Japan divided over revising Article 9

News agencies and governments use statistics like a drunk uses lamp-posts, more for support than illumination.

Divided or not, Dear Abe will do what he pleases, even extending his own leadership until it gets done.

Yep. Of course Abe knew that all the provocation of NK and scaremongering among the JP population would easily sway the socially docile and passive JP people and that he would ultimately get his way. I have a feeling he is opening Pandora's box, though, and that Japan will not get off lightly.

How about a referendum?

Strange that the will of the people is being stifled....

IT is time, Japan & Japanese people stands on it's own 2 feet to do what can save themselves & all gakokujin

that live in Japan. The time to depend on others have ended. Politics & exchanges only make the Japanese

people poorer & more confused. All Japanese people & gakokujin living in Japan must save themselves and come to the correct way to defend and negociate. Pls try very hard for all children in Japan for the future.

If I recall, amending the constitution has a built-in referendum: 2/3 of both houses + majority of citizens must agree. Personally, I think the threshold is too low for a constitutional change (i would prefer 2/3 or 3/4 of citizens). A majority of citizens in the latter would be okay for a referendum on a regular law, but the constitution is the basis of all laws and how society should be structured - it should have a much higher threshold than a majority of citizens in the latter.

As a Japanese I am forever grateful to America for looking after us for so long however I don't think that we Japanese are ready to stand on our own two feet. Also, we would rather concentrate on our our economic growth and welfare rather than building up a military force that is strong enough to defend Japan. I fear that it will cost us much more money to strengthen our own Japanese military rather than rely on America.

two thirds bothered to reply (2000) so that is proof of the japanese desire to go to war? how about a referendum? Abe seems able to pull off snap elections for no reason.

few weeks before,

Japanese Prime Minister spread fear into japamese general public by talking about "Nerve Gas missile of NorthKorea".

on the other hand,

He enjoyed to see the sights of Cherry Blossom with TV stars.

Abe government use North Korea conveniently to spread unrest and fear among japanese people.