Dear Friends,
I am sending you the letter of Professor Ernst von Weizsaecker addressed to the Japanese Ambassador to Germany,Mr. Takeshi Yagi.
Professor von Weizsaecker expresses his deepest indignation about the
use of Adolf Hitler's autobiography "Mein Kampf" as teaching
material in schools.
He points out that the implementation of Hitler’s intentions has led
Europe and a big part of the world into the most horrendous catastrophe
of the 20th century. He is afraid that the Japanese constitution based
on peace between nations would be violated by the new step and ask
Ambassador Tagi to do his best to reverse it.
I am convinced that Professor Weizsaecker’s message will be fully understood and supported globally.
It will certainly have an impact on the future of Japan.
Mitsuhei Murata
Former Ambassador to Switzerland
From: Ernst von Weizsaecker
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 11:55 PM
To: 'mitsu'
Subject: AW: Alarming situation in Japan
Dear Ambassador Murata,
Here is my letter to the Japanese Ambassador to Germany. He speaks German well, - so I wrote it in German.
Best regards
Ernst Weizsäcker
Von: Ernst von Weizsaecker
Gesendet: Freitag, 21. April 2017 11:10
Betreff: AW: Alarming situation in Japan
Thanks very much for informing me. I’ll write a letter of protest to
the Japanese Embassy against the use of Hitler’s “Mein Kampf”.
Ernst von Weizsäcker
Von: mitsu [mailto:mm.murata@jcom.zaq.ne.jp]
Gesendet: Freitag, 21. April 2017 09:35
Dear Friends,
Conscientious Japanese do not forget the goal described in the
Constitution “We desire to occupy an honored place in an international
society striving for the preservation of peace.” They are required to
stay particularly vigilant to any departure from it,under present
circumstances.
The Japanese Government has decided to tolerate the use of Adolf
Hitler's autobiography "Mein Kampf" ("My Struggle") as teaching
material in schools. It is known that this book advocates fascism,
racism and extremism.
Earlier, the Government announced its intention to allow equally the use of the Imperial Rescript on Education of 1890.
It has stunned the majority of the Japanese and, to a greater degree,
the international community, because it reveals undeniably the move of
returning to the prewar militarism.
On April 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry official’s reaction was reported
as expected. It is to the effect that fascism and militarism "must be
held thoroughly accountable and eradicated" and that Japan must educate
its young people with "the right view of history".
Something seems to be wrong in Japan.
The credibility of the party in power is seriously being damaged by
successive scandals in addition to the Moritomo school problem and
newly surfacing Kakei school affair, concerning the transfer of
national land and the supply of huge grant-in-aid.
Mr.Toshinao Nakagawa has tendered his resignation as Parliamentary vice
minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for having had an extramarital
affair. We are reminded of recent verbal gaffs by a number of ministers
and the presence in the Cabinet of certain incompetent ministers.
A few days ago, a commentator of the Television Asahi expressed his
astonishment about the unprecedented resolution of the commission to
enable the presence of a director-general of the Ministry of Justice in
order to assist the Minister of Justice.Opposition parties are severely
criticizing the autocratic
manegement of the parliamentary deliberations.
It is noteworthy that Chaiman Natsuo Yamaguchi of Komeito, the
coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party could not
refrain from stating
in his recent public speech made a few days ago that the administration
of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is "strikingly lacking in a sense of
alertness."
To complicate the situation,the President of the organizing
Committee,Yoshiro Mori,has written a book commented in the attached
Japanese article.
It seems to be a fierse attack against Governor Koike. President Mori
is” fighting against two fears,one is cancer and the other is the blade
of Governor Koike”.This will invite a discussion on the “under
control”assertion. I have sent to Governor Koike the attached message
to reiterate my conviction that the retreat from the Tokyo Olympic
Games 2020 would mark the beginning of a new age awaited by the
majority of the Japanese.
Please allow mw to count on your undersanding and support.
Mitsuhei Murata
Former Ambassador to Switzerland
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