Yasuhiro Nakasone Last Words December 12th 14:25

On that day, the media became solid with his death report.
Yasuhiro Nakasone, 101 years old.
"Great Order" "Windcock" "Young Officer" "Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier"
There are so many politicians colored in various words.
NHK has been taking the words of the last year.
The content should be called “Nakasone Historical View”, but is there any suggestion to us living now?
(Taku Matsumoto)

A man called "The Great Order"

I was a big person ... I felt that.

Of course, I had interviewed hanging, but when I looked up close again, my eyes went to a thick and solid body ...
No, wait, originally taller than 1 meter 80 centimeters, but walking with a cane.
It may be that the atmosphere of the “Minister”, which has made many achievements, was pressured.

The first interview in February 2012 began with a story about his childhood in Gunma Takasaki, where he was fully influenced by his mother's love. The Manchurian Incident occurred in 1960, and Japan was swallowed by militarism. I went into an episode of every era.

Nakasone boy at the time said that he had discussed newspapers among children.

"Japan was in a sense of noise as it tried to enter militarism. It was the era when Japan was most devastated after the May 15th and February 26th incidents. You can say that you have studied practical science.
I think that I was worried about my child's feelings as I went out at university and looked hard at what Japan would look like in the future. ”

Later, after entering the former Shizuoka High School and Tokyo Imperial University, he entered the Ministry of Home Affairs, but in a short period of time he entered the navy and went to the battlefield.

The core is a war experience

When talking about Yasuhiro Nakasone, “war” always blurs deeply.
In December 1964, Nakasone celebrated the opening of the Pacific War in Palau. As the head of the corps, he was involved in base construction. He was stationed in Davao, Philippines and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Therefore, experience battle.

“The enemy destroyer and the bombing killed the ship, and the recruiters of the corps were injured or killed a lot. Experience the battle at that time, and how to die together as a commander. `` War, the nation, the people, or something like that '', I realized that it was a day with very complex experiences and emotions. ''

He said that while he was disappointed that he lost many friends on the battlefield, he was able to think about the state and the people because of the hard work he showed in the battle.
It is said that the origin of politics was in such experience.

"I am sorry for those who died if I did not rebuild Japan again. Because my brother was also killed in battle. I am sorry for those who died. There was a sense of responsibility. I became a politician because of the sense of responsibility. ”

In occupied Japan

Another origin of Nakasone is said to be the occupation experience.
After returning in 1945, returned to the Ministry of Interior.
Responsible for negotiations with the US military in the government investigation department.
While interacting with American military officers, he said that he was touched by American democracy, but had regret and regret about the occupation of Japan.

"Occupation was a humiliation for us, the young people who have come to war. How long will this occupation continue? Unless we break away from it and make Japan an independent state, `` I'm sorry for my ancestors '', `` I'm sorry for the history of Japan '', I felt like that, and I was eager to change the occupation army and make it independent. ''

From home bureaucrats to politics.
Candidate from the 3rd district of Gunma in the House of Representatives election in 1947 and won the first prize.

And it was the start of a 56-year parliamentary life, 20 consecutive wins.

Called youth officer

Nakasone worked mainly as an opposition party until the LDP was formed in 1955.
He submitted a white paper to the former Allied Supreme Commander and General MacArthur saying that it is impossible to continue the occupation policy for more than five years.
In addition to appealing for the establishment of a voluntary constitution and the prime minister's election system in various places, Mr. Shigeru Yoshida, who has allowed the continuation of the occupation policy, is criticized. From that activity, it came to be called "Young Officer".

While revealing that there was a part that evaluated Shigeru Yoshida, he recalled that it was the message to the occupation forces that he criticized hard.

“Mr. Yoshida was imposing for Japan, even if he was an enemy. Even if he was at MacArthur's headquarters, he did n’t become too humorous, and he was evaluated as a politician.”

“Tapping the Yoshida Cabinet was also about occupying the Occupation Policy. It was our real idea that we were actually working against the Occupation Army rather than against the Cabinet.”

The revision of the Constitution that Nakasone was particular about was also in Japan during the occupation period.
The prime minister's election system, which was appealing, was also intended to open the way to the constitutional amendment.

“It was our root to create a voluntary constitution. It must be a constitution given by the United States. As long as the people have such a foundation, they cannot become independent nations.”

