Abe hopes to win cross-party support on proposed constitutional change

But Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the LDP's junior coalition ally Komeito, said on the program there had been insufficient parliamentary discussions on the issue.

Abe would love to have this go through with NO discussion, he knows what's best for everybody, and is only saying this for appearances sake alone.

On North Korea, Abe said it is positive that North Korea has expressed its intention to take part in next month's Winter Olympic Games in South Korea, but he reiterated there is no change to Japan's policy of increasing pressure on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear and missile ambitions.

As for a dispute over Korean women who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels, the prime minister again urged Seoul to maintain and implement a December 2015 agreement aimed at resolving the issue.

Running out of space? This topic alone deserves it's own article. If any poster made a comment like this it would be removed as being off topic in relation to the title of the article.

Many here want Japan not to change the "peace constitution" while their countries have the "war (allowing) constitution."

Many here want Japan not to change the "peace constitution" while their countries have the "war (allowing) constitution."

I wish my country (and all countries) would switch to a peace constitution.

Though I doubt I'll ever find someone who agrees with changing the constitution, I'm sure the media will report that all Japanese support this move.

Schopenhauer, China has peace constitution, as many other nations do. In fact, China and Japan have peace treaty too, declares that both nations will resolve conflicts peacefully, without using forces. China never threatens Japan with wars, Japan never threatened China with wars until 5 years ago when Abe comes to be PM of Japan. Abe explicitly demands US to apply article 5 on the disputed Senkaku Islands, against promises to Chinese people and against Japanese constitution, and against Sino-Japan treaty, and against UN charters.

Chinese people and Japanese must unite against Abe on using war as tool to resolve conflicts. There are stones in both China and Japan that marks and declares that forever, there is no war between two people and two nations.

Akie-san

China has peace constitution? I did not know that. Did not they have fights against Russia, India and other countries about territories?

Self defense is allowed. Japan can do the same thing if is invaded.

I do not think we can do the same thing as China does.

Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Such a beautiful Article 9. Why would Abe want to change it while Chinese people want to defend it ?

Our peace constitution is a very, very good constitution trusting good heart of people of the world. But as Abe calls it an "occupation constitution," we cannot deny the constitution also apparently aimed at stripping Japan of any military power for ever depending the defense of the country to U.S. Forces.

Japan and China have 3000 years relationship without being occupied, without any constitutions and treaties. As long as Japan and China follow Confucian way of life, there will be no chances for war.

Japan is capable now of a vigorous defence. Japan holds no real value as an occupation target, imports over 50% of its foods, minimal natural resources and an aged population. Article 9 is a personal affront to the minority right wingers, and the other changes mooted are to enshrine the states lordship over the masses.

its a very dark tunnel we are heading down due to personal agendas that have no benifit for the population they proport to represent. I can only pray Abes hopes are as useful as his Urges, pledges and arrows.

The pro-revision camp mustn’t forget that the most important issue the government must tackle nowadays is what to do about the perennial U.S. military presence that is a seamless carryover from the postwar Occupation era. They don't seem to realize the occupation is still continuing to this day, albeit in disguised form.

Trying to amend the constitution, while letting the virtual occupation run its course, is schizophrenic and myopic. The U.S. side is eagerly waiting for the day to come when SDF forces can fight global wars along with U.S. forces.

So straighten out this virtual occupation of Japan (Okinawa) by the U.S. forces first of all  There should be no stirring up of a constitutional amendment, Mr. Prime Minister.

I hope that Japan can keep its pacifist constitution, I wish that the Prime Minister was more centrally positioned, and while don't think any one is guilty for the actions of their forefathers think Abe is an inappropriate choice for leader of Japan.. This being said...

What should be done about the current situation, yes US isn't helping the situation but NK didn't suddenly get all this tech since the last POTUS was elected, it is a long and calculated build up. NK has directly said Japan is a target multiple times. China continues to push its presence further and further, more aggressively, while holding the olive branch of economic assistance and trade agreements in one hand continues unprecedented military build up with the other behind its back.

