his intention to deploy the Japan Self-Defense Forces as part of the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghanistan if he ever assumes power in the new cabinet. The article was published as a rebuttal to a UN political officer who criticised Ozawa's position to oppose Japan's continual support of the maritime interdiction forces in the Indian Ocean. The article was published with the intent to provide a viable alternative to the government's plan to continue stationing the Maritime Defense Forces for logistical support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. However, faced with mounting criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, Ozawa later softened his statement and explained that his intent was to deploy the GSDF (Ground Self-Defense Forces) for logistical support of the civilian component of ISAF, presumably suggesting the PRT or Provincial Reconstruction Team which is a civil-military cooperation unit that works on reconstruction efforts in the provincial areas of Afghanistan. On 24 February 2008, he stated that only the United States Seventh Fleet should be based in Japan. His remarks drew criticism from members of both the LDP and DPJ. Christianity In November 2009, while visiting the president of the Japan Buddhist Federation, Ozawa declared that Christianity is an "exclusive and self-righteous religion" and that "European and U.S. societies with a background of Christianity are bogged down". He also stated that Islam "is better than Christianity but it is also exclusive." Personal life Ozawa married Kazuko Fukuda, the daughter of a wealthy Tanaka supporter. With Kazuko, Ozawa fathered three sons who were raised in Iwate Prefecture. In June 2012, the magazine Shukan Bunshun published a letter from Kazuko stating that the couple would divorce, alleging that "Ozawa ran away with his secretaries because of fear of radiation" in the wake of the Fukushima disaster of March 2011. References Further reading Ichirō Ozawa as an Actor in Japan's Foreign Policy Making From the DPJ for English readers Ichirō Ozawa, Blueprint for a New Japan: The Rethinking of a Nation; Introduction by US Senator John D. Rockefeller IV; Kodansha, Hardcover, Inner links The Nobel Peace Prize for Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution External links |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- 1942 births Living people People from Tokyo Nihon University alumni Keio University alumni Democratic Party of Japan politicians Government ministers of Japan Japanese Zen Buddhists Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians Liberal Party (Japan,