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© KYODOAbe determined to amend Constitution after debate in next Diet session
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Yubaru
Dude is stubborn as hell that is for sure! Even public opinion polls show that the people dont see it as a priority, but as usual Abe refuses to let it go.
Chip Star
Shin-Chan can be as determined as he wants, but it’s the people’s decision at the end of the day.
Shin-chan is just trying to make his war criminal grandfather proud.
Akie
Ourselves and myself are two different things, if English isn't a lie.
Samit Basu
What's the point? Japan's best days are behind her, and Japan can't keep up with China and Korea in arms race anyway. Japan is like a 80 year old retiree living out his final years. It is time to wrap things up and settle down, not start anew for Japan.
Heck, Japan is now the only major country with declining number of Ph'Ds produced per year, and Japan produces a comparable number of Ph'Ds a year to Korea, in spite of having 2.5 times the population. This is why Korea is overtaking Japan in all industries, even the automobiles now.
There is no point in remilitarization at this time; Japan can't afford it and can't man the newly formed army and navy.
Japan's best option is to make peace with its neighbors by settling all territorial disputes(Just drop them) and keep the bare minimum SDF force affordable by Japan's declining economy and population.
vanityofvanities
I understand Abe. So long as Japan does not change the peace constitution and defend own country by themselves, Japan has to depend on U.S. Forces in Japan and they will remain in Japan. So, people of Okinawa should support Abe to get rid of U.S. Forces from Okinawa.
Satedaya
Finally I hope we will change constitution and then next step should be bye bye to American troops, go back to your country!
Samit Basu
@vanityofvanities
Americans aren't going anywhere irrespective of the success or failure of Abe's constitution revision mission.
Beside, the SDF is currently below the minimum mandated strength by like 10% or so, and the only way for Abe to man his newly formed Japanese Army, Navy, and Airforce is to impose a conscription of Japanese young men and women.
Yubaru
How pray tell does he see changing the constitution as a change to the everyday lives of the voters here?
Alfie Noakes
Ah, the weekly Kyodo article about Shinzo changing the constitution. Just keep banging those LDP talking points, eh. How many articles about Shreddergate/Yakuza at the garden party have we seen, even though it's been all over the domestic Japan news media for 2 weeks now....
Samit Basu
@Yubaru
The military conscription returns in Japan if Abe has his way.
The SDF is already understaffed, and the only way to fill the rank of a Japanese military that would be much larger than the SDF is via conscription.
Obviously, young Japanese and their parents have every reason to vote down Abe's constitutional revision proposal.
Jonathan Prin
He would like to be a Daimyo.
And the emperor has no political link but he makes it as if it was a prerequisite like an old right wing pre-war general.
Know your history and your decreasing population.
I contribute far better than him with many exchanges with Japan and 3 young Japanese children...
Jtsnose
For most modern countries, having an active military has become a fact of life.
Samit Basu
@Jonathan Prin
I think you are confusing Shogun with Daimyo
Shogun : National warlord. There is only one.
Daimyo : Local warlords who received land from the Shogun. There are many.
kurisupisu
Put the vote to the people as they are the ones that suffer in conflicts..
Ganbare Japan!
Good luck PM Abe. Get that outdated, US written Constitution changed. There has never been a more dangerous time than now, and Japan has the right to defend herself against enemies just like every other nation does.
u_s__reamer
Obviously, young Japanese and their parents have every reason to vote down Abe's constitutional revision proposal.
Yes, it's a logical, rational conclusion, but humans are unpredictable creatures swayed by their emotions: the Japanese don't celebrate Christmas, but as in many other countries turkeys will still vote for it.
Jim Harper
It's a terrible thing. Revising the constitution is one, but revising it because of your stated intention to return the country to its glorious imperial past is quite another.
And calling a general election to determine pubic support? That’s a joke. Having consistently refused to correct the massive electoral discrepancies that have ensured the LDP have won almost every election held since the war, Abe now claims an election is an accurate measure of public feeling?
