Lawmaker expelled from party over remarks about possible war with Russia

Classy, comments made when he was drunk? And he remembers? So he is out of the party but still a representative getting a huge tax funded salary. Russia has made it pretty clear that Japan can have two uninhabited islands the other two no way. Abe made it a top priority so there is no chance of anything actually happening.

Ha ha! A member of the Japan Innovation party wants to go to war with Russia. I can see how it would eventually lead to an Innovation of Japan after it was leveled by Russia.

Good idea by head of party is considering expelling Maruyama, 35, rather than accepting his resignation letter.

Well now that's an innovative idea! Not.

Problem is that he probably said in public what a hell of a lot of others were thinking in private.

This idiot from the Innovation Party of Japan shooting his mouth off could easily have resulted in a Renovation Party of Japan after it is flattened by Russia.

It's a no-brainer that getting drunk on alcohol won't produce any innovative ideas for his party. His nutty notion of war with Russia could change into the really innovative policy of peace with Russia if only he would wise up and start smoking something else.

Yay let's go to war. As if we don't already have enough wars in the world. And does he honestly believe Japan has a chance of winning this war?

The best advice anyone could give Mr. Maruyama is don't show teeth that you hav'nt got.

An apology to the Russians? No need for that. Russians are the people who know quite well that lost territories can only be recovered by use of force as they demonstrated in Crimea recently.

He was banished from the political party which belongs.

Support from a political party isn't also got and he has to continue the councilor by himself.

His reelection became difficult and his political life has ended.

Russia has nuclear weapons, but the state of her conventional forces is abysmal. Russia does not have an economy large enough to support a modern military.

Imagine being this delusional to think they can win a war against Russia. The funny thing is that the outcome of a war with Russia would probably be Hokkaido becoming a Russian territory. Then out of anger and frustration for the lost territory, Japan goes to war with China, resulting in Okinawa becoming Chinese territory. Infuriated, Japan reminisces about its ownership of the Korean peninsula, thinking the inferior Koreans owe them half their territory, feeling confident, Japan goes to war with South Korea, resulting in Kyushu becoming part of South Korea. Seeing Japan loosing its territory, America steps in with a brand new regime change.

silly comments, that's why we have to change the constitution so we can go overseas and whoop some ass.

and get some nukes! don't forget nukes! then we can beat 'em all! if they fight back, we'll nuke 'em all! yeah!

Nothing like a few glasses of sake & vodka on Russian soil to give you Dutch courage.

Isn't he right? regradless of his being drunk or not. I am sure he meant it is only possible by force. Just like it is only possible by force to rescue abductees in NK. Why don't we all stop being hypocritic

Clumsy as they talk singlehanded without consensus.

At least there is a recognized minority now up there in the far north.

With relatives across the border.

Imagine being this delusional to think they can win a war against Russia. The funny thing is that the outcome of a war with Russia would probably be Hokkaido becoming a Russian territory. Then out of anger and frustration for the lost territory, Japan goes to war with China, resulting in Okinawa becoming Chinese territory. Infuriated, Japan reminisces about its ownership of the Korean peninsula, thinking the inferior Koreans owe them half their territory, feeling confident, Japan goes to war with South Korea, resulting in Kyushu becoming part of South Korea. Seeing Japan loosing its territory, America steps in with a brand new regime change.

no one could be that delusional

I’m sure many on both sides have said the same for Takeshima. Politicians don’t have the freedom to express their true opinions

I do not really think his words are controversial. Naturally if you want to reclaim land you may invade such as Russia did in Crimea. He asked it in a hypothetical manner. 

He was obviously pushing the idea. Drunk or not is another matter. Why else would you think Russia would hand over the islands simply because they were 'confused' by a war with Japan, much less ask the question.

Skotmanforyou:

Believe research has shown that the modern day is the most peaceful in history. While we do have wars, most of the world's population are able to go to work and back home without fear of pillaging by vikings or invasions by the neighbouring warlord.

He was piss drunk, but this doesn't matter in this case, and is not a good excuse even for Japanese.

The era of wars is over..I hope. It IS a stupid idea and comment, and I do think he must’ve been drunk or something; at least I hope he was. Regardless, out of politics is best for everyone.

