James E Auer, Beacon of Insights and Perspective

Japan Forward

16-07-2025

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On a beautiful morning with calm seas and dry skies, the Minesweeper Tender JS Bungo sailed out of the port of Maizuru along the Sea of Japan. It carried the family of James E Auer and a wide array of friends on a mission to commit the remainder of Dr Auer's ashes at sea.
Following a memorial evening of speeches on July 11, a full array of American Naval and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) officers, trumpets, helicopters and salutes accompanied the scholar and former US naval officer to his final resting place. It was the first-ever joint ceremony and burial at sea of an American for both the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy.
Dr James E Auer (1941–2024) was a United States Navy officer and scholar who devoted his life to deepening Japan-US relations. He was widely respected as a leading authority who devoted his life to deepening mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations. As well, he was the first non-Japanese to publicly support this website, JAPAN Forward, and its mission to convey real news and unfiltered opinions from Japan to the world in English. The final celebration of his life was fitting to the way he lived. James Auer's children, Frank Teichiro Auer, Helen Auer Girard, and John Ed Auer, grandchildren Noah, Sophia, Charlotte and Lydia Auer and son-in-law Nathan Girard, with officers of the JS Bungo (in the background).
As a young naval officer, Auer had been the first American international student accepted by the JMSDF Command and Staff College. The school is equivalent to America's Naval War College. Later, committed to strengthening the Japan-US alliance, he also found time to reciprocate that opportunity by personally mentoring more than 100 Japanese students. Many came through the Center for US–Japan Studies and Cooperation at Vanderbilt University, which Auer created.
Today, those students are leaders in Japanese politics, security, education, journalism, and other fields. Several can be found in the Maritime Self-Defense Force itself. As Admiral Akira Saito stated in remarks aboard the JS Bungo , Dr Auer's insights and perspectives "had an impact not only on academia but also on actual policy formation, which still continues to be a beacon for us all."
In the final months of his life, Dr Auer allowed a last interview with scholars Yozo Naotsuka and Hidemi Nagao. We are pleased to present that interview as a tribute to his continuing influence on Japan-US relations.
ー Editorial Team, JAPAN Forward James E Auer (©Frank Teichiro Auer)
My first assignment after graduation from Marquette University was as a naval officer. I was assigned to a US minesweeper, home-based in the city of Sasebo near Nagasaki. I was aware that the Japanese military had formally been disestablished following the Japanese surrender in 1945, and I had noticed that the JMSDF, established in 1952, was a very small force. But it did include some minesweepers and I was interested to find out more about it.
Despite the small number of politicians who were willing to discuss defense issues with the United States or within Japan itself, Naka Funada was an exceptional case, who had made his views known that it was very important for Japan to have a close relationship with the United States. He also was unique in that he was about the same age as Emperor Hirohito and one of the few people in Japan who could speak to the Emperor and offer him opinions.
Funada did not lobby for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. However, his views were respected by the Japanese interested in defense. And given his higher position within Japanese society, his efforts were extremely well considered.
[Article X of the Japan-US Security Treaty signed in 1960 contains a proviso that "after the Treaty has been in force for 10 years, either Party may give notice to the other Party of its intention to terminate the treaty, in which case the Treaty shall terminate one year after such notice has been given."
On this proviso, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Research Commission on Security was divided in 1965 through 1967 as to revising the Treaty or automatically extending it. In June 1968, Funada, as chairman of the commission, officially made public his opinion to support the automatic extension, which settled the arguments.]
The value of homeporting a US carrier in Japan started in 1973 and continues to the present. It was and remains tremendously significant. This was a visible signal that the US supported Japan and its democratic allies. Yet the United States cannot act alone. Bringing Australia, Japan, and India into a closer relationship for democracy would enhance this insurance beyond anything else that the non-democratic countries might attempt to create in opposition.
If the coalition of Australia, Japan, and the United States is strong, the economic and other problems in the non-democratic countries will not become as dangerous as they would be without this cooperative relationship of democracies Ichiro Masuoka, also known as "Mr Navy" joins Dr Auer (©Yozo Naotsuka)
Ineligible by childhood disease, Ichiro Masuoka was unable to follow his father into the Japanese Imperial Navy. Instead, he became a civilian staff member in the House of Representatives of the National Diet. During his service in the 1960's and 1970's, one of the most powerful LDP members, Naka Funada, became Speaker of the House of Representatives. He served for three terms and Masuoka became Funada's personal secretary.
