Japan’s former navy chief sacked, under probe over alleged state secret leak
- An investigation panel apparently judged Hiroshi Yamamura responsible for supervising a captain who is suspected of the leak that occurred a few years ago
- This is the first time such a breach has come to light since a secrecy law was enacted in 2014
Japan’s Defence Ministry on Monday dismissed a Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) captain over the alleged leak of state secrets to an outsider, making it the first case of crackdown since the secrecy law came into effect in 2014.
A Self-Defence Force criminal investigation unit referred the captain, Takashi Inoue, 54, to prosecutors for allegedly giving classified information to a former MSDF admiral who had already retired from the force, according to the ministry.
In March 2020, Inoue disclosed secret information regarding “situations surrounding Japan” as well as the SDF’s operation and trainings, and had “a strong sense of awe” toward the former admiral who was once one of his close superiors, according to the ministry.
Three of Inoue’s superiors at that time, including former MSDF Chief of Staff Hiroshi Yamamura, were also disciplined for inadequate supervision, the ministry added.
Admiral Ryo Sakai, chief of staff of the MSDF, apologised at a press conference, saying the incident could “undermine the public’s and other nations’ confidence in the MSDF”.
The ministry said the former admiral requested an MSDF unit in charge of collecting and analysing information to brief him about the latest state of affairs, but had not demanded that the classified information be disclosed.
There has been no evidence that the information was given to another figure other than the former admiral, according to the ministry.
The investigative unit was notified of the breach by a whistle-blower, government sources said.
The sources also said the SDF investigative body will probe Yamamura in connection with the information leak by Inoue, one of his subordinates at that time.
Yamamura headed the MSDF from April 2019 until March this year, when he retired as an MSDF officer.
Under the secrecy law, civil servants and others who disclose sensitive information designated as state secrets, such as those regarding foreign policy, defence, counterterrorism and counter-espionage, can face up to 10 years in prison.
The law requires security clearance for officials to handle state secrets.
There were a total of 693 state secret cases as of the end of June, of which 392 were designated by the defence Ministry, according to the Cabinet Secretariat.