I'll give a red sign to someone who wants to go to war with Russia, that's completely insane to think that way. "Endgame" only in the movie is enough. Japan after the war 5 years under USA territory and Russia has got the chance to get the 4 islands, Japan had more up northern regions before ww2, but the conclusion is that Japan is under control of USA after that and nothing advanced to this present time and will not 'til Russia changes the mind to find better way. This is presumably an endless game...

I agree with Minister Suga 100%. The remarks of Maruyama are extremely regrettable. The 4 islands rightful return to Japan must be negotiated behind closed doors, not with threats of force. I am optimistic PM Abe and Putin Summits can help negotiate the deal.

"Problem is that he probably said in public what a hell of a lot of others were thinking in private."

Occasionally, very occasionally, the mask slips and the honne is exposed. The anger is directed not at WHAT he said but that he had to say it.

Sounds like y'all have a freedom of speech issue. People should always be open to all possibilities in regards to reclaiming territory that was stolen. Russia is going to have to give up that territory either way. I noticed none of these posts mention US involvement in the talks. I don't think China is going to go out of their way to do anything for Russia anytime soon. They are too busy doing their own expansion into neighboring territory using exports and super rails.

I’m sure many on both sides have said the same for Takeshima.

Nope, only on Japan's side. Korea has no need to "reclaim" Dokdo/Takeshima :)

Maruyama was speaking on behalf of Abe san who couldn't say it himself.

@slowguy2

Nope, only on Japan's side. Korea has no need to "reclaim" Dokdo/Takeshima :)

According to the ROK war plan, it doesn't end with the Liancourt rocks when the Liancourt rocks war starts.

That's something for Japan to think about.

Freedom of speech is dead in Japan. Can't even discuss controversial ideas. Sad.

So he is out of the party but still a representative getting a huge tax funded salary. 

Being tossed out of a political party is not grounds for losing your seat. Nor is resigning from a political party.

Unfortunately, we have freedom of speech in Japan. That includes the freedom of MPs to say dumb things.

The yearly pay before taxes of rank and file Japanese MPs is roughly 142,000 dollars before taxes. This is more than British MPs get (102,000) but they have very generous expenses allowances that Japanese MPs do not have. The base salary for members of the US congress and senate is 174,000 dollars, again with numerous benefits and perks that the Japanese MPs do not get.

Japanese MP salaries are not high either by corporate or academic standards for Japan.

bullfighter, what do you mean by "Unfortunately, we have freedom of speech in Japan" ? Free speech is born right for every human beings. Why is it unfortunately for Japanese ?

Japan will probably last the whole of about ten minutes in a real war with Russia... No, USA will not help it much in this case, Russia are not done tribes in the middle East.

And Japan screws it up for Japan again. Even though the guy was expelled, Russia can use this comment to their advantage. Well done, Japan... well done. As for a war with Russia... haha. Japan would be Red in less than an hour, and especially with someone like Trump in office, the US would step aside and watch.

Loose lips sink ships.

While Japan is trying to negotiate a peace treaty with Russia, to have this guy publicly allude to war as a means to regaining the islands, would be a major diplomatic faux pas.

But he is telling what is an unpleasant truth. That is what is going to take if Japan really wants those islands back.

Look at the map. Russia will never give up control of the islands as it is a strategic gateway access to the Pacific Ocean for the Russian Navy. To lose sovereignty and control over the islands would mean the Russian Navy would be bottled up in the Sea of Okhotsk. Russia wants to increase its presence in the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, there is oil and mineral deposits in the region that Russia is interested in.

Realistically, Japan cannot resort to military action to take the islands as its Article 9 prohibits it to use war as a means to settle disputes. (I guess Mr. Maruyama forgot that.)

But what if Russia installs anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles on those islands, then what can Japan do? Unless Japan removes the Article 9 limitation that prohibits the use of military force as a means of settling disputes, Japan is going to have to rely on the U.S. to keep Russia in check

With Russia gaining access to the Pacific Ocean and China controlling the China Seas region, they have the potential to blockade Japan if necessary.

The U.S. and Japan will have to maintain, if not increase military base presence on mainland Japan and Okinawa, to counter this combined potential threat.