Abe's sagging support dims outlook for revising constitution

Unless he changes his attitude and his mindset, things will not improve," Funada said.

It's taken this long for someone to actually acknowledge that Abe has a problem with "attitude?"

I guess it's better late than never!

Abe's sagging support dims outlook for revising constitution

ah, finally news you can smile at!

Abe's popularity has been battered by suspicions of scandal over favoritism for a friend's business and by the perception among many voters that he and his aides have grown arrogant.

Grown arrogant? He's been that way all along.

Japan has many factors to consider.

I do recommend changing from the peacetime constitution, because we live in a different time than from when it was written and implemented.

Japan also depends on the USA to defend it, and that's actually why they have this American-written constitution. The US has stated that Japan needs to step up, and not only arm itself, but help the US counter China's land grab (taking over the sea).

So what are we supposed to do? I'd like to stay pacifist and not even have a military, but that's not realistic.

Not to mention, that things out of Japan's control, like South Koreans politics, North Korea, and the USA's commitment (or lack of it) to South Korea will be a massive factor in how East Asia plays out.

Abe's sagging support dims outlook for revising constitution

Good. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

So what are we supposed to do? I'd like to stay pacifist and not even have a military, but that's not realistic.

Listen. It's alright to have a regular army. But at this point in time, it's unwarranted.

First off, anyone mar enough to encroach on Japan is signing a death wish. Being under americas umbrella of protection is a huge deterrent. So not gonna happen.

If you place erratic emotion aside,you'd realize this has been on the cards for a long,long time. We still have a system of governance that denies several atrocities from the war. Changes student curriculum to fit their agenda. So my question to you is, how can a government not contrite over it's war atrocities be trusted not to commit them again under one of the many over used pretenses?

There are no wolves in the hen house. Only terrible sabre rattling so one individual can fulfill a relative's wishes knowing fully well he won't be alive to realize the devastation as a result. Disgusting!!

I do recommend changing from the peacetime constitution, because we live in a different time than from when it was written and implemented.

It was written in a time of war, so now that we are in a time of peace, you want to kill the peaceful constitution. We do not need a special time for seeking for "peace" VS "war"

Japanese citizen should know Abe PM real intention. Is he obliged to do that from what was talked at Nippon Kaigi or USA pressing him to change/add items in Japan constitution, or both? One thing is clear. When does he have to do that, now with his majority, right?

People are far too optimistic.

Remember, all Abe needs to do is have a minority government with the Koumeitou as the strongest opposition party when it comes time to vote on Article 9.

The moment it comes time to vote, Koumeitou and the Jimintou will predictably join hands and force the legislation through, as they do every time they want to force through legislation this country does not want.

The only hope for this country is if voters reject all candidates from both of those parties, which is unlikely to happen especially considering the complete lack of strong leaders in the main opposition parties.

Renho should step down and let someone stronger and with less controversy replace her. It is sad, but the alternative is Little Dictator remilitarizing Japan which has been peaceful for 70+ years without his scheming.

I strongly agree with @personiam. To think that Japan is the only highly developed country in the world with no military of its own. Not that it's bad to depend on Uncle Joe but sometimes it's good to stand on one's own feet. I just think that the fear of changing the said Article comes from those who oldies who experienced the last WW who are made to believe that changing so would be tantamount to another war that they don't want their future race to experience. Or the fear comes from the so called Japanese who are in their hearts are really Chinese and Koreans?

Keep the article in and allow only defense and aiding allies, however massively expand missile defense of the country as well as put in place the necessary infrastructure to allow a nuclear breakout of a few weeks in case of an existential emergency

To think that Japan is the only highly developed country in the world with no military of its own.

Yes it has.

so called Japanese who are in their hearts are really Chinese and Koreans?

What on earth does that even mean?

It's odd how people who want peace think that by not having a military you won't be involved in conflict. If you are weak and unable to defend yourself, you'll get crushed.

