The identity of “Sengoku38,” the man responsible for leaking the video of a Chinese vessel ramming two coast guard ships in the Senkaku Islands, has been revealed after a coast guard officer admitted the act, saying he believes the people have a right to know the truth and could not be party to the government’s suppression of the video.
His eloquent account of his actions and dutiful act of self-sacrifice appears to have struck a resounding chord with many Japanese, and he is now more popular than ever, being lauded as a “true patriot.”
Sengoku38’s identity came to light when a 43-year-old Kobe coast guard officer reported to his superiors that he was responsible for releasing the video of the Senkaku Islands ramming incident, saying that that he, acting alone, used an Internet cafe PC to upload the videos to YouTube.
His actions in leaking the video are best described in some of his own words, as he has already been interviewed extensively:
“The people have a right to know.”
“The video is something the people should have known about from the start; if I have transgressed the people’s sense of morality then I am resigned to any punishment.”
“Had I not done this I thought the video would never have seen the light of day and been consigned to oblivion.”
“My job may be serving the state, but I am working for the good of the people.”
“I’d like each citizen to watch the video for themselves and come to their own conclusions about what happened.”
“Nobody else would do it, so I did. I’m prepared to face the consequences.”
“The impetus was hearing that of 44 minutes of footage, they cut it down and only showed 6 minutes to the politicians. I felt uncomfortable with the idea of them hiding everything, and trying to cover it all up as though nothing had happened.”
“I’m prepared to lose my job. I have a family but…” [he weeps]
“The coast guard wasn’t even treating the video as classified and anyone could get it.”
He is recalcitrant about revealing why he chose the name “Sengoku38”:
“There is the name of Cabinet Secretary Sengoku, and there is also the ‘sengoku jidai’ meaning of the nation being thrust into a conflict with hostile powers. I’ll keep the true meaning to myself.”
In fact there are a variety of subtle interpretations of the name based on various elements of wordplay, suggesting he perhaps wishes to preserve the element of ambiguity.
Online the reaction to Sengoku38’s statements has been one of adulation, with the man being hailed as a hero nobly sacrificing his career for the sake of the truth and public good, a “true patriot” showing “the spirit of the samurai” and a sign that “Japan is not finished after all,” etc., etc.
Offline it would appear the DPJ is finished – public opinion polls show approval ratings of the prime minister have dropped to a pathetic 15.1%, down from 22.6% slightly earlier in the scandal, with 81% finding the government’s foreign policy to be a shambles.
The government for its part has repeatedly vowed to bring as many charges against him as possible, the current contenders being unauthorised disclosure of state secrets and illegally accessing computer systems – charges Sengoku38’s remarks about the videos being readily available within the coast guard could make difficult to bring.
The Democratic Party is livid about the entire affair, with the Prime Minister apologising to the Japanese public for having allowed them to know things they should not have known:
“This is inexcusable to the people – information which should never have got out has been leaked, and I find it deeply regrettable.”
The Prime Minister went on to criticise the entire civil service for being “slack” and saying he would make sure they cleaned house. Other statements indicated they planned to hold the head of the coast guard responsible, but not the DPJ cabinet minister responsible for him.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku has vowed to bring the wicked leaker to justice all along, and the sight of a visible target seems to have agitated him even more:
“If this should be found to be criminal conduct, we must instigate criminal and administrative proceedings in proportion to the severity of the crime. We need an exhaustive investigation.”
He roundly condemned the many supporters of the leak, or rather, pretended they do not exist:
“I cannot think the vast majority of the people believe that. I firmly believe that whatever happened, the overwhelming majority of the people want us to take proper measures against him.”
This soon prompted derisive calls of “which country’s people?”
His refusal to countenance releasing the video and the leaker’s choice of handle are considered by many to be no coincidence, and the vehemence with which he has condemned the leak has prompted speculation that he is now pursuing a personal vendetta against the man who may have delivered the coup de grace to the DPJ government.
Just as China lionised its captain as a patriot, now it seems Japan has unwittingly gained a national hero of its own – one who stands for quite different principles to that of China.
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Sengoku38 is AWESOME!!! Finally someone willing to stand up for truth!
Truth is harsh, but he's right; the people have to know.
The online community hails your bravery, Sengoku38!
Sengoku38 deserves a Nobel Prize!
But China might protest for withdrawing Mr.Liu's prize! lol.
There we go. Not all japanese are weaklings.
I think this is awesome, someone had to do it and the people agree. Fuck politicians.
Even if he broke the law and even betrayed his own government.. he served Japan in a way which all others were too cowardly to.
He did what he thought was the right thing to do, even if it meant going against his superiors and sacrificing his career and standing.. and he did it and all for his country.
I am not Japanese, but i can not help but be sickened by the way his government is treating him. How dare they condemn someone for doing nothing more then putting his people above his own self interests! For being nothing more then a patriot
He may have betrayed the japanese government, but the government betrayed the japanese people.
Power and respect to anyone who stands up for the right thing against uncertain and potential unlimited odds.
The world would be a weak place where there are 2 classes, Royalty and Peasents were it not for people like him.
I guess the Japanese government forgot about this quote:
"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty."
His action may be dissenting but he did it for the sake of the people of his country and to know the truth about the incident.
“This is inexcusable to the people – information which should never have got out has been leaked, and I find it deeply regrettable.”
