Constitution Day

May 3^rd is Constitution Day of Japan. The Constitution of Japan now upholds peace government by the provision of renouncing war, the Article 9. Current administration led by Shinzo Abe is trying to change the Constitution to let Japan a war-fighting country. It is no wonder if Japan is going to be an ordinary country which reserves its right to fight a war for its existence. One must not forget, however, that Japan invaded other countries and this administration is justifying that history. Even though Japan firmly renounces aggressive war, the historical fact is that no country started a war declaring “This is an aggressive war.” History repeats. One who supports Japanese constitutional amendment is responsible for future aggressive war.

Abe wants to make the amendment of Article 96 the core of campaign promise in the election of the House of Councillors this summer. His argument of lowering the hurdle for the amendment should be recognized as making the constitution soft. He appeals that the requirement of amendment needs to be simple majority in both Houses, instead of the two-thirds. If the amendment is approved by the legislative branch, the Constitution of Japan can be changed every couple of years.

The true target of the amendment is not about the Article 96, but the Article 9 that defines the pacifism of Japan. The Article 9 renounces war as a measure of solving international conflicts. Because there is the Article 9, the Japanese can be said as nation of pacifism. Just like German denied Adolf Hitler and his Nazi, Japan once dismissed war. That established Japan’s credibility as a non-aggressive country in the post-war era.

Foreign supporters of the amendment are mainly expecting more Japanese responsibility in international security. Pro-Japan specialists encourage Japan to be responsible for its own security, too. However, they ignore that Japan can take bigger role in international security without the constitutional amendment. By allowing exercise of collective defense right, which is now prohibited by former governmental guideline, Japan can broadly join international security measures.

One curious thing is there are a lot of supporters for the amendment in the United States. It is unclear how many Americans realize what is coming after the amendment. A wise man will understand the reason why the government of Japan would never let Tokyo Electric Power Company bankrupt. That is because Japan wants to maintain its nuclear technology. It must be adventurous for a nation that once dropped nuclear bombs to allow the nation that was suffered from that drops having greater nuclear technology. No one knows what will be the target of possible Japanese nuclear weapons.