Fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is a genius at forgetfulness.

In “A Study in Scarlet” by Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), Holmes says, “I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic.”

But only a fool would cram it with junk of every sort, so that when he really needs an item from the attic, he will not be able to find it, Holmes explains.

He then goes on to advise his sidekick, Dr. Watson: “Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.”

I suppose his point is that smart people are good at forgetting things. And this greatly surprises Dr. Watson.

Could it at all be possible that education minister Masahito Moriyama has been trying to emulate Holmes?

Moriyama has repeatedly insisted he had “no recollection” of receiving election campaign assistance from the Unification Church, now formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

But his signature is on a “policy agreement” he exchanged with the Federation for World Peace, an affiliate of the church. How very strange that he still “cannot really remember.”

Even if Moriyama’s words were to be taken at face value, that still would not mean he should just be forgiven for his lapse of memory.

As the Cabinet minister with jurisdiction over religious corporations, Moriyama should have been fully mindful of his relationship with the Unification Church and also made sure to refresh his memory as needed.

Every human thought originates from memory. If politicians pretend to have forgotten all inconvenient past realities, there can be no dialogue or discussion.

I am deeply worried that the ruin of our nation may well be what lies ahead of this “politics of oblivion.”

But at least, we, the people, do not want to forget. We will firmly commit to our collective memory the political farce that is now unfolding before our eyes.

And that memory will surely serve as what Holmes calls “useful facts” during the next election campaign.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 8

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.