“When I thought about what the people would like to amend the constitution, I decided to choose a prime minister by a referendum. I set up a slogan such as“ I choose the prime minister and lover. The way to amend the constitution is to have the prime minister choose the people themselves.

Led nuclear power in Japan

It was the nuclear policy that worked as a young member of the ruling party.
Nakasone thought that Japan lost the war because of the difference in scientific and technological capabilities. He argued that a nation with science and technology is indispensable for Japan, which has no resources, to develop into a world-class country.
He regarded nuclear power as the symbol.

While the memories of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki still remain, the peaceful use of nuclear energy was promoted, and in 1955, the “Nuclear Nuclear Law” was enacted in cooperation with members of the Social Party. Created a framework for the introduction of nuclear power in Japan.

“Some citizens were very worried about going to something like an atomic bomb, so if they proceeded with peace of mind, it would be to create a basic law. I did it with the consciousness of putting it out. "

One of the reasons why Japan, which lacks resources, has become one of the world's leading economic powers, is that it was able to secure stable energy and that nuclear power generation contributed to it.On the other hand, in the Great East Japan Earthquake, the nuclear power plant became uncontrollable by the tsunami As a result, radioactive contamination expanded.
How do you perceive the accident that many people have lost even their original homes?

“When you do nuclear power, human life or ethics is very important. You have the power to destroy the universe and the world.”

The answer was not the direct answer.
Immediately after the nuclear accident, the 2011 interview responded:

“If we stop all nuclear power, the Japanese economy will not be established. How to improve nuclear power and move forward in a harmless way is a big task for the people and politics.”

Nakasone definitely laid the rails for the introduction of nuclear power plants. From this standpoint, was this the best expression?
The road to decommissioning is steep, and the problem of “polluted water” has not yet been overcome.
Overcoming this is a major political issue.
However, we chose the society with nuclear power through the election.
From now on, we must continue to think and choose how to face the nuclear power plant and how to select a society that depends on the nuclear power plant.

Weathercock where the wind blows

“Windcock” —used as a word to describe Nakasone's political style. It's a word that looks at the surroundings and makes a fool with someone on the convenient side.

In 1959, after the first admission as the Director of the Science and Technology Agency in the Second Bank Remodeling Cabinet, in 1967, in the second Sato First Remodeling Cabinet, he assumed the post of Minister of Transport.

Speaking of Nakasone at that time, "Anti-Sato" position. In turn, he accepted the request of Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, who aims to realize the return of Okinawa.

It was a nickname that was named for its speed of change. However, it seemed that there was no way to worry that it was a decision that came from the state.

“If you really want to do Okinawa, I ’d like to join the cabinet. That ’s what happened when I was killed, so I told you to respond and I became the Minister of Transport. But I criticized Sato. Because the person who entered the office entered the cabinet, he was given the nickname of “Kazemi chicken.” However, we should do our best for the nation, and we should not be caught by such honor. I was thinking that I would do it together with my life. ''

After that, he served as Minister of International Trade and Industry, Secretary-General, etc., and followed the path to the Prime Minister and President.
At the time the factional struggle was most intense in the Liberal Democratic Party, there was the word “Triangle Daifukunaka”, taking one letter from the names of five presidential candidates. Takeo Miki, Kakuei Tanaka, Masayoshi Ohira, Ikuo Fukuda, and Yasuhiro Nakasone.

After Sato's resignation, the Japanese political world will be developed mainly by the territory of these five factions. Each will serve as Prime Minister, but the anchor was Nakasone. Although it was never the mainstream, as a result of having waited until the time was ripe, it would assume a long-term administration of about 5 years.
I asked about what it was called "Kasami chicken".

“The weathercock is not bad, because my legs are fixed. However, only the top of my body is moving with the wind. That's what it is. ''

Behind the pronoun “Privatization” of reform…

Nakasone, who became the 71st Prime Minister in 1982, 37 years ago.

After high economic growth, it became the world's second largest economic power, and took charge of the country when Japan showed a presence in the world. His tenure is 1806 days, the fifth long-term administration after the war. Raising “post-war politics total accounts”, he worked on domestic and foreign policy issues.

