Abe has chance to show true colors after big election win

While Abe is very nationalist for sure, reading some articles seems like the man is ready to say tomorrow "hey guys, come on and let's conquest the world".

Abe moved quickly to improve ties with China and South Korea at the start of his first 2006-2007 term but it is unclear whether he will repeat that success in his second. He has taken a tough stance toward Beijing in particular this time.

When China sets a preconditions to hold a bilateral meeting which Abe refused, the media labels this as tough stance towards Beijing.

The dumbing down of Japan has commenced in earnest. Pacifism should never be equated with being unpatriotic. That was how both Hitler and Stalin were able to isolate their stubborn individualists from the sheeple and then incarcerate or execute "the former as traitors or enemies of the state." The reemergence of the Liberal Democratic Party and the pruning and emasculation of all opposition parties will lead to demagoguery and a totalitarian culture. Five or six years of Abe spells W-A-R...another losing one for Japan and its people. Abenomics is just a flaccid cover for a blind power grab by Japanese elite and their banker friends intent on drugging us into submission and carving up the spoils of wars either won or lost.

Just because Japan wants a decent sized and normal national defense force doesn't mean that Japan is going to invade China, and Korea tomorrow. I don't get why people are so uptight about Article 9 being abolished? Abe is trying to be defensive here. Do people realize that with budget cuts in US, we won't be able to defend Japan forever as much as I would like to. Also, get this through your small minds: China threatens almost every neighbor of theirs. Japan shouldn't only do this for Japan, but for the region as a whole. Philippines agrees with what I'm saying. I'm sure India, Taiwan and Vietnam would too!!

Prime Minister Abe has repeatedly made remarks to deny the order of the post-war Japan which the United States helped build with Japan. Remarks such as "the comfort women were not forced" and "reviewing the Murayama discourse". The United States is provoked by such remarks.

Japan has a big chance to sell its domestic weapons. Btw everybpdy knpws that nobody wants war. Nobody but some folks in washington

The United States is provoked by such remarks.

Seriously?

Nobody but some folks in washington

Agree.

Richard Posner

You don't who Abe is.

@OGMGS1 - I agree with your comments with one exception, Abe himself. If he would focus the Article 9 efforts on the present and future, I think most would agree with Japan building up its defensive stance. However, the dolt continues to focus on the past, always framing his comments around WWII. Sheesh, why does he continue to do this? It only hurts the very objectives he is trying to achieve!

@OGMGS1 - I agree with your comments with one exception, Abe himself. If he would focus the Article 9 efforts on the present and future, I think most would agree with Japan building up its defensive stance. However, the dolt continues to focus on the past, always framing his comments around WWII. Sheesh, why does he continue to do this? It only hurts the very objectives he is trying to achieve!

I used to not understand this, but it comes down to this: What if the way you teach history has an effect on what people think about defence?

It sounds funny to a Westerner, but certainly China seems to believe it - it is one reason they are so loud about all this. After Tianamen, they not only needed to rebuild credibility, they needed to stop Japan from being a normal country, with military strength proportionate to economical.

And from my experience with Japanese, this is true. They come in sets: People who advocate the need for more defense are also relatively apologist about Japan's Imperial era. And you can look at Japan's candidates. Again we see this correlation.

And if we accept the views of the Japanese population is too pacifist for their own good, and that this view may have to do with their perception of history, what do you recommend?

Despite the hefty win, the strength of Abe’s mandate was diluted by low voter turnout. Media reported turnout was 52.61%, more than 5 percentage points below the turnout in the last upper house poll in 2010. That could keep up pressure to stay focused on the economy.

Despite the hefty win, the strength of Abe’s mandate was diluted by low voter turnout. Media said turnout was well below the 57.92% seen in the last upper house poll in 2010. That could keep up pressure to stay focused on the economy.

Don't you think we understood it the first time? Dejavu!

Japan is doomed

What was news today was LDP with 115 seats could NOT get the majority, which is 122 seats, in the Upper house by itself. LDP needs the help of Komeito which has 20 seats.

The 2/3 majority required for constitutional change is 162. Komeito is against constitutional change. The parties for the constitutional change are LDP(115), Your Party(18), and Ishin(9) , totaling 142. Constitutional change is unlikely unless unpredictable DPJ(59) changes its policy.

The 2/3 majority required for constitutional change is 162. Komeito is against constitutional change. The parties for the constitutional change are LDP(115), Your Party(18), and Ishin(9) , totaling 142. Constitutional change is unlikely unless unpredictable DPJ(59) changes its policy.

The taste of being a ruling coalition changed Komeito quite a bit. They're not totally against it for they are willing to compromise if there are additional articles included in the constitution. (加憲). Then you got some DPJ members who were for revision and are dying to remove themselves from DPJ come next election.

I never understood the 2/3 restriction on both houses. The flip side would be, if the simple majority of the population wants to revise, why such a 2/3 hurdle for the legislative body?

Anyone see the cheesy tv advert for his campaign? And he got it!

Constitutional change is unlikely unless unpredictable DPJ(59) changes its policy.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's unlikely, not by a long shot. The 2/3rds majority that Abe wanted was to be able to arbitrarily change Article 96 of the constitution which if he had his way, from a 2/3'rds majority needed to pass any proposed changes to a simple majority.

He could still very well push for changing Article 9, which is one of his ultimate goals, and there are members of the opposition parties as well that would like to see that change.

