When the Defense Agency was upgraded to a full ministry in January, after decades of subordinate status since its establishment in 1954, 2007 was supposed to be a landmark year for defense bureaucrats and the Self-Defense Forces.
But Toshio Tamogami, top Air Self-Defense Force commander, said 2007 ended up being merely one he wants to "forget" — a year studded with incessant scandals and embarrassments involving the ministry and the SDF.
For one, there is the high-profile collusion scandal that has led to the arrest of former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya for allegedly exercising influence over defense equipment contracts.