A pronoun is “privatization”.
“Division and privatization of JNR” “Privatization of electric power public corporations and monopoly public corporations” These are reforms of JR companies, NTT and JT. The aim was to review the bloated administrative mechanism and to drastically reduce the number of personnel and eliminate regulations, following the efforts of the head of the Administrative Management Agency, who served before the Prime Minister. With the consciousness that “Japan will die if administrative reforms and financial reforms are not done”, it is said that it aimed to create a “small government” and “fiscal reconstruction without tax increase”.
The national railway reform was the symbol of this.

"Three public corporations have been drunk and discipline has been lost. We need to rebuild. The Liberal Democratic Party is waiting for how much Nakasone will do, whether it should trip or not. I think there were some people, but I was determined to do it and I was conscious of the entire war. ''

Furthermore, the National Railways Reform is remarkably politically important.

“After all, it was a struggle between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Socialist Party, and in reality it was also a struggle between us and the National Railways Labor Union. The reforms of the National Railways and the monopoly reform were one of the beginnings of creating a new Japan. Was n’t it? ”

The purpose is not only administrative and financial reform.
Aims to weaken the labor union, which is the support base of the Socialist Party. A decisive battle between "conservation" and "innovation" that has divided Japan's postwar politics. This was one of the meanings of "total settlement of post-war politics".
The success or failure will be related to the so-called "dead pretend dissolution", an election on July 6, 1986.
As a result of questioning the people, the LDP won 300 seats in the House of Representatives.

“I thought I could do this. I got the support of the people clearly. If I appealed in the elections and got the support of the people, I couldn't do it. That's the politician's knowledge when doing big national projects. I did that idea. ''

In April of the following year, JNR opened as seven JR Group companies.

It is pointed out that a series of reforms was realized only with Nakasone's leadership aimed at the “Presidential Prime Minister”.
It is the source of a major flow that continues from “government” to “people”, and is also said to be the beginning of the end of the “55-year system” that leads to the decline of the Socialist Party.

Japan in Asia

“If we don't break our relationship with Korea, we can't go abroad with the US.

Nakasone was the pioneer of “official diplomacy”. In the Cold War where the US and Soviet were in conflict, relations with the allied US were considered to be the most important. Diplomacy was developed.
In 1983, the Korean president was Jeon Du-hwan.
Nakasone has made the first official visit to Korea since the end of the war as the Prime Minister, more than a month after the phone call.

In addition to greetings in the Korean language that he was studying, he established a personal relationship of trust with the president by performing songs and led the first official visit to Japan after the war as the head of Korea.
He also established a relationship with the Chinese general secretary, Hu Hu, and realized his first visit to Japan as a Chinese general secretary.

Japan-China relations were also referred to as the “honeymoon era”.
The reason for clarifying the focus on Asia is described as follows.

"China and then Korea are the most important neighborhood diplomacy, so you have to have a soul in it. The meaning of a soul is basically a human interaction. `` I really thought about working together to create the basics of working for Asia and offspring. ''

Nakasone frequently shows that the Pacific War was an aggression war against Asia. Without such support from Asian countries, it would have been thought that they could not compete with the West.

It also reveals that diplomacy focused on Asia was a diplomatic strategy that North Korea, which was later involved in numerous terrorist incidents such as the bombing of the Korean Aircraft, had in mind.

“Between Korea and North Korea is not good, and Japan is not good. In such a situation, Japan and Korea join hands, and add Soviet Union and China to it. In other words, you can create a siege network in North Korea.

Under such circumstances, in 1985, the first official post-war visit of Yasukuni Shrine was conducted by the current Prime Minister. Why did you carry out your duties while emphasizing Asian diplomacy?

“During the office of the Prime Minister, I would go there only once and formally thank the heroic spirit as a nation and comfort me.
I had the belief that I needed to do that job. ''

It was said that the visit was made after careful preparation while exploring the reactions of neighboring countries. Because ...

“When I heard that the situation of Kuni Kang became very difficult, I had the idea of ​​giving up just once.”

About one and a half years after worshiping, Hu Peng would be dropped.

Ron Yas relationship

The incident that worked on diplomacy with the United States with the consciousness of “Japan in Asia” was the “unsettled aircraft carrier” remarks.
Before the first Japan-US summit after taking office, at the Washington Post breakfast party. The Japanese archipelago was translated as “an unsettled aircraft carrier” and sent to the world as if it were a security defense and a ship that was used as a defense shield and ship against the Soviet Union.

