of responsibbli~eStondi~attotthese
life sciences to the progress and growth of the saciety y P g
issues with a firm posture in order for them to blossom as the basic material
to support the next generation. .
There are several factors in the background of the life sciences in which great
- expectations repose today. In brief, however, it is due to the ~act that the
_ 46
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_ material basis of life has been elucidated by rapid progress in molecular
biology, and based on that knowledge, recombinant DNA, cell fusion, etc, have
been developed as technologies, and possibilities have opened for their broad
_ applications in industrial and medical aspects. On the other hand, as a re-
- sult of the enormous consumptian of resources and the appearance of environ-
mental problems caused by rapid economic growth, the building of a new tech-
- nological system is eagerly a~taited by society.
- Along with cantributions to medicine and biology as the basic science, the
aspect of industrial technology (biotechnology) is attracti_ng the most atten-
tion in life science. At the same time, it involves various problems of
human society as well as problems of welfare and a value system. Consequently,
it is desirable that life science be promoted widely based on the understand-
ing and cooperation of the government, academic circles, and the general pub-
_ lic. In industrial circles, also, it is necessary to respond to and have a
promotional system not only in a specific industry but with a widely concerted
effort of the overall industry. Fortunately, as we look at the member firms
of the Life Science Committee of the Federation of Economic Organizations, the
constituent fi~cros belong to diversified industries such as food, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, petrole~, textiles, ceramics, machinery, electronics, in-
- formation, electric powe~, trading firms, financial firms, etc, demonstrating
the extensive interest and expectations of industrial circles regarding this
fj.eld.
In the past, the Japanese research and development strucCure in this fl.eld was
not always sufficient compared to that o� the Western countries. However,
in the last year or so, the respanse of industrial circles has become parti-
cularly positive, and the building of developmental systems based on the pri-
- vate sector has been promoted positively, including the establist~nent of a
biotechnology symposium by five chemical firms. The government is also taking
various measures to fully utilize such vitality of industrial circles.
- First, the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology of MITI took up bio-
technology in the Next Generation Basic Industrial Technology Development Sys-
tem with a budget plan of 31 billion yen for 10 years and started a research
structure with the cooperation oi industrial, govertmnent, and private sectors
targeted at three subjects: genetic recombination application techniques, bio-
- reactors, and mass cell culture media materials. In response, 14 firms in the
private sector such as chemical firms ~oined to establish a Biotechnology
Development Technical Research Association. At the Science and Technology
Agency, also, life science research was included in the C~-eative Science and
~echnology Research System, and efforts are being made to promote the research.
- The fact that these new meusures have been initiated whi~e financial recovery
is in progress is a welcome event fram the~standpoint of industrial circles as
an expressi~on of the governmental policy emphases of Japan, which is destined
to be a technological coun~ry.
Thus, the developmental structure of the industrial, government, and academic
sectors toward life science has been rapidly consolidated. However, in indus-
trial circles, it is necessary for us to play the role of grasping the state
- ox advancement in life science both at hame and abroad, and at the same time,
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2007/02/09: CIA-RDP82-00854R000540070028-9
FOR OFFICIAL USE OiVLY
_ undertaking projects such as proper formulation of guidelines for technical
development and industrialization d~rected toward the healthy growth of this
_ field as well as promoting cor.ect understanding for the broad society in
- general, and furthermore, based on these, at promoting specific policies
desirable for the country.
Life science is indeed a technology directed to th~ 21st century. However, we
must realize that it is no longer a dream or fantasy, but has arrived at the
_ stage of practical application, and make efforts for forward-looking activities
with a realistic attitude.
COPYRIGHT: Nihon Kogyo Shimbunsha Tokyo Honsha 1982
7722
= CSO: 4106/i36 END
48
FOR OFF[CIAL USE ONLY
APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2007/02/09: CIA-RDP82-00850R000500070028-9