Japan Where The Truth Hides

The Upper House of the Japanese Parliament on Friday night passed Japan's new state secrets law following similar action taken by Lower House on Tuesday.  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claimed that without the law the United States would no longer share intelligence with Japan.  Given that the bill is vaguely worded as to how and why information may be declared a vital to  national security there was fierce opposition to the law by civic groups as well as those in entertainment, the arts, academia and the law.  

One and only one public hearing was held in the city of Saitama which is just north of Tokyo. Of course this being Japan no member of the public was actually allowed to speak for or in opposition to the law.  

The bill, submitted to the Diet on Oct. 25, aims to tighten control of sensitive information in such areas as diplomacy, defense, anti-spying and antiterrorism as state secrets. Those found guilty of leaking the secrets could face up to 10 years in prison.

One of the most controversial points of the bill is that it allows bureaucrats and elected officials to arbitrarily widen their interpretations of what they deem to be state secrets.

And it has no definite mechanism for an independent panel to verify whether these designations are appropriate, although the government has announced plans to form a "third-party" body to oversee this process.

Japan may give the appearance of having an elected representative the reality is far different.  Japanese politicians view themselves as the nations parents dolling out what  the children need when its believed they ready to accept it.  Public opinion doesn't really matter as the passage of the new States Secrets Law proves.