Domestically, it was controversial that it deviated from Japan's concept of security. Nakasone, at the time, accepted the statement, but denied that he did not use the term “unsettled aircraft carrier”, but he seemed to think that it would be fine if his thoughts were clearly communicated to the United States.

“Japan has done its own defenses in Japan, cooperating with the United States, and redoing the idea that in the event of an emergency, Japan must be able to ignore its power. Japan ’s defense policy, Japan The policy was clarified to bring the US Security Treaty like this, so Americans were relieved. "

The “Ron Yas” relationship with President Reagan at that time is well known, but based on the good compatibility of the two, there was a great deal of agreement on the strategy against the Soviet Union under the Cold War.

"Reagan said the Soviet Union was an 'Evil Empire'. Of course, I agree. After all, clarifying the attitude of America to take the world leadership unites the free camp. As a liberal leader, it was very important for America to take a clear attitude, I have said that, Reagan clearly I did it. ''

And Nakasone himself thought that G7 Summit was the biggest showcase of diplomacy.
At the Williamsburg Summit held in the United States in 1983, the US-Soviet medium-range nuclear force became the agenda.
Regarding the deployment of medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe in the United States, Nakasone insisted that "the strength of the western unity should be shown to the Soviet Union." The British Prime Minister Thatcher, who was called "Iron Woman", joined the Ron Yas relationship and led to the issuance of a political statement by drawing in French President Mitterrand.

The summit attended a total of five times was regarded as a place for serious competition between the leaders.

“It ’s like a boxing match in the duel of the president and prime minister. It ’s just because you ’ve just been chased and you ’ve got to do a powerful blow. I tried to help my teammate Reagan, and that kind of meeting wouldn't work without them. "

Later, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the end of the Cold War led Nakasone to be described as a typical western leader in the Cold War era, along with Reagan and Thatcher.
In the group photo, it breaks the custom of standing and remains an anecdote that it fits between Reagan and Thatcher, making it one of the symbols of Japan's improvement in international status.

What to learn from him

The reason for the retirement of the political world was the 2003 House of Representatives election.
This was because Prime Minister Koizumi was forced to decline the candidacy to apply the 73-year-old retirement system of the House of Representatives without exception.
Nakasone came to be called “Great Order” from the medal he received in his life, but he did not try to hide his angry shaking.

However, he was envious, saying, “As long as you give me my life, I will be ashamed.”
The transmission continued throughout the life, including the constitutional amendment.
The last interview with NHK in June 2013 was in June 2013.
How did Nakasone see the current politics and society?

“If you think about the current situation, the politics is getting smaller. I'm somehow obsessed with the politics centered on the immediate interests. In the past, people like rags and large furoshiki But now there isn't one, so the scale of politics has become smaller, and there must be a more long-term and historical perspective on the scale.

For young people who will lead the next era, such words were left.

“Young traits are the power to dream. Although it is not in reality,“ I want to be like this. The creativity for the next era has become very weak. "

“From the history so far, I have experienced war, suffered from the recession and various problems. I suffered from disasters. However, I have overcome it brilliantly and the power of Japan is quite strong. There is still a lot of power of the people. I can rest assured and believe that I will move on to a new world.

Nakasone's footsteps were with Japan's post-war history.
As I mentioned at the beginning, this is the latest “Nakasone Historical View”. Some of the achievements will be regarded as mid-merits and demerits, and if the position changes, the view and evaluation will change.
Nakasone described a politician as a “defendant of the history court”, but what he thought and implemented for the nation and the people at that time was recorded in history.

What do you learn from it?
Of course, it is not that Nakasone's technique is still valid in this era. Compared to those days, today's society is more global and more complex. Even if I take the US president, it is now Trump, not Reagan.
Nakasone, who was described as a “Kasami chicken”, had a clear picture of where he was standing and what he was aiming for.
I think one of the things to learn is there.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)

Takashi Matsumoto, political reporter
Joined in 1997. After working at the Okayama Bureau, the political department. Covers the LDP, Komeito, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others. There is also a desk at the Okinawa station. The official residence cap.