The Science Council of Japan (SCJ) has passed a draft statement rejecting military research, it has been learned.
The decision was made during a board meeting at the SCJ on March 24. The draft was compiled by the organization's exploratory committee earlier in the month. Initially, the committee proposed that all SCJ members be allowed to vote on the issue during a general assembly scheduled for April 13, but the SCJ decided to pass the statement at the board meeting without referring it to the general assembly.
During the board meeting on March 24, opinions such as "this issue needs to be decided quickly," and "the issue could throw the general assembly into chaos," were heard, and subsequently, a final decision was made that day.
Speaking to the media after the board meeting, SCJ President Takashi Onishi stated, "Reaching a conclusion today was not exactly expected. However, as far as the SCJ is concerned, there is nothing inappropriate about this procedure."
Read the full story at The Mainichi