James Auer 1941-2024

Washington, May 17-James Auer, a former U.S. Department of Defense official for Japan affairs, died in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday at the age of 82, informed sources said.

He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease. Auer, an expert on Japan, worked in the East Asian country for a long period of time.

Born in Minnesota in 1941, Auer joined the U.S. Navy in 1963. He served as the Operations Officer aboard the USS DeHaven DD-727 from 1966-68. We went on to serve as head of the department's Japan policy office from 1979 to 1988. After leaving the Pentagon, Auer worked as professor at Vanderbilt University. In 1988, he set up the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies at the university.

Auer received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, a Japanese government honor, in 2008.

He actively made proposals to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, such as releasing "The Postwar Rearmament of Japanese Maritime Forces, 1945-1971," a book detailing the history of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and issues facing the MSDF.

A Word From His Shipmates:

JAMES E. AUER
GENTLEMAN, DEVOTED HUSBAND, LOVING FATHER
NAVAL OFFICER, SHIP CAPTAIN, POLICY MAKER, SCHOLAR, PROFESSOR

THE BEDROCK OF UNITED STATES SECURITY RELATIONS WITH JAPAN

James Edward Auer loved God, his wife, and his children.  A true American patriot, Dr. Auer (Jim among friends and family) also loved the United States, the U.S. Navy, and Japan, in that order.

He hailed from Minnesota and grew up in Milwaukee. After graduating from Marquette University, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1963, a path that would lead him to become the founding policy visionary of U.S.-Japan security relations. Dr. Auer spent years in Japan with the Navy, commanding two ships home-ported there, and was the first U.S. Navy officer to study at the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Staff College.

Dr. Auer – in 1973 – wrote a Praeger Special Study in International Politics The Postwar Rearmament of Japanese Maritime Forces, 1945-1971, based on his PhD dissertation at the Fletcher School. It was also published in Japanese. This book had an important and relevant-for-today forward by Admiral Arleigh Burke, retired U.S. Chief of Naval Operations.  His research in Japan led him to close friendships and mutual respect with the Japanese Navy that continued throughout his life, to include the naming his first of three adopted children after two distinguished Japanese admirals.

Dr. Auer’s significant duty station was in the Pentagon, Office of the Secretary of Defense, as Special Assistant for Japan. When President Reagan’s team entered the Pentagon in 1981, he was immediately recognized as invaluable by his new bosses, a young 35-year-old former Senate staffer named Rich Armitage, and James Kelly, both of whom had served in the Navy and later became senior diplomats.

During the Cold War, Japan was an afterthought to senior officials, who relied on Dr. Auer implicitly for advice and words to write and speak. All senior Pentagon leaders’ speeches and remarks on Japan were drafted by Dr. Auer, and almost all were spoken as he had written. When Japan was considering breaking the 1% of GDP policy, Japan officials called Dr. Auer to ask him what the Secretary of Defense would say if it was decided and announced. He thought for a minute and then wrote and read to them what the Secretary would say. With confidence in this on-the-spot drafted statement, Japan decided to break the barrier. When it was announced the next day, Secretary Weinberger’s statement was exactly as Dr. Auer said it would be.

U.S. security policy toward Japan – before Dr. Auer – was based on senior U.S. officials asking – or demanding – Japan to “do more”. Under Dr. Auer, security policy more successfully emphasized and encouraged Japan’s own set of security goals, which would grow to be very supportive of the Japan - U.S. relationship.

Dr. Auer decided to leave Washington in 1988 to move to his wife’s family farm near Nashville. He did this for his family, and then governor of Tennessee Lamar Alexander urged Dr. Auer to set up a Japan-related center at Vanderbilt University. He founded the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies and Cooperation and served as the Center’s leader while a professor and lecturer at Vanderbilt for more than twenty years. The Center’s signature event was the annual U.S.-Japan Technology Forum, which led to increased technology exchange and cooperation between the U.S. and Japan that we are seeing the fruits of today.

In 2006, Dr. Auer edited an English language edition Who Was Responsible?, a groundbreaking two-volume study by the Yomiuri Shimbun, a major Japan newspaper, of Japan’s disastrous 1931-1945 war. No such critical analysis had been done in Japan at that time.

In 2008 Dr. Auer was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon by the Japanese Government in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and the United States.

In 2016 Dr. Auer was awarded the prestigious Sankei Newspaper Seiron Taisho award, as the 31st recipient and only non-Japanese to receive it. Prime Minister Abe gave congratulatory remarks.

Dr. Auer accomplished a lot in his life, but he always gave credit to others. He was a gentleman in the classic sense of the word, with gracious dignity, a ready smile, and modest demeanor. Americans and Japanese that Dr. Auer worked with may have sometimes disagreed with him, but all of them, from leaders to peers to subordinates, liked him. He was beloved and respected by his students at Vanderbilt University. In particular, he had a special bond with all the fellows who studied under him at the Center, and he loved them very much. They, along with all those whom Dr. Auer touched, carry on his legacy.

If Jim were with us right now, he would say that all of the above is ok, but the most important event of his life was marrying Judith Manning. Judy was a school teacher in Yokosuka whom he met in Tokyo in 1978 and married one year later.  She was intelligent, kindhearted, and warm, and Jim was grateful for her every day of his life. He frequently said she was the reason he could do what he did, and he loved her dearly. Judy was his best friend, a thoughtful hostess, a wonderful mother and grandparent. All who knew Judy believed she was special.

Jim is survived by his three children, musician Teiichiro, educator and care assistant Helen, U.S. Marine Major John Ed, and five grandchildren, Noah, Sophia, Charlotte, Lydia, and Violet.

Written by:
Richard Armitage, James Kelly, Torkel Patterson

I am deeply saddened by the loss of James Auer. A true and honorable officer who brought joy and memories into my my life. His warmth and strength was appreciated by all those who worked in the “OI” division. His courage and dedication will never be forgotten. He instilled a degree of camaraderie for those who served with him. Jim’s leadership and kindness has left an indelible mark on my soul. His dedication, courage and sacrifice will forever sail in my heart. Fair winds and following seas to this gentle and honorable commander.

Don Kovacs RD3 66’- 68’