This essay introduces a critical article by political analyst Michio Ezaki published in Seiron, revealing Japan’s long-standing vulnerability as a “spy heaven” and the structural realities of U.S.–China–Japan relations. It presents insights never found in mainstream media and is essential reading for anyone living in the 21st century.

2017-04-19
It would not be an exaggeration to say that without reading this paper, one cannot understand the truth at all.
The current issue of the monthly magazine Seiron is once again filled with essays that should be read by every Japanese citizen and by people all over the world.
And yet it costs only 840 yen.
Every Japanese who can read printed text should immediately go to the nearest bookstore and purchase it.
The following article by political analyst Michio Ezaki is something that absolutely cannot be read in newspapers such as the Asahi Shimbun, and it is required reading for everyone living in the twenty-first century.
Beginning with my own argument that Japan is an unparalleled spy heaven, this paper brilliantly substantiates everything I have pointed out so far, and this is a genuine scholarly work.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that without reading this paper, one cannot understand the truth.
All emphases within the text, except for the headings, are mine.
For China, Japan Has Long Been a Spy Heaven.
Political Analyst Michio Ezaki.
The Rising Dragon Slayers.
The Trump administration is attempting to significantly change its policy toward China.
Until now in the United States, the State Department and the CIA, both of which have been particularly harsh toward Japanese conservatives, have dominated policy toward Asia and Japan.
As a result, the Abe administration faced a high-handed stance that strengthening the Japan–U.S. alliance would be tolerated, but any reassessment of the so-called Tokyo Trial view of history would not be permitted.
In 2015, on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the end of the war, the Abe administration established an advisory panel to compile the government’s position on historical recognition, but the majority of its members adhered to the Tokyo Trial view of history.
It is said that behind this lay interference from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acting in accordance with the intentions of the Obama Democratic administration.
Terumasa Nakanishi, Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University, who was a member of this advisory panel and advocated revising the Tokyo Trial view while having his opinions largely ignored, stated the following in the February 2017 issue of Seiron.
“As a Japanese intellectual, America will not accept you unless you are right-wing on security and left-wing on history.
Being right-wing on security means advocating closer Japan–U.S. alliance ties.
Being left-wing on history means believing in the Tokyo Trial view that condemns prewar Japan as an aggressive state.
Unless both conditions are met, Japanese politicians and scholars will not meet the approval of Washington bureaucrats.”
In short, unless one holds the historical view that Japan was an evil country that committed aggression, the U.S. government will not accept them.
Indeed, such a structure appears to have persisted until now, but with the birth of the Trump administration, the possibility has emerged that this structure may change.
As mentioned earlier, the U.S. State Department and the CIA have generally been pro-China and were called panda huggers, wielding great influence during the Obama Democratic administration.
On the other hand, there exists a minority known as the dragon slayers, who take a hardline view toward China.
Within the Trump administration, which believes that unfair Chinese dumping exports have devastated American domestic industries, these dragon slayers are expected to lead U.S. policy toward China.
In fact, the Trump administration is attempting to review China policy by replacing pro-China staff in the State Department and the CIA with individuals from military intelligence backgrounds at the core of the administration.
A symbol of this shift was the appointment of Mattis, a former Marine known as the warrior monk and mad dog, as Secretary of Defense.
Previous presidents avoided speaking with senior Taiwanese government officials out of deference to the Chinese Communist government, but President Trump abruptly held a telephone conversation with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Such hardline China policies by the Trump administration are highly likely to develop into a comprehensive reassessment of relations among Japan, the United States, and China, and it is important to work toward making that happen.
To be continued.