But even if he gets Article 9 changed in the Diet, there would still be a need for a national referendum which would only need a simple majority of the vote for the change to actually pass. But to Abe, with his current popularity standing where it is, he probably thinks that would be a given.

nigelboy

I never understood the 2/3 restriction on both houses. The flip side would be, if the simple majority of the population wants to revise, why such a 2/3 hurdle for the legislative body?

If there are majority group and minority group in a country, and if the constitution can be changed by majority, majority group can discriminate the minority group by changing the constitution. For example, blood type A people may propose a constitutional change that people with blood type A are superior to people with blood type B, and such propose may get majority support if people with blood type A act only by self interest. To protect minorities from the tyranny of majority, a constitution has super-majority clause in it.

I never understood the 2/3 restriction on both houses. The flip side would be, if the simple majority of the population wants to revise, why such a 2/3 hurdle for the legislative body?

To make constitutional changes difficult, plain and simple. The constitution of any nation should not be something that is easily tampered with, as it should be the basis of the country's law and what it stand for. Like CH3CHO noted it is necessary to protect the minorities from potential tyranny.

If Abe get's his way, Article 9 isn't the only change he envisions, he also wants to make changes to education, health and welfare, and make Japan a more nationalist leaning country.

While I personally believe Article 9 needs amending, the other proposed changes he has in mind are rather scary.

my only real concern about revising article 9 is that it's going to embolden those ultra-nationalists in the black vans. if you think they are annoying now blaring music, just wait until japan getsa real army.

my only real concern about revising article 9 is that it's going to embolden those ultra-nationalists in the black vans. if you think they are annoying now blaring music, just wait until japan getsa real army.

I actually think that they would become quieter, since they wouldn't feel the need to brainwash people into believing Japan needs an army. Besides Japan already has an army... they're just called the SDF.

@OGMGS1 - I agree with your comments with one exception, Abe himself. If he would focus the Article 9 efforts on the present and future, I think most would agree with Japan building up its defensive stance. However, the dolt continues to focus on the past, always framing his comments around WWII. Sheesh, why does he continue to do this? It only hurts the very objectives he is trying to achieve!

I don't like his stance on WWII either. I find it disturbing. However, that may just pure politics. He probably won't be able to undo Article 9 without saying that rhetoric. The vote for undoing Article 9 is going to be close!

Ha ha ha Hashimoto...Ishin no kai tanked.

This is the beginning of Japan's worst problems after its invasion of countries in Asia during the Second World War. This will be one of the greatest tragedies for Japan. Just remember that Abe threw the first stone and his LDP glass house will come crashing down soon. This one-sided and unnecessary continuous antagonism that Abe has been fanning will only bring more trouble for the ordinary people of Japan. To promote economic growth, employment generation, lowering of taxes, upgrading of social services are more important than political antagonism. Where the priority is for the latter Japan will suffer even more miserably under Abe than it has ever experienced since the end of the 2nd World War.

As long as he manages to fix the economy (which i don't think he will) all this other stuff is just noise. whatever they do to Article 9, not like Japan is about to invade anybody.

louis tanJul. 22, 2013 - 01:01PM JST This is the beginning of Japan's worst problems after its invasion of countries in Asia during the Second World War.

You do understand that Japan hasnt invaded anyone since WW II, right?

WW II eneded in 1945 and the year is 2013.

You need to put down your tainted PRC propaganda book and really take a look at a calender.

louis tanJul. 22, 2013 - 01:01PM JST This will be one of the greatest tragedies for Japan.

There you are incorrect again, the biggest tradegy for Japan was the JDP and luckly for Japan they are no more.

Oh, oh, oh!!! I got a new one!

Formula for Disaster: Abenomics = Abegeddon X Abecolypse = Total Abehilation

Bye-bye Japan...

Japanese PM His Excellency Abe, will be visiting the Philippines this weekend. The Philippines is a very weak country militarily yet very vocal against China in the South China Sea and not afraid of China.

Japan will be giving 2 not-so old ship (SHirotoko-Class) for free and will be selling 90-meter Large Patrol vessel to the Philippines at a VERY FRIENDLY PRICE of just 10 Million US Doillar per piece (through long-term loans without interest).

Japan is also considering selling 2 silent-electric submarines to Vietnam at a very friendly price.

I hope Japan thru Abe cabinet decide now to build GAS/OIL Field in the East China Sea because CHINA build new one oil well last week just 7 miles from their sea boundary recognized internationally.

Abe has chance to show true colors after big election

He did never really hide anything so those who voted for him, did it, knowing exactly the agenda.

Abe has chance to show true colors after big election win.

The above said it all. Japanese voters deserve what they get. Keep airports open as some will leave Japan for good. Same ole, same ole will be repeated. This country needs many structural reforms inside out.

If there are majority group and minority group in a country, and if the constitution can be changed by majority, majority group can discriminate the minority group by changing the constitution. For example, blood type A people may propose a constitutional change that people with blood type A are superior to people with blood type B, and such propose may get majority support if people with blood type A act only by self interest. To protect minorities from the tyranny of majority, a constitution has super-majority clause in it.

When talking about tyranny of majority, I always pictured a super majority population imposing their will on a small minority.

Most laws in this country were passed based on simple majority so I don't really understand such simple concept is completely disregarded in the legislative body. Does it mean the amendment of the constitution should be taken lightly so that all it needs is a simple majority from both houses? No. The extra "hurdle" which is different from all national laws is that the passage requires a national referendum. This is more than enough, IMO.