The head of Japan's armed forces rebuked an army major Thursday for suggesting that only a coup d'etat would halt political corruption of the sort that forced Parliament's most-powerful member to resign this week.
Sohei Miyashita, the chief of the Defense Agency, denounced Maj. Shinsaku Yanai's remarks as "inexcusable," and vowed to take appropriate action after determining the major's intentions.Although political violence wracked Japan in the 1930s, no one has attempted a coup in the nation since 1970, when Yukio Mishima, an infamous author, bodybuilder and right-wing nationalist, tried to seize power.
However, Mishima proved spectacularly unsuccessful in rallying the military to his side, and ultimately committed ritual suicide by disemboweling himself.
Still, writing recently in a popular weekly magazine, Yanai invoked Mishima's memory in sharply criticising the way prosecutors handled a massive bribery scandal currently rocking Japan.
Unprecedented public outrage Wednesday forced Shin Kan-e-maru, top member of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, to tender his resignation from Parliament. Kanemaru stepped down after admitting acceptance of $4 million in secret campaign donations from a mob-affiliated company.
Writing about the scandal, Yanai, 45, told the magazine Shukan Bunshun, "It is impossible to legally correct (this) injustice through elections, which are the basis of democracy. A coup d'etat or a revolution are the only means left to eradicate it."
Yanai, who teaches war history at a military anti-aircraft school, referred to Mishima in his article, claiming there was and is strong support for the dead coup leader within the armed forces.
The major quoted a fellow officer as saying he felt sorry for Mishima, because there are many soldiers who would like to stage a coup.