Learn from history, not your webpage. Leaning on America 100% when they are telling you that not only can you not expect to do that anymore, but that they also expect some effort from you too.

It will take the combined patrols and efforts of Japan, India, and the USA to keep China from taking the 9 dash line over the next 10-30 years.

Japan has one of the most modern Defence forces in the world. Infantry need an upgrade having to buy your own sights not cool. It's a formidable defence force. With allied backing and a complete lack of resources in Japan, leaves just revenge attacks.

Why on earth is there any push to change Article 9 and the other more insidious untalked about changes.

"The appearance that Abe is hurrying to amend the constitution while he himself is in office was making the party task force's job harder, Funada said."

But that's EXACTLY what he's trying to do -- it's not just appearance. And now that it's known it'll be more difficult, the rush and the push will be harder and faster, probably like the Conspiracy Bill and Secrets Law, and then he'll leave the LDP with a massive popularity problem but he'll be satisfied with himself. Get rid of him NOW. Don't wait until he destroys the nation further.

trinklets2Today  10:16 am JST

To think that Japan is the only highly developed country in the world with no military of its own. 

Really? So what are the Self Defence Forces, then? Japan is ranked eighth in the world for military expenditure, so I find this idea that there is "no military" here to be quite odd. Of course, Japan can't initiate any conflicts, but that's probably just as well. I wouldn't trust the clueless old imbeciles running the country at the moment to wage any wars..

Or the fear comes from the so called Japanese who are in their hearts are really Chinese and Koreans?

Is that the kind of inane, deluded garbage that's blaring out of the loudspeakers on those black trucks nowadays?

less popularity = toning down the right wing enthusiasm

trinklets2Today 10:16 am JST

I strongly agree with @personiam. To think that Japan is the only highly developed country in the world with no military of its own.

Just because it is called SDF doesn't mean it isn't an army. That is what a vast majority

of Japanese believe because it has been hammered into their brains that Japan hasn't

an army from when they were small.

Surprised that foreigners would also be victims of the brainwashing.

These changes will go through with or without public support. Even if the results of a referendum are against the changes, the right-wingers will push the changes through the diet.

Dishonest Abe is utterly obsessed with changing the constitution and I expect he will try to force a change through the Diet during the next session, while he still can.

Abe is a sneaky little man and, despite all the talk about Article 9, I think the change he will push for will be a "state of emergency" clause. It's the kind of clause loved by dictators the world over as it allows them to suspend the constitution and do what they like, often indefinitely. You can be certain that an "emergency" will arise the moment the clause is in the constitution, probably along the lines of "those North Koreans are acting strangely - emergency!".

I hope the people won't be daft enough to fall for it, but they have shown that they are pretty daft in the past. We'll see.

Abe's best contribution is he tried hard to change the deflation mind of Japan. Abe has frozen the planned consumer tax increase. Nikkei index doubled since he took command. Abe assigned Kuroda as the president of Bank of Japan and lowered the interest and circulated more yen. Still Japan cannot be said the country recovered from deflation. Kuroda's term is coming to an end. When we lose Abe and Kuroda, the finance ministry will move to increase consumer tax to 10% and if the rate of the national bond which is at the bottom begin to rise, Japan's economy will face serious difficulties. I think people's livelihoods far more important than the minor change of the constitution and his small scandals.

Abe's best contribution is he tried hard to change the deflation mind of Japan. 

'Trying hard' is not a contribution. A result is a contribution. After 5 years in power, inflation is at 0.4%, so Abe has not made a contribution in this area. I agree with you that freezing the consumer tax increase was the right thing to do though.

To PM Abe - soon to be feeling very sorry for himself - via Radiohead:

"You do it to yourself, you do. And that's what really hurts. Is that you do it to yourself, just you. You and no one else..."

inflation is at 0.4%

Just curious, is wide spread downsizing of product sizes and weight, and the lower quality included in this 4%?

