Fights often involve and harm people who have nothing to do with them. The TV hero Ultraman fights monsters to protect the peace of Earth, but in the process, numerous houses and buildings are destroyed. Innocent people might even lose their lives.
Is Ultraman Guilty?
Imagine this: A hardworking citizen finally builds their dream home after taking out a 30-year mortgage. A monster rampages through the city, but miraculously avoids their house. Just as they breathe a sigh of relief, Ultraman arrives and, before they can even scream “Please, no!”, their cherished home is obliterated—leaving nothing behind but unpaid debt.
So, is Ultraman guilty?
This is actually an old legal joke among law students. The prevailing theory suggests that Ultraman would indeed have a duty to compensate for damages. There’s also a similar debate: “Is Momotaro guilty?” The key legal question in that case is whether the demons (oni) have legal personhood. If not, Momotaro would be guilty of misappropriating unclaimed property rather than robbery.
From a legal standpoint, Ultraman might be guilty (liable for damages), but something about this still feels wrong. If Ultraman hadn’t shown up, the monster would have caused even greater destruction.
No matter how reckless Ultraman’s actions might seem—even if he unnecessarily destroyed a house, or if a newborn baby happened to be inside—we cannot condemn the very act of “monster extermination” itself.
To me, this reflects a leftist perspective on the issue. The best slogan encapsulating this idea is Mao Zedong’s “Revolution is not a crime.” However, this should not be misinterpreted as justification for taking any action in pursuit of a noble goal.
Next, let’s examine the fundamental purpose of leftist movements.
The Essence of Leftist Revolutions Is “Defense” (Why the Left Opposes Everything)
Leftist ideology is not about proposing national policies or deciding a country’s direction. I don’t even consider it “politics” in the conventional sense. Rather, it is a global-scale project. Many misunderstand this, leading to fruitless debates.
Communist thought is an internationalist ideology aimed at the total liberation of humanity. It focuses on human history itself. What we call “world history”—which is actually the history of class society—is just a fleeting transitional phase. And “Japanese history”? It’s merely a local chapter. This is why leftist ideology stands in direct opposition to nationalism.
That said, activists cannot ignore the harsh reality that their struggle often leads to suffering and death, sometimes in brutal ways. If an activist doesn’t struggle with this moral dilemma at least once, they cannot truly call themselves a leftist.
Therefore, revolution must fundamentally be “defensive” in nature.
Leftist ideology is a counter-ideology against capitalism. However, it must not become a struggle solely for the abstract realization of an ideology (= subjective belief). If leftists fight only for the theoretical realization of their own ideas, they become nothing more than arrogant idealists. This isn’t just a moral issue—it’s a practical one. Such movements would be seen as nothing more than a “political cult.” (Right-wing movements suffer from the same arrogance.)
This is where leftists differ fundamentally from opposition parties within the system (such as pro-constitution parties). Those parties aim to change leaders and policies while keeping the system intact. Leftists, however, aim to change the system itself.
That’s why leftists are not concerned with the specific policies of the current system. To be blunt, we don’t care about “Japan’s future” in the way policymakers do.
Revolutions must arise in response to the oppression and exploitation of the ruling class. Leftists must never define themselves by aggression. When an organized ideological movement becomes aggressive, it leads to disastrous consequences. Leftists should maintain a stance of defensive resistance—and it’s okay to be “against everything.”
Furthermore, leftists reject or ignore the concept of the “nation.” Even if a government provides its citizens with certain freedoms and economic security, if that security comes at the cost of mass slaughter in the Middle East or Asia, leftists will oppose it. From a global perspective, such resistance is a defensive war for the people.
Donations are made in Japanese yen. 300 yen is approximately 2 USD.
"Ask AI Kousuke!" Share your thoughts on this article.