It would appear that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has already forgotten important promises he made in his Oct. 3 policy speech to kick off the extraordinary Diet session.

Consider the following: “I pledge to respond sincerely, humbly and scrupulously to harshly critical voices of the public.” Kishida also expressed his “willingness to pay attention to harsh opinions” as his “starting point” as a politician.

Party leaders on Oct. 5 began peppering Kishida with questions about his policy speech. The question-and-answer sessions allow party heads to state their questions in one speech each, which the prime minister responds to in turn in a single address each time.

Kishida’s responses were closely scrutinized for clues on whether he was prepared to engage in in-depth debate on policy issues by speaking from the heart in an effort to restore public trust in his administration.

But his replies were far from reassuring as he often avoided giving straightforward answers or simply repeated previous explanations. There was no sign he intends to change his signature ways. His use of words like “sincere,” “humble” and “scrupulous” came across as hollow.

With regard to the state funeral for slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which bitterly divided public opinion over the way the administration tried to set the tone for mourning, Kishida promised to establish protocols concerning the role of the Diet and formal procedures for state funerals in the future based on a review on the Sept. 27 memorial proceedings.

When he was asked about the appropriateness of his decision to hold the event, Kishida simply stated, “I will take seriously the various opinions and criticisms that have been expressed by the people and the parties.” But he did not offer any words of self-reflection, despite the fact it was his decision alone.

Kishida’s remarks about relations between politicians and the Unification Church also raised serious doubt about his commitment to sever those ties.

Also questionable was the prime minister’s responses to Unification Church-related revelations about Daishiro Yamagiwa, the state minister in charge of economic revitalization, who acknowledged his association with the church, now formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, only after they were reported by the media.

Kenta Izumi, the head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, demanded that Kishida dismiss Yamagiwa. But Kishida defended the state minister, pointing out that the lawmaker has promised to clarify the facts and explain them to the public, noting that Yamagiwa has already pledged to sever his ties with the controversial religious organization.

Kishida also said that Yamagiwa would be obliged to offer more meticulous explanations about his ties to the church if he fails to convince the public. By leaving the matter entirely to Yamagiwa to handle, Kishida defaulted on his own responsibility as the leader who appointed him to the Cabinet post.

Commenting on the Cultural Affairs Agency’s decision to allow the church to change its name when Abe held office, Kishida asserted that it was the agency’s own independent decision and not politically influenced in any way.

But the assertion is hardly convincing as it is not based on serious efforts to investigate the process leading to the decision. Kishida is duty bound to ensure the government will address questions about this issue at committee sessions and other occasions aimed at getting to the bottom of the matter.

Kishida’s tendency to avoid explaining his policies was especially pronounced in the area of security. He said all policy decisions about a proposed significant increase in defense spending--those concerning the details of the spending plan, the size of the budget and the fiscal resources to finance the increase--will be made together. Referring to a proposal to give the Self-Defense Forces the capability to strike enemy bases, he said he will consider all options without ruling out any of them. His answers mirrored his past remarks on these issues.

Izumi urged Kishida to initiate Diet debate on the three new official security documents the government is working on with an eye to publishing them by the end of this year before they are formally determined. But the prime minister only said the government will present them as part of the draft budget for next fiscal year.

Assigning Diet debate on these vital documents to the back burner belies his slogan of “foreign and security policy that is closely aligned to the people.” This is particularly relevant as the Diet represents the people.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 6