When I read former Vice Foreign Minister Ryohei Murata's remarks in the newspaper, disclosing a secret agreement on port visits by U.S. ships carrying nuclear weapons, I was excited and hopeful that there would be new developments on this issue.

Although I have not contacted Murata, it is obvious that he sacrificed his own interest in making those remarks. Civil servants are legally obliged to maintain the secrecy of information they have obtained in the course of performing their duties and this rule applies even after retirement. Penalties of up to one year's imprisonment can be imposed for violating this rule. It is evident that he chose to take the risk and tell the truth.

While such self-sacrifice is perhaps needed to change the government's rigid position over the years, I am disappointed that nothing has happened since the remarks were made.