Akie, the China apologist, so as long as Japan always agrees with China then no need for conflict right.... and China is always right in your opinion and because Japan was once wrong it is always?

Voiceofokinawa, I do feel its a shame that Okinawa bares the large part of the burden of the US military presence but I ask in all honesty what other solution is there?

China, is growing increasingly aggressive territorially, again pushing their presence around those islands near Ishigaki-jima in just the last day, while I don't see a mainland invasion as a possibility anytime soon the restriction of resources and the eating away at the boarders of Japan's territory is not only possible but I would say likely without the ability to keep China in check.

If Abe wants to release Japan from occupation status he can ask Trump to take out

the US soldiers here in Japan. All of them. Trump will say yes. But that will not happen.

The revision plan is for Abe's grandfather, not for the Japanese people. Japan has

no real need to change the document that has made Japan a success since the end of

WW2. Like almost everything Abe does, this too is a charade. The NK kidnap victims.

a charade, Abenomics, a charade, women in business, a charade and the dire NK threat,

a charade as well. It is amazing he stays in power since he basically is a total failure.

Japanese voters are far too kind to their leaders. And, of course, Abe is corrupt as

we learned last year.

NZ2011, Ideally, there should be no borders between Japan and China. Japanese people and Chinese people lived harmonically for thousands of years without territorial dispute till Japan "learned" from the West the concept of "modern".

I can assure you that if Japan followed Confucian teaching, there would be no war between Japan and China in the past 100 years. Border is not a Chinese thing until recent 200 years that everyone wanted to have a bite of China.

Japan has to be fully in good faith with China, no other choices. It is not wise to be against China, and Japan has no capacity to do that either. Abe is bluffing to announce his quadrilateral strategy. All Abe can do is to be used by others. China doesn't care Abe at all if he isn't a PM of Japanese people. Being a PM, Abe shouldn't hurt the relationships and feelings between two people, and he has no authority to do that either.

The problem is, that if and when it reaches the referendum stage the LDP has such a hard core base especially of voters over 50 years of age, plus the demographics of the voting system, Abe thinks he will be able to comfortably win the referendum. During the last election the younger voter turnout was only 45%, so he's probably hoping a similar turnout. I only hope the media will turn against the government and aggressively inform the people of Japan the truths of what the possibilities could be.

A dodgy estate facilitater agent selling pushing another dodgy deal on a clueless population.

During the last election the younger voter turnout was only 45%, so he's probably hoping a similar turnout.

Constitutional change does not count the turnout, but the entire population.

I have yet to meet one single Japanese person who wants the change in Kansai, (however I sometimes see a speaker truck or two complete with two people each). Wonder who invents the statistics presented on NHK?

Japan sometimes reminds me of some baby boomers who relies on their parents for support and security.  And as long as they continue to have that support, they will not make any earnest effort to be independent and stand on their own two feet.

Japan enjoys protection under the "U.S. military umbrella" and relies on the U.S. to deal with the North Korea and China problem in the Senkaku Islands and the Russian problem in the Kuril Islands.

But when the U.S. voluntarily scale back its military presence or vacates Japan altogether, then Japan will have no choice but to modify that Article 9 restriction and build up its military forces equivalent to current U.S. military forces' capability and deal with North Korea, China and Russia on its own. 

Voiceofokinawa, I do feel its a shame that Okinawa bares the large part of the burden of the US military presence but I ask in all honesty what other solution is there? 

So long as Okinawa is a Japanese prefecture, then it will have to continue, at the order of the Japan central government, and pursuant to the defense treaty between Japan and U.S., to host the U.S. military where necessary. 

IF Okinawa wants to solve its problems by demanding the removal of U.S. military presence, then here's the solution:

Okinawa should hold a referendum and vote to secede from Japan as a Japanese prefecture and declare itself an independent and sovereign country.

As an independent country, Okinawa will no longer be subservient to Japan and the U.S. 

