Abe faces challenge of maintaining momentum for constitutional reform

It is OK, Abe will go but "No" to the return of deflation Japan.

What if the scandal happens again ? Abe will do exactly the same thing: deny and promise "never again". The nationalism is the last straw for Abe to keep his job. He is willing to let LDP fail for him; he is willing to let Japan fail for him; he is willing to let the future fail for him. That is the art of keeping job of Abe.

What if the scandal happens again ?

Not "what if", but WHEN.

Trust a man who denies knowledge of his wife's and government agencies involvement in selling land to the Osaka president of Nippon Kaigi to build a school based on a 1930s education, and he is the special adviser? What ever that means to Nippon Kaigi. And claims he knows nothing.? Oh and his good friend was given the go for a vet school that nobody wanted in a special economic zone? Change the constitution sure....make political figures accountable for their actions.

Maintaining momentum for constitutional reform? He is having trouble maintaining support to keep his job, let alone these right-wing pet projects that the Japanese people oppose

I don’t care Abe , and other small poppets parties

what I care finally we re ready to change constitution thanks LDP and kameito , we pay billion and billion to other country’s for buy equipments

we need to protect our country by our self , change the supreme law doesn’t mean we should go for war , and have all around blood

the equiments we buy from US we can make them and sell them as US or China does

"In general, a government that is unpopular cannot secure desirable voting results in a national referendum...because more people may be inclined to cast their ballots as a protest vote against the government," Nakano said, referring to the plebiscite that would ultimately determine constitutional change.

I think he's right. Abe is not a popular leader, and many of the people can stomach voting LDP because of it being 'better the devil you know' or because of perceived stronger policy against North Korea will vote against what is seen as Abe's pet project.

It was a small rally.

I hope that Foreigners,visiting this website, got the simplistic idea "Oh! Abe is hated by majority of Japanese people!" by looking at this photo, especially those who are against Abe seeking Abe hater resources.

I am not in favor or against Abe either.

But Abe administration is still very much supported by Japanese people, and will stay there because of the lack of strong opposing party or candidates as alternative.

Check support rate from NHK below

http://www.nhk.or.jp/senkyo/shijiritsu/

I would have changed the first kanji at the bottom to earth/ground.

When was this reform ever even an arrow of Abenomics?

tinawatanabe: "It was a small rally."

So was the rally of 700 the other day. So was the one before that, and the one before that.

Good to hear the constitutional reform is moving on ahead and not being held up by thoroughly debunked "scandals" or other conspiracy theories the gullible are latching onto these days. More important work is to be done and won't be held up by the lower rungs

A few hundred protesters out of 128 million? Yeah right. Glad to hear the majority of the populace is level headed

@cricky. You stole my post.

Abe should carry on his crusade, from his cell.

woke up to good news today, on RT News, there was coverage of the anti abe protests in tokyo yesterday... something that doesn't happen on Japanese news

I have nothing but admiration for the protesters. My wife has been watching them on her phone, huge smile. Wish I and my family were there. But we are too far away. The changes proposed extend far beyond article 9. What the proposed amendments are certainly detrimental for my grandchildren. I would support change if I thought it was beneficial for them.

dcog9065Today 09:54 am JST

...thoroughly debunked "scandals...

Anyone else recall the Moritomo and Kake Gakuen allegations being "thoroughly debunked?" When did this happen?

I like the woman in the centre with the curling reference on her sign, So da ne!!!!!

The whole island defines itself by companies, not people or ideologies.

Japan becomes the most prosperous nation in the past 70 years is because peace ! The peace constitution is the reason that Japan used so many time to reject to be involved in many wars. Don't trust Abe, he is a liar. He will take Japan to a war in a few second if he has his way. War is not a good thing, war will destroy everything.

A few hundred protesters out of 128 million? Yeah right. Glad to hear the majority of the populace is level headed

I think apathetic is the word you are looking for. Half of them don’t even bother voting.

While I am proud to live in a nation where even these left-wing groups can have anti-government protest on the street, unlike most nations,they are small minority. PM Abe and Vice PM Aso will contunue gaining the public understanding for the need for Constitution reform. Japan needs to defend herself in a world getting more dangerous every day. At the moment, Japan can not defend herself and match the military of China. Japanese Military is much too small, and right now spending too little.

