As of April 1, the APA Japan Restoration Foundation is accepting entries for this year’s “True Interpretations of Modern History” Essay Contest and APA Japan Restoration Grand Prize. For the latter program, books must be nominated by specific persons, such as special lecturers at the Shoheijuku academy operated by the foundation. However, anyone can submit essays to the former as long as they meet certain requirements. The top award is the Grand Prize (Fuji Seiji Prize) worth five million yen, an enormous amount compared to similar essay contests, and I look forward to receiving many entries this year. I started the “True Interpretations of Modern History” Essay Contest as an individual project back in 2008. The foundation was established to take over this program afterwards. It was authorized as a public interest corporation in June 2015, and the contest has been operated as a non-profit activity ever since.
The Grand Prize (Fuji Seiji Prize) in the 1st Annual “True Interpretations of Modern History” Essay Contest was awarded to Tamogami Toshio for his essay, “Was Japan an Aggressor Nation?” This essay was highly appraised by Head Judge Watanabe Shoichi and other members of the Judging Committee. However, Tamogami was chief of staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) at that time, and I am sure many people recall the outcry in the political world and media set off by this essay that diverged from the government’s views. Although the full essay was available on APA Group’s website, it seemed like lots of people had only read portions excerpted in the mass media. Therefore, I had the entire essay printed as an advertisement in The Sankei Shimbun on the day when Tamogami was summoned as a witness to the House of Councillors’ Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense. APA Group’s Head Office received many encouraging fax messages and telephone calls from elderly people who read Tamogami’s essay in the newspaper, although they did not see it on the internet.
　The Japanese educational system has made citizens believe they must atone for the negative actions of our country during World War II. Students are taught that the military authorities behaved rashly and that Japan invaded China and other Asian countries, including harsh colonial rule and merciless slaughter. The mass media has purposely avoided discourse that contradicts the historical view centered on the Tokyo Trials, regulating its own freedom of speech just like measures taken by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ) in its occupation policy. Tamogami’s essay became a huge topic of conversation, and its numerous readers made him a popular speaker and best-selling author. It was an excellent opportunity for Japanese citizens to abandon their masochistic perspective of history and wake up to a correct understanding of the past.
　Following Tamogami, winners of the Grand Prize (Fuji Seiji Prize) have made major contributions to growing conservatism in Japan through their speeches and published works. I used to worry that these topics were only discussed among conservatives, without reaching people who hold different beliefs. I am thrilled that the tumult caused by Tamogami’s essay helped promote a conservative historical perspective among the general population, particularly young people.

　I publish my APA Words to Live By in this magazine, one of which reads, “A person who chases two rabbits will catch both.” I have done business while expressing my views and beliefs with the aim of helping Japanese people regain their sense of pride. People have asked if these efforts harm my business operations, but I regard them as two halves of a whole – I am seen as trustworthy because I have a successful business, while my efforts to express myself have positive business effects by creating a feeling of ideological solidarity.
　A scandal broke out in January 2017 regarding my book, which denies the Nanjing Massacre, being placed in APA Hotel rooms. A student who stayed at an APA Hotel posted about my book on Weibo, a Chinese social media website. The Chinese government censured APA Hotel and took harsh measures against the company; for instance, Chinese travel agencies stopped booking APA Hotel rooms. While some media outlets said I had no choice but to remove the books, I promptly released an official statement saying that I had no intention of doing so. I asked to be given any information proving that my book was incorrect for my own reference, but I received no response. Although we saw a significant decline in Chinese guests, there was very little impact on our business thanks to the many Japanese people who stayed at APA Hotels to support us.

　As of 2025, 80 years have passed since the end of World War II. On February 28, The Mainichi Shimbun posted an online article titled, “Prime Minister Ishiba Considers Statement Marking 80 Years Since End of War, Indicating the Significance of Our Peace-loving Nation in Light of International Circumstances.” It read:

　Abe released his statement commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the war one decade ago on August 14, 2015. It had a different context from past statements and was written in consideration of many different demographics, from conservatives to liberals. Abe incorporated key terms from past statements – such as “colonial rule,” “invasion,” “deep repentance,” and “apologize” – while mentioning the domestic and foreign victims of the war, drawing a line against the apology-focused diplomacy of the past, and avoiding one-sided apologies. An example is the sentence, “We must not let our children, grandchildren, and even further generations to come, who have nothing to do with that war, be predestined to apologize.” I applaud Abe for this well-written statement, and I was afraid that Ishiba’s words might put Japan back in terms of its historical awareness.
　The Sankei Shimbun website ran an article on March 27, “‘Do You Know How Hard it Was?’ Ishiba Focuses on Re-examination, Decides Not to Release 80-Year Statement Based on Advice From Party Leader.”

