 Tamogami, on November 3, 2008 confirmed that the essay accurately expressed his views on the war and Japan's role in it.He had already written a similar essay in May 2007 for an ASDF internal publication.On 13 November, prime minister Tarō Asō said Tamogami decision's to write this essay was "extremely inappropriate" and the government was wrong in having overlooked Tamogami's views for many years.