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Toshio Tamogami, the controversial former head of the Air Self Defense Force, plans to announce his candidacy Tuesday for the Tokyo gubernatorial election, Japanese media reported Monday.
Tamogami is expected to declare his candidacy at a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon.
Tamogami, 65, was fired as head of the ASDF in 2008 for suggesting Japan deserves credit, not blame, for its World War II actions. In an essay, he wrote that Asia benefited from imperial Japan's activities before and during the war.
Tamogami, who now leads a conservative political association, has continued to defend his views, saying that Japan was unjustly subjected to what he called the history of the victor. He said he decided to write the essay because he believes Japan has been wrongly blamed for being an aggressor in World War II, and that it cannot have a healthy relationship with its neighbors or assume a more active role on the global stage until that view of history is corrected.
Tamogami is the second candidate to throw his hat in the ring to replace Naoki Inose as Tokyo governor. Kenji Utsunomiya, 67, a veteran human rights lawyer and a former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, has declared his candidacy for the Feb 9 election.
Campaigning is scheduled to begin on Jan 23.
© Japan Today
22 Comments
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TumbleDry
Oh no...
toshiko
He will not get LDP backup. LDP Officials of the party met this week to discuss possible candidates. They declined to name anyone but said the person must have three attributes: An international outlook; be an ardent leader of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic organizing committee; and be able to establish a relationship of trust with the Tokyo metropolitan assembly.O think one of two ladies mentioned will be backed. This guy is very controversial. Just because he isis jobless is not the reason LDP will back up. ;;;;;;; There will be more/ Sp,e people refused to run even thy got high polls.
sillygirl
Ah geez
Michael Craig
This guy's worse than Ishihara!
toshiko
LDP probably choose seomone who does not have SDF background becuase if clearly stated 3 qualification and SDF big promoter of weapons will be too controversial tp make frineds with other countries. Just my guess.
nath
Yes, get the guy elected, and then send him to become PM. That will ensure the rise of Hitler #2. Germany was not defeated in WW1. Hitler wanted to make German proud again. The result of WW1 simply provided the democratic basis for his rise, and his leadership to WW2. It was during this time Hitler's popularity rating surpassed any politician in any democracy before or since. Democracy at work!
Japan is still one war behind. It will take another one to get things right. History must take its course. So it's encouraging to see there're no shortage of volunteers to lead it.
SenseNotSoCommon
What an embarrassment.
toshiko
This is Tokyo Governor candidate selection. He is a candidate now. He many not get LDP backup but he is alread y a candidate like Utsunomiya. LDP will select someone else I'd bet. Tokyo Govt need someone who can handle Olympic commitees and various media beside there is no hard feeling against the candidate by many assembly members. SDF background is not needed to govern Tokyo.
StormR
Dangerous out spoken man with extreme right wing leanings, he is going to be bad for Tokyo and japan if he gets a sniff of governorship. Please find someone with the right attitude and intelligence Tokyo so needs that right now.,
GalapagosnoGairaishu
Tamogami is actually quite an effective communicator, and he knows a lot about the military. It's a shame he's too hung up on WW2-era dogma to apply his abilities in an intelligent manner. The only votes he'll get will be from the seniors who were thoroughly indoctrinated back in the 1930s and the uniformed goofballs who go driving around Tokyo in their 110-decibel Wurlitzer jukeboxes on wheels.
Jimizo
A quite stupid and unpleasant man. He'd do better sticking to C minus history essays. Not what any city with any self-respect needs.
harvey pekar
Sounds like he'll fit right in.
hereforever
Only in Japan can a fired government official be hired back into a governmental position.
dbsaiya
Well let's see who the good folks in Tokyo vote for; I mean, they've chosen a great duo of Ishihara and Inose in the recent past...this guy just might win. Closet fascists, time to come out.
isoducky
There really is nothing wrong with him running, I think Toshiko hit the right sentiment about the LDP backing a candidate. It's not a lock the LDP candidate will win and there is also the consideration of how an LDP candidate will look internationally. The next Governor of Tokyo will have a strong pull when and if it's time to start thinking about the next PM.
toshiko
I don;t think he is hoping to get backiing by people wheo were indoctrinated in 1930's. Let me see. they were at least 20 years old in 1930's They must be over 100 years old now. this guy may be military pusher but not that much stupid. This is Tokyo where people who are that much old remembered horrible air raids if they are still alive. I think younger candidate who have nothing to do with militarization of Tokyo will be electged by LDP. Think why this guy is fired. think Inose scandal. It will be wise if LDP backup someone who will not cause such scandal. Ishihara SR is not in LDP. Jr acceptance by tokyo people were too low. It needs someone who went to school in Tokyo instead of people who went to Osaka U or some other U. Abe is pretty good in finding Female aide who is better than his male aide in every field including speaking in internationall language English (author of books in english). Young girl who is not tarred by politics yet. (If there is any) After all about a half of Tokyo voters are female.
lucabrasi
Good news. He'll act as a right-wing lunatic vote-magnet, drawing votes away from the standard, semi-fascist rightists.
Split the idiot vote and a normal human being might just sneak in under the radar....
smithinjapan
"Tamogami, 65, was fired as head of the ASDF in 2008 for suggesting Japan deserves credit, not blame, for its World War II actions. In an essay, he wrote that Asia benefited from imperial Japan’s activities before and during the war."
JUST the man needed to replace the last bigot, and the one before him (still in power in the city). Absolutely amazing these guys are allowed any kind of power. I remember when this guy was fired in absolute disgrace, and yet still the apologists creeped out of their holes to defend him and say Japan's colonization was a good thing for Asia, etc.
lucabrasi: "Good news. He'll act as a right-wing lunatic vote-magnet, drawing votes away from the standard, semi-fascist rightists. Split the idiot vote and a normal human being might just sneak in under the radar...."
Good point!
toshiko
There will be more candidates for the election of Tokyo Governor. Backup by a big organization is not easy for candidates to get, many people negated to become a candidate. So, LDP is still looking for.
Frost7
I am japanese.
Dangerous is Joke. He is very favored in japan&very Clean Other candidates very dirty Reason why he was fired, the JP President at that time because he is a coward(Lame duck)
Tamogami .only clean.