By DAIZO TERAMOTO/ Staff Writer
April 28, 2020 at 17:36 JST
Defense Minister Taro Kono reviews the Self-Defense Forces after the March graduation ceremony at the National Defense Academy. (Pool)
Although Defense Minister Taro Kono doesn't believe in UFOs, he wants the Self-Defense Forces to have a plan in place for any encounter--just in case.
Kono made the comment at a news conference on April 28 after the U.S. Defense Department declassified and released videos shot by Navy pilots pointing to the possibility that UFOs exist.
“We would like to establish procedures in the event an encounter is made with a UFO,” Kono said.
He indicated his ministry and the SDF would begin preparing for such an event.
While Kono said the SDF had not yet encountered a UFO, he added, “If video can be taken (of a UFO encounter) and if a report is possible, then a report will be made. Discussions will be held with the Air SDF about just what can be done.”
He said ministry officials will ask their Pentagon counterparts about the release of the videos as well as any analysis they had conducted.
In February 2018, the Japanese government issued its official position on UFOs saying, “no confirmation has been made of their existence.”
The document in response to questions from a lawmaker added, “The government has not considered in any specific manner what will be done should a UFO be sighted flying toward Japan.”
At the news conference, Kono admitted that he himself did not believe that UFOs exist. However, the defense minister was less forthcoming when asked if he believed in supernatural powers or psychic phenomenon.
“That is a corporate secret,” he replied.
ANALYSIS: Kono’s personal ties with Kang may be key to thawing the ice
June 17, 2019
Kono urges Iran to abide by nuclear deal in talks with Zarif
August 28, 2019
Kono wants progress in resolving labor feud with Seoul
August 21, 2019
POINT OF VIEW: Kono’s warning over fallout from a ‘hard Brexit’ not an idle threat
July 4, 2019
Kono blasts U.S. parachuting drill at Kadena base in Okinawa
October 30, 2019
Kono working to get Japan access to U.S. military incident sites
February 8, 2019
Visit this page for the latest news on Japan’s battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
The Asahi Shimbun aims “to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” through its Gender Equality Declaration.
Let’s explore the Japanese capital from the viewpoint of wheelchair users and people with disabilities with Barry Joshua Grisdale.
