Toshio Tamogami Lies – Part 2
ASDF wing’s training included writing essays on Japan’s ‘true’ history
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN (2008/11/7)
The Air Self-Defense Force’s 6th Air Wing had instructed its officers to write essays based on the revisionist theme of a contest concerning the modern history of Japan, the Defense Ministry said.
The essay contest’s theme was “true perspective of modern history” and was sponsored by Apa Group, a hotel operator and real estate developer.
The contest was won by the then ASDF chief of staff, Gen. Toshio Tamogami, for his essay, “Was Japan an Aggressor Nation?” In the essay, Tamogami tried to legitimize Japan’s actions before and during World War II. His writing cost him his job.
Besides Tamogami, 78 ASDF staff members entered the contest, including 62 from the 6th Air Wing, based in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Samurai of the Satsuma clan, during the Boshin War period, circa 1867. Photograph by Felice Beato.
There is nothing glorious about The military history of Japan. It is characterised by foreign conquests, long periods of feudal wars, followed by more foreign conquests culminating with Japan’s defeat in WW II.
[There's nothing glorious about any nation's military history! See: Militarism is a racket!]
Tamogami served as commander of the Komatsu Air Base from 1998 to 1999, and had urged ASDF staff to participate in the contest.
According to the Defense Ministry, the training section at the ASDF’s Air Staff Office learned about the essay contest through a newspaper advertisement in May and called on ASDF staff around the country to enter the contest because it “would be good for self-improvement.”
The timing coincided with the period when the 6th Air Wing trains its officers on essay writing. The officer in charge of the training suggested the theme of the contest as the topic for the ASDF officers’ essays.
Tamogami, who won 3 million yen ($30,796) for the top prize in the contest, was the only SDF member among the 13 winners. The contest received 235 entries.
Tamogami, 60, was forced to retire this week for writing an essay that was in direct opposition to established government policy concerning Japan’s past.
According to Komatsu Air Base officials, the air wing did its own reviews of the essays right before the contest’s deadline.
The contest was held to mark the publication of a book written by the Apa Group’s CEO, Toshio Motoya, titled “Hodo Sarenai Kingendaishi” (Modern history that is not reported).”
In the book, Motoya wrote about his “pent-up feelings of patriotism and concerns about my country.” The contest urged people to submit “essays written from their own perspectives of modern history that will be helpful in revitalizing Japan.”
Motoya is from Komatsu and the founder and chairman of an “association of friends in Kanazawa of Komatsu Air Base.”
Tamogami and Motoya befriended each other during the former’s stint as commander of the base.
Motoya denied asking Tamogami to enter the contest.
“I never thought the ASDF’s chief of staff would submit an essay,” Motoya said in an interview with The Asahi Shimbun.
The Apa Group said the essays were judged with the names of the authors concealed.
(IHT/Asahi: November 7,2008)
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