Why build a warship? Why unveil it on August 6?

While major political figures were laying wreaths to peace in Hiroshima, and most people of Japan had their heads bowed in prayers for peace, something strange was happening in the harbor at Yokohama. This was on Tuesday, August 6, 2013--the 68th anniversary of the nuclear holocaust in Hiroshima--a day devoted to renewing Japan's vow never again to engage in the folly of war.

By "vow" I mean popular will plus a national constitution that forbids war and armaments.

So, first question: Who picked this day--of all days--to unveil a new, made-in-Japan warship? Described as a ferry for helicopters, the Izumo has the look and scale of an aircraft carrier.

Second question: Japan does not build it's own aircraft, because aircraft could become instruments of war, and building instruments of war is forbidden. Why is it evil to build a commercial airplane but not wrong to build an aircraft carrier?

Third question: Since a warship on that scale can't be built in an instant, who was in charge of Japan when the project was started in 2009?

I'm not sure of the answer to questions #1 or #2, but the answer to question #3 is Yukio Hatoyama, the prime minister whose grandfather almost single-handedly dragged Japan into WWII.

What a strange coincidence!


Now, on to the fourth question. Some people are excusing the aircraft carrier/helicopter ferrier, saying Japan needs it because China has been maintaining a presence in Japanese territorial waters in the Senkaku island area, near Okinawa. This began in 2012.

Question #4: Which came first, 2009 or 2012?