Cricky
His rabid constitutional change involves not just artical 9 it as above have mentioned involves conscription and the loss of any monicom of personal rights being superseded by the state. A double down for disaster for Shinz. He is way more dangerous then he appears.
quercetum
Good points made. How are they going to recruit these vegetables types to be in the military?
Cut the military budget. Use it on your own citizens. Give peace a chance.
quercetum
@Ganbare
Japan already has the SDF that has the right to defend Japan. What did you mean to say?
Aly Rustom
maybe this will be the final nail in the political coffin of this useless and poor excuse for a PM.
alwaysspeakingwisdom
"but it’s the people’s decision at the end of the day."
Yes, the Japanese people's decision at the end of the day. I plan to vote yes and so will millions of my fellow
Japanese.
The vote will be
52% Yes
48% No
talaraedokko
I fear Our Dear Leader will do something underhanded to get what he wants. I pray hard he not succeed.
Aly Rustom
I agree 100%
Brilliant!
Dio
How about changing pm instead ?
Satedaya
Think about how much it would boost economy if we succeed in changing the constitution!
rainyday
Its worth mentioning that he doesn't just want to amend Article 9, but major parts of the rest of the constitution as well, some of which is quite concerning if you live here and enjoy the government having somewhat limited ability to interfere in your day to day life. You can thank the Americans who drafted the constitution for that, but Abe and his folks are really gunning to remove a lot of the rights enshrined in the current constitution and long for the days of the Meiji Constitution under which the state could force you to do just about anything it wanted to.
William77
Let’s hope that the people will have common sense and keep the peace constitution.
Rather than push on that direction the PM should care more of social welfare for it’s people.
jeancolmar
Abe must be stopped.
vanityofvanities
Abe and I also think any country cannot keep the dignity of a nation without a military that can fight. We have "Self Defense Forces" but they cannot maintain the rights and dignity of Japan. Our rogue neighbors insult and threaten and make shameless demands often to Japan knowing Japan is no threat to them because JSDF is an army that cannot use their weapons. Respect to America originates they have the strongest army in the world. When a war breaks out in this theater of the world, I fear Japan becomes a battle field for the reason U.S. Forces are stationed in Japan. They like to fight in the garden of other countries.
Flute
@alwaysspeakingwisdom
I hope you plan to read the proposal before voting and not just vote thinking it is good because you do not like foreigner.
As said by several before, the pacifist part is the scapegoat for everyone to focus but there is far more in the proposal of LPD mostly in the idea of making society non equalitarist and limit right of the ones on the wrong side of the non equal society.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan#2012_Draft
Kitty745
Amendment to the constitution is an internal affair.
InspectorGadget
"I will enshrine in the Constitution the absolute Right to invite political supports to state funded Hanami Parties"
Spitfire
Man,
if he manages to change the constitution Japan will be well on its way to becoming a fully-fledged fascist state again which,tbh,is the Nippon Kaigi’s ultimate goal.
With the myriad of problems Japan faces at home it beggars belief that Abe only concentrates on his grandpappy’s pet project.
Abe doesn’t have any kids to be conscripted,not that his would ever be,so he doesn’t understand or care about the general population.
Cricky
It is a pretty scarry proposal. Arital 9 plus + massive other not mentioned changes that result in a population that will be forced to do anything for government approval. It really has to stop this Shogani attitude. I don't want my grandchildren "volenteer" to die for the likes of Abe like they did for his grandfather? If he is so virilant get a tent and live on a disputed island. Leave us, that is normal people alone.
Ascissor
@alwayssqueaking
i.e. like the Brexit Referendum result?
Um yeah...I'd caution against aiming for that.
Chip Star
Obviously. Was there some confusion about this?
Yes, there are millions of far rightist Japanese.