PM Abe and Vice PM Aso are the only men for this big job. If only these people would think clearly,and stop this protest.

they are a small minority

A small minority are protesting but support for Abe’s cabinet is plummeting.

Clearly many of your fellow Japanese are losing patience with this administration. That must be a hell of a lot of people who do not ‘think clearly’.

A bit insulting to the Japanese public.

While I am proud to live in a nation where even these left-wing groups can have anti-government protest

EVEN left-wing groups? Wow. Congratulations. What next, the unionised workers, the minorities?

Ganbare Japan!, The time when Japan is militarily stronger than China is over. In the past 5000 years, Japan only had a moment of 100 years to be able to attack China and Japan made full use of it. It was a huge mistake. China will never let it happen again. It is suicidal for Abe to challenge China again with proactive collective-defense. Just ask Abe to give China a list: how many bullets does Japan need to be convinced that peace is the only good thing for Northeast Asia ?

So doing unpopular things is made more difficult when you've done an unrelated unpopular thing that has made you even more unpopular? That makes sense.

The lies of Abe & Aso is what's really getting up the nose of people.

This morning I had a discussion on this topic with 18 people (Japanese) of ages from 40s ~ 70s. Almost all spoke disparagingly of Abe. The blatant lying has now turned opinions that were either neutral or "can't be help" supportive of Abe.

Now it seems as trust has been eroded, so has support. These people didn't labour on the points of Abenomics, Constitution, Defense, etc, they were just so disappointed that their leaders have again treated them - the citizens of Japan - as fools.

Which is why no amount of further lying - omg the Chinese are bombing us - will be taken seriously.

Once a compulsive liar, always a compulsive liar.

@ Akie

Japan CAN and WILL build a stronger military then China. Once PM Abe has gained understanding of Citizens to change Article 9. It will be before Tokyo 2020,experts say.

Japan : Prepared for Peace. Ready for War.

Once PM Abe has gained understanding of Citizens to change Article 9. It will be before Tokyo 2020,experts say.

What experts?

@gambare. I only interact with Japanese old people, all see doom and don’t vote because no point. They suffer from poverty and worry about cptpp...TPP. They don’t want war.

ganbare Japan: "They are a small minority"

Then why is Abe's support down to 30%? Sounds like it's only a minority that support him. Actually, that's a fact.

"PM Abe and Vice PM Aso are the only men for this big job. If only these people would think clearly,and stop this protest."

No, Abe and Aso are the progeny of war criminals and wax nostalgia for the Japan that could have been, and should be, clearly not learning from what happened to ancestors and the nation last time they tried what Abe wants. And sorry, but being brainwashed, like those who believe Abe and his manufactured history textbooks, is not "thinking clearly", it's not thinking at all.

Ganbare Japan! Let us see: China GDP (PPP) $25 trillions, Japan $5 trillions; Population: China 1.4 billion, Japan 0.12 billion; Steel production: China 1691 million tons, Japan 104 million tons; Military personnel: China 3,712,500, Japan 311,875. Now you tell me what war do you want to fight with China, long or short ? I am glad that China is Japan's neighbor, otherwise Japan would be already invaded given the size and the strength that China has if China would behave like Japan did 80 years ago.

Reckless, if you know the history, you would realize China is much united than Japan. During Sino-Japan war, Chinese were much backward in terms of technology. But China fought Japan with knives and spears. Japan fought 13 years still unable to occupy even a quarter of China. Don't let propaganda fool you, just learn how many Chinese died during the war yet they still had the will to fight.

Another point to make: China and Japan have basically the same culture and are the same race. Japan diverted from Confucius teaching about 200 years ago and learned to conquer other nations using violence and brutality. Imperial Japan was savaged. It would be a huge mistake if Abe would take Japan back to 200 years ago.

Check support rate from NHK below

Sadly people read too much into any polls taken here. I know damn well I could take a poll and 100% of the people I polled would be on Abe's side, and in the reverse, I could find 100% of the people who were against him as well.

NHK is the government mouth-piece and their polls have to be take with a grain of salt! Unfortunately the general public does not!

China and Japan have basically the same culture and are the same race. 

I bet you would be hard pressed to find people in either country that would agree with you.

Unless Japan change system of how to. elect prime minister, these protesters' wish.do not woorkk..

In Japan,, chairman of a major. party will become P.m. LDP will choose Abe as chairman. Back. to Abe era.

Also, non Tokyo people have to be invited in any protest.