Constitution 70 Years Old

Constitution of Japan cerebrated on Wednesday its seventieth anniversary from its activation in 1947. Some argue that the Constitution is too obsolete to handle a lot of contemporary issues unexpected seventy years ago. Others are still confident in efficiency of current Constitution, which includes basic principles like respecting human rights, people’s sovereignty and pacifism. For some reasons, current Japanese Prime Minister does not pay respect to Constitution of Japan.

Newspapers raised the topics related to Constitution at the top news of front page on Wednesday. Yomiuri Shimbun, a firm supporter for amendment, reported an interview to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who intended to activate amended Constitution in 2020. “We need to make 2020, the year of Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic, a momentum for Japan to reborn,” told Abe in the interview. Although his term as President of Liberal Democratic Party will be expired in September 2018, Abe expects to be reelected and go forward to amending Constitution.

He was ambitious to change Article 9, which was fundamental basis for Japan’s unique pacifism. He argued that nine out of ten Japanese people were confident in sincere efforts of Self-defense Force, while most scholars in constitution studies regarded JSDF unconstitutional. “In growing tension over North Korean issue, it is too much irresponsible for us to ask them sacrifice of life, even if it would be unconstitutional,” said Abe. The fact is that not so much scholars unequivocally argue unconstitutionality of JSDF and it is wrong for a political leader to order JSDF risking their lives for unconstitutional causes.

Asahi Shimbun reported an exclusive story that Showa Emperor Hirohito approved the draft of Constitution of Japan a few months before the activation in 1947. Asahi located its editorial on the top page, which criticized Abe administration of undermining Constitution of Japan. “What Abe administration is in short of is humbleness to the accumulated policies of former administrations and, to say more, respect to Constitution itself,” argued Asahi.

Mainichi Shimbun reported changes of the view to Constitution in young generation. It raised a tendency that six out of ten students support constitutional argument, while four out of ten support current Constitution. “Supporters of Constitution have basis of absolute opposition to war, while amenders are sensitive to changes in real world,” analyzed Professor of Tokyo Metropolitan University, Koichi Taniguchi. Mainichi ran an article of the Head of Editorial Writers that required the people in Japan to enhance people’s sovereignty against consecutive maneuvers of Abe administration.