A defence ministry spokesman says Air Self-defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami will be removed from the post. He spoke on Friday on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

Mr Tamogami wrote in an essay titled 'Was Japan an Aggressor Nation?' that it was 'a false accusation' to say Japan was 'an aggressor nation' during the war. He said Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, came as a result of a trap laid by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Mr Tamogami entered his essay in a writing competition and it won the top prize. Competition organiser Apa Group released the essay on Friday. -- AP