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Pressure mounts on Japanese lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama, who drank 10 glasses of cognac before suggesting war with Russia over disputed islands | South China Morning Post
Thursday, 6 Jun 2019, 1:09AM
East Asia
Pressure mounts on Japanese lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama, who drank 10 glasses of cognac before suggesting war with Russia over disputed islands
Japan’s ruling and opposition parties submitted a resolution to parliament on Wednesday, pressing a lawmaker to quickly decide whether to resign over remarks he made about waging war with Russia to regain control of disputed islands.
The resolution against opposition lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama came after the government verified his remarks and problematic behaviour when he participated in a visa-free exchange programme between Japan and Russia in May.
On a visit to one of four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, the 35-year-old lawmaker – who had been drinking heavily – asked the leader of a group of former Japanese residents: “Do you think there is any alternative to war [to recover the islands]?”
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The resolution is expected to be adopted by the lower house on Thursday, with ruling and opposition parties seeking unanimous approval. However, the motion is not legally binding so it is up to Maruyama to decide whether to quit the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticised Maruyama, saying: “It was extremely regrettable as [his remarks] deeply hurt the feelings of former island residents.”
At a plenary session of the House of Councillors, Abe said the remarks “totally differ from the government’s policy that aims to seek resolution with diplomatic negotiations”. But Abe dodged a question about whether Maruyama should resign, saying: “I will refrain from responding to it.”
The government has confirmed that Maruyama went to the home of a Russian family on Kunashiri Island, off Hokkaido, on May 11 and drank more than 10 glasses of cognac.
After returning to his lodging, he also made such remarks as “Are those places with neon signs bars? … Are there women?” and “I want to go out to grope breasts.”
When he was stopped by others from leaving his lodging, he said: “I will not be arrested because I am immune from arrest.”
Do you think there is any alternative to war [to recover the islands]?
Hodaka Maruyama
Maruyama, elected three times from a constituency in Osaka Prefecture, has repeatedly said he will not resign. He has been expelled from the Japan Innovation Party.
The resolution states his remarks, that run counter to the war-renouncing constitution, abusive words and behaviour hampered smooth implementation of the exchange programme and brought significant damage to national interest.
“We have no choice but to conclude that [Maruyama] is not qualified as a member of parliament,” it said.
It is the first time that the resolution to press a lawmaker to make a decision over resignation has been submitted to the Diet, according to the secretariats for both houses of parliament.
The ruling parties and opposition parties will withdraw the previous drafts separately submitted by them to the Diet.
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Last month, the ruling parties submitted a resolution urging Maruyama to seriously reflect on his remarks. The one submitted by six opposition parties demanded his resignation.
Maruyama’s comments caused an uproar as the countries are in talks about the long-standing territorial dispute over the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils. The dispute has prevented them from signing a peace treaty in the aftermath of World War II.
Japan maintains that the former Soviet Union illegally seized the islands after Tokyo’s 1945 surrender, while Russia says it has a legitimate right to them in the wake of the conflict.
Thursday, 6 Jun 2019, 1:09AM
East Asia
Pressure mounts on Japanese lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama, who drank 10 glasses of cognac before suggesting war with Russia over disputed islands
Japan’s ruling and opposition parties submitted a resolution to parliament on Wednesday, pressing a lawmaker to quickly decide whether to resign over remarks he made about waging war with Russia to regain control of disputed islands.
The resolution against opposition lawmaker Hodaka Maruyama came after the government verified his remarks and problematic behaviour when he participated in a visa-free exchange programme between Japan and Russia in May.
On a visit to one of four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, the 35-year-old lawmaker – who had been drinking heavily – asked the leader of a group of former Japanese residents: “Do you think there is any alternative to war [to recover the islands]?”
What is the US Navy still doing on Japan’s Iwo Jima, 75 years on?
The resolution is expected to be adopted by the lower house on Thursday, with ruling and opposition parties seeking unanimous approval. However, the motion is not legally binding so it is up to Maruyama to decide whether to quit the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticised Maruyama, saying: “It was extremely regrettable as [his remarks] deeply hurt the feelings of former island residents.”
At a plenary session of the House of Councillors, Abe said the remarks “totally differ from the government’s policy that aims to seek resolution with diplomatic negotiations”. But Abe dodged a question about whether Maruyama should resign, saying: “I will refrain from responding to it.”
The government has confirmed that Maruyama went to the home of a Russian family on Kunashiri Island, off Hokkaido, on May 11 and drank more than 10 glasses of cognac.
After returning to his lodging, he also made such remarks as “Are those places with neon signs bars? … Are there women?” and “I want to go out to grope breasts.”
When he was stopped by others from leaving his lodging, he said: “I will not be arrested because I am immune from arrest.”
Do you think there is any alternative to war [to recover the islands]?
Hodaka Maruyama
Maruyama, elected three times from a constituency in Osaka Prefecture, has repeatedly said he will not resign. He has been expelled from the Japan Innovation Party.
The resolution states his remarks, that run counter to the war-renouncing constitution, abusive words and behaviour hampered smooth implementation of the exchange programme and brought significant damage to national interest.
“We have no choice but to conclude that [Maruyama] is not qualified as a member of parliament,” it said.
It is the first time that the resolution to press a lawmaker to make a decision over resignation has been submitted to the Diet, according to the secretariats for both houses of parliament.
The ruling parties and opposition parties will withdraw the previous drafts separately submitted by them to the Diet.
Japan’s cybersecurity minister admits: ‘I’ve never used a computer’
Last month, the ruling parties submitted a resolution urging Maruyama to seriously reflect on his remarks. The one submitted by six opposition parties demanded his resignation.
Maruyama’s comments caused an uproar as the countries are in talks about the long-standing territorial dispute over the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils. The dispute has prevented them from signing a peace treaty in the aftermath of World War II.
Japan maintains that the former Soviet Union illegally seized the islands after Tokyo’s 1945 surrender, while Russia says it has a legitimate right to them in the wake of the conflict.
