A piece written on July 2, 2019.
Through a discussion published in the August issue of WiLL, this essay exposes the distorted intellectual climate surrounding Japanese universities and public research funding.
From the enormous research grants given to Jirō Yamaguchi, to the exclusion of conservative voices, to the absurd university atmosphere in which even the raising of the Hinomaru and the playing of Kimigayo are described as causing “mental suffering,” and further to the free speech movement in the United States, it denounces the reality that left-wing ideology is eroding both scholarship and freedom of expression.

2019-07-02
The very fact that that Jiro Yamaguchi is receiving as much as 600 million yen is already absurd.
There is no need to make a man who says things like, “Abe is not human, I’ll hack him to pieces!” conduct research with taxpayers’ money.
The following is from a discussion feature published in the August issue of the monthly magazine WiLL under the title, “The Destructive Power of the ‘Trump-Hyakuta Phenomenon’ That Liberals Fear.”
Iwata Atsushi is a university professor who studied in Waseda’s School of Political Science and Economics and completed graduate studies at Waseda University.
The Academia of Exorcising Demons.
Shirakawa.
On the LGBT issue, Mio Sugita and Eitaro Ogawa were battered by the left.
As a result, Shincho 45, which published their essays, was driven to suspension.
Iwata.
Their writings did contain expressions that could invite misunderstanding.
It is true that they showed openings to the enemy.
Especially Ms. Sugita, as a politician, should have written with greater caution.
But at the same time, the bashing of Sugita was utterly out of all proportion.
Shirakawa.
Ms. Sugita, whose view of the nation and of history is close to that of Prime Minister Abe, is a perfect target for attack.
Iwata.
I support Ms. Sugita.
For example, I would like to commend her for boldly cutting into the darkness surrounding KAKENHI research grants.
Shirakawa.
As someone doing research at a university, Iwata, you must know the actual state of research grants.
Iwata.
I am not at all well informed, but the very fact that that Jiro Yamaguchi is receiving as much as 600 million yen is already absurd.
There is no need to make a man who says things like, “Abe is not human, I’ll hack him to pieces!” conduct research with taxpayers’ money.
To speak seriously, I asked a professor who had actually been involved with research grants, and he said that in the humanities, personal connections have a considerable impact on the acquisition of such grants.
Watase.
To begin with, I would like to know what kind of research in the humanities would require as much as 600 million yen.
That is what interests me more, actually（笑）。
Iwata.
If I were to express the atmosphere of the university in one phrase, it would be this.
“If you are not left-wing, you are not human.”
I heard that when one scholar referred to Japan as “wagakuni” at an academic conference, the hall grew uneasy.
If you say “this country,” it is allowed, but “our country” is not permitted.
This is the present condition of our country!
To them, someone like me on the right, no, the “far right,” is like a demon.
I once drank and went to karaoke with a liberal academic friend.
Then, when we parted, he firmly said to me, “Iwata-san, please absolutely do not write about today on social media.”
Of course, thinking of his future, I am careful not to make public the fact that we are friends.
Shirakawa.
So even the fact that you have any relationship at all must not be exposed.
That is like being treated as some antisocial force.
Iwata.
It is the world of Shimazaki Toson’s Hakai.
LGBT people and ethnic minorities are defended by “liberals,” but it is the right wing that is hated like snakes and scorpions and beaten down by those same “liberals” who are supposed to defend minorities.
Universities Redder Than the Asahi Shimbun.
Iwata.
While I was in graduate school, the World Cup was held.
The day after a Japan match, a certain professor asked, “Was anyone victimized yesterday?”
I wondered what he meant, but he said, “Was anyone caused mental suffering by seeing the Hinomaru raised and hearing Kimigayo played?”
Shirakawa.
That is insane.
Iwata.
And the graduate students were desperately taking notes on it.
The reddest thing in Japan is not the Asahi Shimbun, but the universities.
Watase.
There is no environment in Japanese universities in which one can conduct proper research.
I feel sorry for students who seriously aspire to scholarship.
Shirakawa.
Are American universities somewhat better than Japan’s?
Watase.
Even in America, universities are controlled by liberals.
I heard that when Trump’s election victory was decided, universities had the atmosphere of a wake（笑）。
Conservatives who had given up on universities are seeking places where they can research freely
and are creating think tanks.
Shirakawa.
Ideology obstructs sound scholarship.
So much for being the “land of freedom.”
Watase.
Even when pro-Trump students try to hold a gathering, permission is not granted to rent a university hall.
At present, a free speech movement by conservatives is growing in order to restore freedom of speech to the universities.
This March, Trump gave a speech at CPAC, the general assembly of conservatives.
After that, he brought onto the stage students who had joined the free speech movement and had been assaulted by liberals.
Trump issued an executive order demanding freedom of speech for conservatives at universities, and stated that if it were not upheld, he would not hesitate to suspend subsidies.
[Applause from all.]
Iwata.
Wonderful!
To be continued.