June 16, 2026t

Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro’s social media post regarding his gifting of a model of an Imperial Japanese Navy battleship to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has aroused criticism in Japan of the minister for disregarding the Japanese history of wars of aggression against Southeast Asian countries.

Koizumi visited Indonesia on June 12 to hold talks with the president and the defense minister in regard to Japan’s export of escort ships. Koizumi, during his visit, presented President Prabowo with a scale model of the Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship “Mikasa”. During the war, the ship was based in Kanagawa’s Yokosuka City, Koizumi’s constituency.

Later on the day, Koizumi posted on his X account a photo of himself presenting the gift with the caption, “I’m glad the president liked my gift.” However, in the photo, President Prabowo, holding the miniature “Mikasa” ship, had a mixed expression on his face.

Japan, following the attack on Pearl Harber in Hawaii on December 8, 1941, began its invasion of the South Pacific. In 1942, Japan occupied Indonesia and its occupation lasted until 1945.

Criticizing Koizumi’s X post, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councillors Yamazoe Taku on his X account pointed out, “It is estimated that the number of civilian victims under Japan’s occupation of Indonesia reached four million. The wounds inflicted by Japan’s acts of aggression, such as the requisitioning of food, the mistreatment of prisoners of war, and the forced labor, remain deep and heavy in Indonesian people’s memories.” He stated that Koizumi presented the model of the warship symbolizing the Imperial Japanese Navy to the president of a country that suffered from Japan’s invasion, adding, “Such an act is undiplomatic if not insulting.”