Monday, April 14, 2014

Alfred Nobel would weep over the Committee’s carelessness

As a Japanese, I am disappointed with the Norwegian Nobel Committee accepting a letter of recommendation for the Japanese people, whose constitution includes renouncing war as means of settling international disputes.

There are some Japanese who are naive and short-sighted enough to misunderstand the Constitution of Japan. They groundlessly and fanatically believe that Article 9, Clause 1 of the Constitution of Japan says the Japanese renounce all the forms of war. But, it is evident that there is  no nation who renounces all the forms of war. If you are able to read Japanese language, please refer to the original text of Article 9, Clause 1 of the Constitution of Japan.

The Japanese people renounce war as means of settling international disputes, according to the existing constitution of Japan, which was drafted, established, and proclaimed under the Allies(or United Nations) occupation.
The Japanese people never renounce war as means of defending the Japanese people and their close friends in case they are attacked or about to be attacked.

The most grave reason why I am saddened by the Committee’s acceptance of the letter mentioned above is that the Committee’s acceptance of it is the act against Alfred Nobel’s will. In the will, he says his capital shall constitute a fund and the interest on the fund shall be awarded as prizes to those who shall have given the greatest benefit on mankind during the preceding year.

In 2013, the preceding year of this year, it was not the Japanese people who did the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses.

I sincerely wish the Committee would withdraw the acceptance of the letter which is sent by the Japanese persons who narrow-mindedly misunderstand Article 9, Clause 1 of the Constitution of Japan.