FizzBit - I imagine not! The most recent one I've noticed is of the portions of bread at Saizeriya.

Abe is keen to achieve his goal in part because it eluded his grandfather, a conservative who had to resign as prime minister in 1960 due to a public furore over a U.S.-Japan security pact.

Ah ha! Now we get the real reasons. This is a family issues that has been left smouldering for 2 generations. Its never good to try and finish the nightmares you ancestros failed to accomplish. Didn't work out to well for George W Bush and his aim to finish what his father started, so I expect this will become a metaphorical noose around Abe's neck and It seems he's already given himself enough rope!

Still the issue is unlikely to ever go away, give it 20 years and someone will come around and say they want to change it again.

SchopenhauerToday  02:35 pm JST

Abe's best contribution is he tried hard to change the deflation mind of Japan. Abe has frozen the planned consumer tax increase. Nikkei index doubled since he took command. Abe assigned Kuroda as the president of Bank of Japan and lowered the interest and circulated more yen. Still Japan cannot be said the country recovered from deflation.

No, because no one wants to start spending more. Abe's talked about wages going up, but that's about all he ever does - talk. No one listened. The big companies have just kept hoarding and hoarding cash, whereas the zombie companies that so many Japanese work for can't offer better salaries because they're only being kept alive by loans they don't have to pay back. Abe hasn't tried hard to do anything about that.

I think people's livelihoods far more important than the minor change of the constitution and his small scandals.

It seems Abe disagrees with you about the minor changes to the constitution.

Simon Foston

When the interest of Japan's national bond begins to go up (no other way since it is at the bottom), then yen will be purchased and yen will go up higher. Profits of Japanese companies which are made possible by cheap yen will disappear quickly and deflation comes back again.

Abe is not changing the article 9 itself but adding some lines to it so that JSDF will have legitimacy. If you read Japanese constitution article 9, it is difficult JSDF to exist.

@joyridingonthetitanic - exactly, he's just trying to carry on the legacy of his racist war-criminal scum grandfather. I imagine he has been indoctrinated about restoring the might of the great Nippon and the pure Nipponjin people since he was a little boy.

Abe is not changing the article 9 itself but adding some lines to it so that JSDF will have legitimacy

If you give an inch...

There's no sugar coating it. If Japan is allowed to militarize, they must also be allowed to pay reparations for the mass attrocities against other nations. Being under the us prevents this from happening. Can't have your cake and eat it too my friend!!

And if you are such a great proponent,are you willing to sign up at the nearest recruitment office?

I just think that the fear of changing the said Article comes from those who oldies who experienced the last WW who are made to believe that changing so would be tantamount to another war that they don't want their future race to experience.

While I'm against wars as well, that is my impression, too. Personally I wish there was a way for selective wars to be allowed, but drawing lines would be difficult.

SchopenhauerToday  04:58 pm JST

Simon Foston

When the interest of Japan's national bond begins to go up (no other way since it is at the bottom), then yen will be purchased and yen will go up higher. Profits of Japanese companies which are made possible by cheap yen will disappear quickly and deflation comes back again.

I didn't think it had ever gone away. So that's how the situation is after Abe has had almost five years to tackle these problems - the best you can say about him is that he "tried hard."

Abe is not changing the article 9 itself but adding some lines to it so that JSDF will have legitimacy.

Not much of a legacy really, is it?

If you read Japanese constitution article 9, it is difficult JSDF to exist.

Cry me a river.

Constitution will out be changed.  Thank goodness

Most of Japanese like peace constitution

@joyriding: security pact was signed ad finished.  don't you know the result is that GI bases all over in Japan.  He is doing for his own.  At that time, everybody in Japan was opposing Kish Ike sign.  Kish got knifed by right wing when he returned Japan.  Again, he was not copying his family.  Ike did not come but tekiya gangs created welcome Ike offices all over Japan to stop right wing violence.