June 12, 2025
The House of Councilors at its plenary session on June 11 enacted by majority vote a Science Council of Japan (SCJ) law which could infringe upon “academic freedom”. The Japanese Communist Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Democratic Party for the People, and the “Reiwa” party opposed the enactment of the law.
During the debate, JCP lawmaker Inoue Satoshi criticized the law in question for threatening the independence and autonomy of the SCJ.
Inoue pointed a finger at the government intent to place scientific R&D under the control and priorities of military objectives and to make it serve short-term economic interests. He stated that the SCJ mission is to contribute to the peaceful revitalization of Japan and the welfare of human society under the consensus of the entire scientific community.
Noting that the call for the protection of academic freedom continues to grow among many academic societies, scientists, and concerned citizens, he expressed his determination by saying, “Our party will join forces with as many scientists and people of conscience as possible to defend the national academy’s peaceful principles.”
Outside the Diet building, researchers, scholars, and concerned citizens held a protest. Inoue joined their protest immediately after the law was enacted, and delivered a speech in solidarity.
Yamane Tetsuya, a professor at Yokohama City University, called on protesters to unite to prevent democracy, human rights, and academic freedom from being destroyed. Komagome Takeshi, a professor at Kyoto University, suggested that noting which party voted in favor of the controversial law should be used to determine who to vote for in the upcoming Upper House elections.
Past related articles:
> Bill on national academy may exclude academics with ideologies that are not in line with the gov’t stance [May 13, 2025]
> Bill on Science Council of Japan aims to take away national academy’s independence [April 19, 2025]
During the debate, JCP lawmaker Inoue Satoshi criticized the law in question for threatening the independence and autonomy of the SCJ.
Inoue pointed a finger at the government intent to place scientific R&D under the control and priorities of military objectives and to make it serve short-term economic interests. He stated that the SCJ mission is to contribute to the peaceful revitalization of Japan and the welfare of human society under the consensus of the entire scientific community.
Noting that the call for the protection of academic freedom continues to grow among many academic societies, scientists, and concerned citizens, he expressed his determination by saying, “Our party will join forces with as many scientists and people of conscience as possible to defend the national academy’s peaceful principles.”
Outside the Diet building, researchers, scholars, and concerned citizens held a protest. Inoue joined their protest immediately after the law was enacted, and delivered a speech in solidarity.
Yamane Tetsuya, a professor at Yokohama City University, called on protesters to unite to prevent democracy, human rights, and academic freedom from being destroyed. Komagome Takeshi, a professor at Kyoto University, suggested that noting which party voted in favor of the controversial law should be used to determine who to vote for in the upcoming Upper House elections.
Past related articles:
> Bill on national academy may exclude academics with ideologies that are not in line with the gov’t stance [May 13, 2025]
> Bill on Science Council of Japan aims to take away national academy’s independence [April 19, 2025]