For the next 10 to 15 years, together with a US naval officer named Jim Auer stationed in Japan, Mr Masuoka organized the development of information sharing and enhanced the security exchange network between the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and the US Navy in Japan. Few were willing to speak out about the need for close cooperation between the US and Japan from the Japanese political side. That cooperation was vital for international stability.
In a series of intensive off-the-record discussions, Funada told numerous American leaders that he believed the US needed the 1960 security treaty between the two countries. He emphasized this was not a luxury for the United States, whereas, for Japan, it was absolutely necessary. Japan needed American support to survive.
Funada told American Admiral Julian Burke, Commander of US Naval Forces Japan, not to worry that such a US request might be rejected. He said the United States should ask the Japanese leaders for what was absolutely necessary and " Never back down ." Masuoka Park in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, near the US Naval Base where Dr Auer was also based for several years. (©Yozo Naotsuka)
During an evening social function hosted by the Speaker at his official residence Funada asked the US ambassador and his deputy to step aside in a private room. He said that the new Prime Minister of Japan, Kakuei Tanaka, was a very talented man. However, he did not know a lot about national security. Funada said he told the Ambassador earlier that day, he met with the Prime Minister who told him that he now understood how important an aircraft carrier based in Japan could be.
Prime Minister Tanaka said that Japan could not order the United States to do this. However, Japan would say "I agree, please do so" if the US requested Japan's opinion.That began the relationship between the US and Japan to homeport the USS Midway, the first aircraft carrier based outside the United States. In earnest, Admiral Dennis Blair who commanded all US forces in the Pacific, lauded Masuoka's efforts and announced the decision to rename the US carrier pier as "Masuoka Pier."
Although some were skeptical that this action would be successful, it has now continued for 50 years with a carrier rotating out every five years or so. It is not too much of an exaggeration to say that the increased joint effort between the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy resulted in victory without bloodshed in the Pacific, when the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s. Mr Masuoka's role in achieving these results is the reason why there is a marker and a park bearing his name.
His widow, Yoko Masuoka, stated that he could not speak in his final moments, but showed discomfort and expressed his desire for paper and pen. His final words were, "Jim Auer, tough man."
The opening of communist China to the world was naive rather than a huge mistake. The belief was that a non-communist China would become a normal and reasonable player in the world economy. What went wrong is that rather than moving in the direction of economic cooperation, China tried to break off and become the largest military power in the world. If China succeeds in this direction, it could be said that opening to communist China was a huge mistake. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulates James E Auer and his wife at the 31st Seiron Award Ceremony on March 7, 2016. (©Sankei)
All leaders and scholars are accountable for policies that they author. Civilian leaders and scholars are responsible for policies that lead to bad consequences. The reality of civilians and scholars in control of the military will not change. It should not change. But that does not mean that leaders are not to be held accountable and vice versa. If civilians and leaders are not held accountable, the public will not be well informed as to how wise policy can be strengthened and hopefully guaranteed.
The US and Japan share an equal appreciation of the importance of the alliance. There is significant integration of ideas now that should continue in the future.
The US and Japan could further strengthen their alliance by coordinating domestic and foreign policy, especially regarding hostile countries. For almost 200 years, with the exception of the tragedy of 1941 to 1945, the US and Japan have been close friends and partners based on their common understanding of the need to keep peace in Pacific Ocean and the economic center of the world. Many of those attending the joint memorial service were also former students of Dr Auer. (©Japan Forward)
Future generations should celebrate their successes and being partners, despite many differences in language, culture, history, etc. That common culture results from cooperation in the Pacific Ocean and prosperity in the Pacific Ocean. It should be strengthened rather than ever allowed to deteriorate.
Interview by: Yozo Naotsuka and Hidemi Nagao
Yozo Naotsuka is a Japanese businessman and advocate of cross-cultural engagement living in the United States. Hidemi Nagao is a former US Navy Public Affairs Officer in Japan. He is also the author of Scenario for Japan's Fortification (The USS MIDWAY Homeporting to Japan) and Permanent U.S.–Japan Alliance. Both volumes examine the strategic evolution of postwar Japan–US security cooperation.
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