Okinawa can declare all agreements between Japan and U.S., where Okinawa is concerned, are null and void. It can further declare there are no treaties or agreements between the "People's Republic of Okinawa" (or whatever Onaga & comrades wants to calls itself) and the U.S., and therefore, all U.S. military presence and U.S. military bases are on Okinawa illegally.

Then Okinawa, as an independent and sovereign nation, can demand the removal of U.S. and Japanese military presence and bases.

Of course that leaves Okinawa wholly responsible for its own security defense. 

China, is growing increasingly aggressive territorially, again pushing their presence around those islands near Ishigaki-jima in just the last day, while I don't see a mainland invasion as a possibility anytime soon the restriction of resources and the eating away at the boarders of Japan's territory is not only possible but I would say likely without the ability to keep China in check.

Hmm....I wonder if @Akie considers China's increasing military expansionism actions, particularly in the China Seas, consistent with "Confucian teaching"? 

What keeps China from moving in aggressively to occupy and building a military base on the Senkaku Island is U.S. military and JDF presence on Okinawa. Also, there are indications that China will invade and annex Taiwan, which is also in close proximity to Okinawa. And what's to keep China, after U.S. military is removed from the region, from once again claiming the Ryukyu Islands as its own?  With China controlling the entire China Seas region, it will no doubt have an impact on Japan's national security.

I'm all for this! It strikes me as crazy that, in such an unpredictable and hostile environment that japan finds its self that the ability to adequately and justifiably defend itself against threats to its shores and people is being played up as a as some kind of return to the ultra militant ways of the 1930s and 40s.

Does anyone seriously believe that by changing article 9 and formally allowing a military force, japan will suddenly decide to embark on a policy of empire building and conquest across Asia again! This is nothing but a tidying up exercise to try and repair a flawed constitutional point imposed by a occupying force almost 70 years ago!

People who moan about it will be the first to complain if japan is attacked and no response is given. Its not militarism is common sense!

If I could vote for it would! Its about time!

He won't get it, so he'll just ram it through against the public, like he did the Secrets Law and other things, and say it doesn't matter because the last election was proof the public supports his mandate. The man is a dictator. He only pretends to care if the thinks people with agree with what he wants.

Halwick, If not for Confucian teaching, there would be multiple wars already in China Seas. Just look what others do to Chinese claims. Japan nationalized it, PH court libeled it. If Australia can claim vast land against all current laws, why can't China claim itty-bitty "rocks" in South China Sea ? China didn't commit mass murder of Indigenous people to claim it. Does China need to "discover" China Sea to claim it as Europeans did to Australia ?

Newsflash: North Korea won't go away just because you want it to. It'll only go away if you show the willingness to kick *ss and turn any of Kim's hideouts into a lava field. Just saying...

Halwick,

So long as Okinawa is a Japanese prefecture, then it will have to continue, at the order of the Japan central government, and pursuant to the defense treaty between Japan and U.S., to host the U.S. military where necessary.

You can say that because you are sure that this suzerain-vassal relationship between the two countries will continue for long, obliging Tokyo to submit to what Washington dictates to.

So long as Japan remains a subservient vassal of the U.S., Okinawa will certainly have to host this heavy U.S. military presence for long. In order to address this abnormal situation, you kindly suggest that Okinawa secede from Japan and become independent. If the central government won't listen to Okinawa's voice sincerely enough and keeps forcing the burden of hosting the bulk of U.S. bases on Okinawa alone, then Okinawa will certainly begin to consider that independence might be an option. 

There are indeed an increasing number of people in Okinawa who are beginning to question if Okinawa's reversion to Japan in 1972 was a right choice. You know, the reversion movement during the occupation period was born out of Okinawa's strong wish to be reunited with mainland Japan in the hope that it could free us from the yoke of a heavy military occupation. But it turned out that Japan itself was under a virtual U.S. occupation with Tokyo only taking dictation from the U.S. as to what to do about this excessive military presence.

Japanese　Racists,Revisionists,Nationalists,Authoritarians and Totalitarians want to crush Present Pacifism Constitution.