Based on a dialogue between Shintaro Ishihara and Shizuka Kamei published in the monthly magazine WiLL, this essay exposes the legal restraints placed on Japan’s Self-Defense Forces in anti-piracy operations off Somalia and the broader abnormality of Japan’s security system.
Through episodes involving Kiyomi Tsujimoto, Peace Boat, the collision near the Senkaku Islands, and Masaharu Isshiki’s disclosure, it sharply reveals Japan’s lack of national will to protect both its citizens and its Self-Defense Forces.

2019-03-26
When the Self-Defense Forces were dispatched to Somalia as well, Kiyomi Tsujimoto shrieked that it was outrageous.
It turned out to be a Somali pirate ship.
Then they became frightened and asked the Self-Defense Force personnel, “Please save us.”
I had only just written the other day that there is such a thing as resonance among events, but today I was made to feel it once again.
As I have mentioned many times, the monthly magazines WiLL and HANADA, released today, are essential reading for the Japanese people.
In WiLL, there appears a serialized dialogue feature titled “Sweet-and-Spicy Questions and Answers Between Shintaro Ishihara and Shizuka Kamei.”
The following is an excerpt from it.
The preceding text is omitted.
Ishihara.
When the Self-Defense Forces were dispatched to Somalia as well, Kiyomi Tsujimoto shrieked that it was outrageous.
So she sent members of Peace Boat, which she had founded, telling them to “go and monitor the Self-Defense Forces.”
Peace Boat is a Japanese non-governmental organization established for the purpose of international exchange, or the name of the ship voyages organized by that group.
They were watching what they thought was a Self-Defense Force vessel, but it turned out to be a Somali pirate ship.
Then they became frightened and asked the Self-Defense Force personnel, “Please save us.”
The Maritime Self-Defense Force was also troubled, and when they contacted headquarters, they were told to act in accordance with the Police Act, and that when the pirate ship attacked, they should respond only to actions corresponding to imprisonment for thirty days or more.
What country in the world has a military that operates under the Police Act.
Kamei.
The local commander was no good.
It does not matter what the law may be.
It is only natural that the Japanese military should act to protect Japanese people.
Ishihara.
If they acted on their own, they would be dismissed.
Kamei.
Then let them be dismissed.
That is the level of resolve that is necessary.
Ishihara.
In an emergency, one should respond instinctively as a human being.
Kamei.
Because this is a law-governed state, the principle is to act in accordance with the law.
But the law does not cover everything.
At times, as a Japanese man, one must act outside the law.
That is the case of emergency evacuation.
In return, even if one is punished, it cannot be helped.
Ishihara.
In September 2010, off the Senkaku Islands, a Chinese fishing boat rammed a Japan Coast Guard vessel.
At that time, Masaharu Isshiki, then a Japan Coast Guard officer, courageously released the video on the internet.
Thanks to that video, many Japanese people were able to learn of the outrageous conduct of the Chinese.
But in the end, Mr. Isshiki was dismissed.
Meanwhile, the Naoto Kan administration at the time immediately sent the detained Chinese captain back to China.
Kamei.
They should never have let him go back.
Ishihara.
It was decided by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku at the time.
Come to think of it, Kamei-chan, you were in the Kan Cabinet too, weren’t you.
Kamei.
Yes, I was in a pitiful government indeed.
Bitter laugh.
The rest is omitted.