And since his sacking, it turns out that of the 230-odd aspiring writers of historical fiction, 78 were officers in Japan's airforce, most of them close to their general.
If the production line were kept open to make stripped-down versions of the stealth jet for Japan, the AirForce might try to buy some more of them for itself in the future.
Dennis Wilder, the National Security Council's senior director for Asia told reporters aboard AirForce One as President George W. Bush was on his way to Japan.