So Divided in Two

With the leadership enthusiastic in changing the Constitution anyhow, Japan is sharply divided as a nation. Radical conservatives for amendment who were frustrated with “coerced” Constitution welcomed the announcement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for scheduling of amendment as unusual determination of incumbent Premier for discarding the dishonorable supreme law. Supporters for Constitution of Japan warned infringement of democracy based on broad discussion by the majority of uninformed citizens. Not for saving society from immigrants or religious strangers, but for maintaining modern democracy Japan is divided in two.

On the Constitution’s Day, the attendance of a rally hosted by “National Meeting for Making Beautiful Japanese Constitution,” an organization led by conservative Japan Conference, and Temporary Private Research Committee for Constitution were encouraged by the video message from Abe that defined 2020 as the year for activating new constitution and changing Article 9 of current constitution. One of the radical leaders and a journalist, Yoshiko Sakurai, appealed that they needed to be integrated to amend Constitution of Japan in the time when security framework was diastrophically changing and United States as the protector of Japan or China had been changed.

National Conference for Making New Constitution, traditional group of amenders originally presided by former Premier and Abe’s grandfather Nobusuke Kishi, also cerebrated active movement for the amendment. “There has been no such a Prime Minister eager to the amendment as Abe. This is the time for it,” told a lawmaker with Liberal Democratic Party, Yoshitaka Sakurada. LDP lawmakers are overwhelmingly flattering about Abe’s leadership.

Against advance of the amenders, there is a growing concern among ordinary people, feeling uneasiness on political maneuvers of Abe administration seen in legislating designated secrecy law, reinterpretation of Article 9 for exercising collective self-defense right or introducing crime of conspiracy. “I feel a little hastened, being told that new constitution will be activated in 2020. Because it affects the generation of our children, we need more time for understanding or discussion,” told honorable president of an idol group Uniform Improvement Committee, Mika Hashimoto.

Experts of constitution study realize Abe’s abrupt message as excessive use of power of the executive branch. While the Commission on the Constitution in each House has not entered into Article 9, Abe announced his opinion about it, overturning his attitude to leave the discussion on what provision should be changed to the Diet. “Abe had to announce that in the Diet first, and then he should have press conference,” told Professor Emeritus of Rikkyo University, Takaaki Hattori.