Odd that you can predict this to such a high degree of precision. I’ll be laughing heartily when the rational section of voters hand you and the other rightists a resounding no.
taj
IF the changes were to overhaul the koseki system, reference to "both sexes" in the section regarding marriage, and to clarify/broaden the meaning of the word "kokumin" in regards to who has rights, I'd be in favour.
If it's to allow the PM and his cronies to send other people's kids to war, never.
Jonathan Prin
@ samit basu
Totally right.
He's like trying to unite Japan politically, thinking he is Tokugawa Ieyasu.
rgcivilian1
Say NO to constitution changes.
TARA TAN KITAOKA
The 1st step to world leadership is integrity,honesty and speak horne. Japan have not even started....................
u_s__reamer
Japan is well defended by the sea. The population will continue to shrink to 80,000,000 by the end of the 21st century and, as a small country without natural resources, Japan will not become a target of exploitation by foreign powers, nor should it be a threat to its neighbors. Japan with a scaled down JSDF should aspire to be a neutral haven of Reiwa. No need to rewrite the constitution Q.E.D. BTW, another war in Asia with China or Korea would be suicidal.
William77
It’s already happening,but compared to 15 years ago less westerners live in Japan for good.
And recently the new Visa system for the developing countries results as a flop.
People are intelligent enough to choose more attractive places to live.
This stubbornness in revise the constitution is becoming embarrassing in front of the local people and the world.
Keeping such a militaristic attitude will bring only in a negative image for Japan.
I agree that there are many rightist but I also want to believe that many Japanese people are moderated and peaceful.
smithinjapan
Saying that he is going to amend the Constitution after the next "debate" proves that it is not at all a debate, but a totalitarian decision Abe will carry out regardless of the outcome of any farce of argument about it. He didn't say, "If the people are for it," or, "Pending the outcome of the debate and a vote," he said, "I'm going to do it, no matter what."
Those are not the actions of a democratic leader of a country wherein the majority are against what he is doing. They are the actions of a dictator, plain and simple.
Kazuaki Shimazaki
@smithinjapanToday 03:55 pm JST
It'll be unobjective to not note this in his favor: he can't amend the Constitution after the next debate. He must submit it for a vote, then if it passes a referendum. What he is saying is that he's no longer going to let objections during the debate forestall him from going to the next step, which is fair considering that Japan has been stuck in this back and forth, unable to even vote on a proposal since almost the nominal resumption of sovereignty in 1952.
As for the merits of the revision, we have to note that no big nation has put themselves under such a constitutional restraint as Japan, and the onus is really on the opposition to show why Japan is so unique she can survive or do well, long term, with this restraint when everyone else does not or can not.
showchinmono
NATIONAL Democracy is for it's citizen, not for the ones carrying dual or triple passports to change residency just like moving from Tokyo to Hokkaido. Japan must write it's own constitution as a sovereign nation. Just simple as that. Let the world judge the change afterwards and face it if any problems. Don't listen to those anti-Japan scumbags who would always whine and mumble "Abe said this and that, Abe did this and that...",
They are endless travelers and most of Japanese citizen are not
showchinmono
Can't sniff the trend in Japan, ironically pushed by Kim, Moon, Xi, Trump?
Chip Star
Anyone with a Japanese passport is a citizen no matter how many other passports they also have. You literarily destroyed your own argument in the first sentence.
You were given ample time by GHQ to so do, but couldn’t. This resulted in GHQ doing it for you. The majority of your fellow citizens have enjoyed the fruits of that constitution for over 70 years. This negates the next part of your post.
So quoting Shin-chan now qualifies one as an anti-Japan scum bag.
Okay. We agree that Japanese citizens should decide whether the constitution is amended because that’s what the constitution requires.
Chip Star
No, it is not. Those who want to amend the constitution bear the burden of proof,
Japan’s problems do not Emirates from the constitution. Under this constitution, Japan rose from the ashes of WWII to become the second richest country for a very long time and is still the third richest country.
