I certainly don't agree with Tamogami's view of history, but I do believe that in a democracy that values freedom of speech, everyone should have the right to state his opinion without fear of reprisals. That said, if the general had committed any crimes, violated regulations, etc., then sacking him would have been all right. Firing him simply for his opinion is unacceptable.
His opinion may be stupid and may even violate the simplest historic facts, but he still has a right to it. Basically, if one wants to appear stupid, he or she has the right to be so.
Of course, China welcomed Tamogami's firing; after all, China has no democracy or freedom of speech, compared to Japan. This incident was resolved in ways that are normal only in Germany and Austria, where freedom of speech was curtailed several decades ago. If I were to deny that the Holocaust happened, I could be imprisoned. But if I were to worship Josef Stalin or Mao Zedong -- two mass murderers far worse than Hitler and Imperial Japan put together -- no criminal action would be taken against me.
I would say, then, that by firing the general the Japanese government violated his right to free speech.
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