By Hiroaki Konno
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On October 26, Shosei Koda was kidnapped in Iraq and the militant group that abducted him surfaced on the Internet. A dead body was found in Baghdad on October 30, and it was confirmed that it was Koda's body on the following day. The Japanese government did not have any information on the incident except for the name of the criminal group, "Al|Qaeda Organization of Holy War of Mesopotamia." This organization is the Islamic Sunni militant group which is the main terrorist group in Iraq that kidnaps and beheads foreign nationals. It is headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The Japanese government revealed its frailty on the networks in the combat area because the government depended on the American Army for information. The Diet will oppose the Koizumi administration concerning the dispatch of the Self Defense Forces to Iraq.
How does this hostage incident compare to the one which arose in April? Koda was an energetic young man but he lacked an awareness of the dangers. Of course he should have taken the minimal precautions for his itinerary in Iraq and have worn clothes adapted to Islam. As for the government, is it its sole responsibility to take some action when Japanese citizens are abducted? The government has already banned Japanese citizens from going into Iraq. If it has to tighten this ban, it will need to enforce punishment for going. This could lead to dogmatism and totalitarianism. The government has no power to deter individuals from going to Iraq.
There are many young people in Japan who wish to travel abroad as a tourist like Koda because, unlike in Japan, they think that they can be of help there. Thanks to the great exertion of former generations, Japan has one of the highest economic levels in the world after being defeated in WW . Yet young people who have no self-identities are increasing. For example, they lead their lives as free-lance part-time workers, and some hate the social structure which thinks highly of organizations in preference to one's individual personality, or some are hateful for being just another expendable person in Japanese society.
It is impossible to mention all the younger generation's life styles. It may be that Koda was among those who were dissatisfied with Japan. Therefore, he was engaged in some volunteer activities and was committed to finding his own way in the world. But his further eagerness led to this tragedy in the end. It is plausible to think one individual going into a country under conditions such as in Iraq is extremely imprudent. Most people interviewed on TV for their thoughts about him on the street could not agree with his action. It's because they thought that taking a trip to Iraq because of one's curiosity is inconsiderate to Iraqi citizens and it is egotistic.
However, there are still many young people who do not have self-identities in Japan. That is, it is possible for them to become another Japanese civilian victim like Koda. And the government has no means to stop them. In order to avoid such a future tragedy, we should consider what young people should do in Japan instead of going to Iraq. We also need to consider the policies for Iraq. People going to combat areas like members of SDF have a reason to go there. ItÕs not where a tourist should enter.
Also, young people ought to find their self-identities by communicating and comparing with the older generation to learn other viewpoints-not by leading their days egotistically and doing just what they want to do. There is a need to survey everything around us to discern the good things and the bad things because we live easy lives. Young people should have definite reasons for what they are doing now or what they will do in the future. Having questions in daily life will help young people find their self-identities. After doing this, the younger generation can reconsider the status of Japan in the world and the status of themselves in society. The role of the younger generation is to live in this society and direct its future in the right way.