Spitfire
Chip star,
Excellent posts.
Anyone critical of Abe is instantly called anti-Japanese when in actual fact that person might care deeply for Japan.
The Rightists don’t get it that sometimes to be critical of something you care about takes a lot more courage that just toeing the revisionist line.
what is happening in Japan is heartbreaking......Nippon Kaigi owns the courts,the media,the government.
xin xin
This is good for Japan. Look at NATO. Few want to share the bill payment and so Trump had to force it, creating much ill feelings but they are doing it anyway now. Japan is too weak in the face of growing military challenges from its several neighbors. Way to go. Just do it, Abe!
showchinmono
Don't worry. It is not actual fact. I know it's not at all for sure spending years here and know enough those regular posters ( some of whom also work as mods) do not care for Japan. They just hate, laugh at and bash everything Japan. That's their job and the way to release their stress. Basically they are all losers. They could have moved to other places they chose unless sticking around here is their job.
No. Here in Japan, you must drop other passports until you reach to 22 full years. Basically you are legally supposed not to have other passports. You have no idea on what I meant at all.
How the heck did GHQ need to be there supervising or waiting for whatever Japan needed to do in the 1st place? With presence of GHQ having a say, Japan was not an independent sovereign nation deserving writing it's own constitution in its words. Or what? are you implying Japanese people are too damn foolish and cannot even think of its own constitution?
AlexBecu
The world we live in 2020 is different then in the 80s or 90s when North Korea had no nuclear weapons, China was still relatively weak and still growing. USSR collapse and was devided.
We live in a different time and being able to protect your interests your citizens abroad, your ships who got hit by mines in the middle east. All of this is necessary and long overdue.
Dear Japan
Even Germany moved on and has a normal military again!
u_s__reamer
Abe should be careful what he wishes for: an armed conflict abroad won't end as well as the last one for Japan.
Abe fans should also watch out in light of Japan's historical record: long on military rule, short on democracy
William Bjornson
"I will accelerate work to craft a draft revision to the Constitution that fits with the new (imperial) era of Reiwa through active debate in parliament across party lines."
YES! Let's return Nihon to the status of "aggressor nation" and then the step-by-step descent into Hell over a generation as the psychopaths slowly build up and militarize Japan (see 1500 years of militaristic culture) 'back to its RIGHTFUL PLACE as a dominant conqueror' using rationalizations that have worked for all such psychopaths everywhere for thousands of generations of Humans. If Japan has a "Public Enemy Number One" it is "Abe 新争".
dougthehead13
While Yukio Edano's Constitutional Democratic Party. He still refuses to sit at a negotiating table. There will never be a chance to improve the country's current constitution.
It's Edano and his party that's preventing the constitution from being amended. Not the Japanese people through a referendum. As dictated by Article 96 of the constitution itself.
If the Rikken Minshu-tō, the Kokumin-minshutō and the Shakai Minshu-tō. They are so sure that Abe's LDP would lose that referendum. Because they won't let it be celebrated. It would be the best way to defeat Abe leaving him and his party in an unsustainable political situation. In case you really lose that referendum.
In a democracy it is the people who decide. But if the opposition parties prevent the people from talking to the ballot boxes. Through universal suffrage. Then they should rethink about calling themselves democratic parties.
JustMyThoughts
And who exactly is going to fill the ranks? Guest workers'? (笑)(笑)(笑)
showchinmono
Not worry. Even here in Japan, too many young blood almost going astray these days.
Actually provisional conscription of those is a good idea for both society and themselves.
John Richardson
@Rainyday and William Bjornson: You sumed it up perfectly.
they can already defend themselves now. there is something else going on and if you cannot sense something fishy, you are completely numb and ignorant.
John Richardson
@Justmythoughts
You think that. They want you to think that. but they have something under their sleeves while the global youth are on some anime and pokemon bs.