　I am glad that Ishiba put off releasing a statement this year, and I am happy to see that members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) still have the ability to deter him, although it is a left-leaning party. The issue is Ishiba’s plan to have an expert committee re-examine this history – I suspect that its course of action will be determined by the members chosen, along with Ishiba’s own views of the past.
　Ishiba published a post on his official blog on November 5, 2008, titled, “Thoughts on Former Chief of Staff Tamogami’s Essay.” In it, Ishiba criticized Tamogami as follows: “Many people have asked me to comment on the essay penned by (former) JASDF Chief of Staff Tamogami. All I can say is that he lacks any understanding about the civilian control of the military, and that it makes sense for him to be dismissed from his post. I am extremely disappointed that he wrote an essay of this nature.” Ishiba also took a negative view of conservative pundits and politicians, writing, “It seems like this ethnic nationalist faction is absorbed in its own little world. One of their characteristics is that they almost never read things in opposition to their own positions. Even when they do read such publications, they simply condemn the author as not having studied enough, lacking patriotic feelings, or having a masochistic perspective of history.” “Of course these unaffiliated thinkers may say what they like, but there is the risk that the ethnic nationalist faction’s assertive and clearly spoken statements might gain popularity in the current era that seems so hopeless. I fear the appearance of politicians who pander to this group.” “Another characteristic is, although they do state their claims in a fairly lucid way, they engage in no specific, pragmatic discussions on how to achieve them.” I do not expect much of the expert committee working to re-examine history underneath this prime minister. These efforts are risky because they might nullify Abe’s carefully prepared and highly lauded statement, leading China, South Korea, and others to rehash issues regarding historical viewpoints.

　American President Donald Trump has implemented his America First policy from his very first day in office. For instance, he has withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement and signed an executive order on leaving the World Trade Organization. Lately the whole world is feeling great trepidation about Trump’s tariffs, which have significant impacts on financial markets.
　Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, announced on April 2, are rates set according to the other country’s tariff rate and non-tariff barriers. Among these, the U.S. is putting a 24% tariff on Japan. NHK NEWS WEB posted an article on April 3, “President Trump Announces Reciprocal Tariffs: How Are Nations Responding?” It said that a press secretary from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce criticized the United States for unilaterally imposing a 34% reciprocal tariff on China, saying this is a violation of international trade rules and stating that China will put countermeasures in place. In response to the 20% tariff on the European Union, European Commission President Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen commented that the tariff “is a major blow to the world economy” and emphasized that the EU plans to take measures against it. There are no reciprocal tariffs on Canada and Mexico, countries upon which Trump has already implemented tariffs of 25%. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on social media that his country will fight American tariffs. Meanwhile, the Japanese government is currently discussing how to respond. The Sankei Shimbun posted an article on April 3, titled, “‘Extremely Regrettable’ ‘Serious Concern’ Says Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa: Japanese Government Asks for Revised Measures.” The article says that Hayashi described the reciprocal tariffs as “extremely regrettable” during a press conference on April 3, and shared his concern that they would harm the global economy. Still, he gave a vague answer regarding Japan’s countermeasures, stating, “I shall refrain from providing details about what is being specifically considered.”
　The Asahi Shimbun website published an interview on April 1 with conservative commentator Oren Cass, known as one of the brains in the Trump administration. It was titled, “Reasons for Increased Tariffs: The True Motive of Reformist Conservatism According to Trump Government Advisor.” Cass explains the background to these policies, saying that free trade with China has weakened the American industrial base, and that increased tariffs are necessary to solve this problem. In Cass’ 2018 book he advocates for policy that prioritizes the interests of workers, which likely includes these increased tariffs. Cass says the Trump administration is not increasing tariffs in a capricious or impulsive manner, but according to the beliefs of so-called “reform conservatives.” After Trump, Cass believes this modern conservative ideology will be taken up by next-generation GOP leaders like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. As long as these American policies exist, Japan must come up with solid means to deal with them. Considering the Japan-U.S. relationship, it will be difficult to take measures against reciprocal tariffs. I think we must continue with persistent negotiations, including discussions based on the trade agreement that determined tariffs during the first Trump administration.
　In the global community, mutual conflicts take place between powers working for their own national interests. Military power is a necessary part of carrying out discussions. Compared to the size of its economy, Japan has not been able to powerfully express itself in the international society because it was defeated in World War II and is a country without nuclear weapons. We are also shackled by Article 9 of the constitution. Regarding our alliance, Trump has said it is unfair that the U.S. must defend Japan, but Japan does not have to defend the U.S. It is true that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is a one-sided agreement. The Japanese-American alliance should be developed into an equal relationship, and Japan must become a genuinely independent nation, so that Japan can speak with more influence on the world stage and defend its own interests. This must be premised on amending the constitution and turning the Japan Self-Defense Forces into a military. However, although the Abe administration was good at winning elections, the media got in its way and prevented any motions on constitutional reform. It will not be easy to revise the constitution today with a minority party in power, and few people are bringing up this topic. The question is, what should we do? The only answer is to convey historical truths and the true essence of the international community to young people, inspire their awareness, and work to help a truly conservative political party gain power in the future. This may be a roundabout way of accomplishing things, but I believe a major role will be played through continuous efforts by the APA Japan Restoration Foundation. Japan has survived many dangers throughout its history. I am sure that our situation will remain difficult for some time, but I am confident that we have sufficient strength to overcome it.

April 16 (Wednesday), 5:00 p.m.