REALLY?! Goddamn, Japan...
The video clearly have some editing, you are on the boat and video is not shaking hard. It is obvious that there are external force playing.
I can't do anything but hope for the best for this man and his family...
And I hope the current Japanese government will finally know sheer terror for keeping the truth from the people...
Silent Hill awaits you, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku...You and the rest of the cowardly bigots who want to harm Sengoku38 and his family~
I'm truly happy that the Way of the Samurai has not been completely eradicated in this day and age of lies and deceit...
*salutes and raises his Great Knife*
Although the truth is sometime kept away from the people to protect them, this case was a exception.
Chinese commit a crime he is a heroe
Japanese do something heroic and he go to jail
WTF
kamina incarnated
For some reason even if the man risk his job at least he gain some respect.
Maybe he should run for office?
and
At least now the Japanese know what a mature hero looks like!
This shows that politics can even mess up Japan's samurai spirit.
How disappointing that Japan's leaders cave in to China having more power and lose their sense of morality and will to stand up for their own home country.
Pussies
This man is astounding to say the least for his heroic confession, period...way to go Sengoku38...
My brother was on a HK ship a few years ago. Those fucking japs will ram at you if you're in a small ship and their wake sinks ships. Those pussies only run when ships as big as the one that hit them are in the water.
And like everbody who is willing to stand up for truth he will get raped by his government.
The ruling elite are bastards who should be shot. It's about the same everywhere.
yea...
Yet he did it. If I'm ever put in such a situation (unlikely, but it might happen), I'll think of him and do what I think is right. Sengoku38 will give me the power to hold my head high.
So...
The government in japan is more supporting of china than of their own people.
the japanese government are a bunch of wimps.
Sengoku38 deserves a medal.
"This is inexcusable to the people – information which should never have got out has been leaked, and I find it deeply regrettable."
The japanese government should be sentenced for treason. Nah, just shoot them on sight.
@Schrobby thats... a bit extreme ^^;
Not really. Treason is punishable by death just about everywhere, isn't it?
Be careful throwing around treason. Leaking a video in direct defiance of governmental orders could easily be construed as treason.
Collaborating with a known antagonist or enemy of one's nation is the more traditional definition of Treason..
@13:26
Tradition doesn't get you as far as it used to.
These days, they'll throw around treason for pretty much anything.
"Screw tradition," they say...
Treason
Taking the enemy of your nation's side against your nation.
In times of war if you find one of your countrymen fighting on the enemie's side?
Firing squad.
Or why bother with trial, shoot the prick there and then, hey its a battlefield, what's another corpse?
Pyrolight
11:17
they cant charge him with treason, not me saying they cant in vain hope they dont, but they actually cant.
imiagin this. they charge him with treason, only 15% of people support the current government there. that is 85% i believe lose to 100million people who are willing to throw down if shit hits the fan
if they go treason, you will see the first armed rebellion in a first world country to over throw there government.
@Schrobby: actually, no.
A quick chronology where I live:
1810: execution must be performed using a guillotine, as opposed to former, often more horrifying methods.
1913: execution must now always be performed using a sword or a noose.
1860: last piece-time execution.
1870: piece-time execution outlawed.
1983: imposing the death penalty outlawed.
1991: death penalty struck out from the books.
So, now you know where I live.
Note that most common forms of treason have thus not been punishable by death since 1983. And forms of treason not covered by military or war justice have been since 1870.
The situation during and just after WWII is best described as hectic and legally dubious. It was also during this period, in 1947, that our last execution took place.
Pay no attention to the man (China) behind the curtain!
For those who don't know, I'm borrowing from the Wizard of Oz.
For his bravery. At least he's not in China where they would shoot him for "treachery".
May be not, but don't think it would be too far off.
I think he's gonna end up simliarly to like the Liu guy from China who's getting the Nobel Peace Prize (but less the Nobel Peace Prize part). He will gain recognision, respect and support by the people, but locked away for life by his government :/
That is, until the DPJ is run out of office, and the new ruling party makes it their first act to spring him out of jail.
Suddenly, approval ratings everywhere!
Approval! Approval everywhere!
Of course, that's a problem if the new party that comes in is nothing more than a group of manipulative bastards, like most democratic parties out there.
Let's hope not.
sengoku38: the Alex Jones of japan =) the DPJ is finished now i doubt they'll be re-elected anytime soon unless they rigged their way in though i doubt anyone will taking anymore of the party's voting bribes now ^.^
next stop: anti-censorship reform ^.^
Both countries have very lame politicians.
China; do only for their face, slash the thinking of people in China totally.
Japan; do only for their money, slash the pride of people in Japan totally.
I support this brave man *two thumbs up*, rarely I see a heroic attempt from some normal civilians to stand up for the truth :)
I appreciate his bravery, but I feel sorry for their family. If he weighed his actions against his own family, that is regrettable and sad to be honest.. Just not the best of situations.
i like this guy
He should found a new party. I bet he'd get voted to Prime Minister.
He should found a new party. I bet he'd get voted to Prime Minister at the next election.
I'd vote him if I could.
I'd bust him out if I could.
Sengoku38 for prime minister of japan!!!
I want to see a samurai army, not because I believe that katana > guns but because it would instill pride in the Japanese people (and it would be fucking awesome ^^)
He's my hero!