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What kind of a fool keeps the same constitution that occupation troops forced upon us 65 years ago? We should ditch the current constitution and start afresh.

32 Comments

Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara. Amid concern over China's military spending and U.S. realignment in the region, the debate over the constitution rumbles on in Japan (BBC).

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What kind of a fool keeps the same constitution that occupation troops forced upon us 65 years ago?

The kind of fools the Japanese people keep electing for 65 years, maybe? Personally, I'd love to see the current crop of politicians come up with a new constitution. I think it'd only take them about 65 years to agree on anything.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Once again Ishihara rushes forth in heroic fashion to set a new bar for idiocy!!! Go Ishihara!!! Go!!!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Berryblue,

Just one question.

Let's look at the youth of China and the Chinese military. Now let's look at the youth of Japan and try to imagine them building a military that would in any way offset the power of China.

I am sorry but the youth of Japan are not going to sign up for the military willingly. If you draft them you will create a whole new problem. And even if you get them into uniform somehow, they will still pale to the legions of soldiers in China.

Take if from an American who has seen far too many of our young people go off to die in wars around the world, you don't want the youth of Japan having to do so too.

Take the help America gives in securing Japan and be happy about it. It works and it keeps your kids at home, safe to shop and be grass eating all they want.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Many posts here imply the US military as some disposable and efficient mercenaries for hire. Don't forget that many American servicemen became soldiers and sailors because they couldn't find jobs elsewhere or wanted tertiary education. Every nation that strives to be an independent self-sovereign state has the duty to fend for itself to the best of its ability, Japan is no exception.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What kind of a fool keeps the same constitution that occupation troops forced upon us 65 years ago?

Hmm lets see probably the same fools who keep voting this fool into office. But then again could we expect any better from this man after all he doesnt even believe the Nanking Massacre took place. So maybe in response we should say what occupation? Never happened there buddy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"He puts Japan first"

That must be why he said last year's earthquake and tsunami was divine punishment for selfish Japanese people.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What kind of fool actively seeks to poison the population by burning thousands of tons of debris in the most densely populated city on earth?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Does Ishihara ever take his foot out of his mouth long enough to think before he speaks, the man has serious mental health issues going on and is forever spouting off some irrelevant garbage.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I also think Japan should amend their constitution, but Japan's extreme dislike of anything military after the shame of WWII means there likely won't be much support for doing so. I've been reading an interesting book written a decade or so ago called "Embracing Defeat". It brings into sharp focus just how far the Japanese people swung the other way after the war was over. The misinformation that the Japanese military handed out to the public during the war disgusted the general population. In his unprecedented radio address announcing the surrender to his nation, Emperor Hirohito never actually used the word "surrender". Instead, he said that the war had become too difficult to continue and that Japan needed to go in a different direction from now on. The Japanese people have taken his words to heart and have broken away from the previous militaristic direction that Japan had been following. Even though this constitution was probably forced on Japan, the majority of Japanese at the time had zero complaints about Article 9.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My guess? the "Kind of fool" wise enough to not let the likes of Ishihara anywhere near it.

In any case, this is Japan, where everything is judged on appearances, and so Article 9, which he seems to be referring to, is fine as it is, and serves its purpose well.

Besides, Article 9 has been "interpreted" as "no army, but a self-defense force is OK". It's all just nomenclature and semantics anyway.

According to Wikipedia. the Japanese expenditure for military products is the world's 6th highest.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan should be happy about their constitution. Since it was "more or less" forced upon them by the victorious, the US has no other choice than protect Japan if they should be attacked. Thus, they can save on their defense budget. I'd be happy if Germany had the same useful paragraph.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ben4short. Yes, that is brilliant, start an arms race in Asia with an adversary that has a massive poor population that can be pressed into military service and the natural resources to outbuild Japan 10,000 times over.

Didn't you learn anything from WWII? No natural resources, no victory. No massive population, no victory. No ability to move your factories beyond the reach of your enemy, no victory.

Wake up and have a long strong drink of reality, Japan cannot win a military stand off with China without US support.

And this is all before we start talking about all the wonderful benefits Japan receives from being one of the few first world nations who has a constitution based upon peace. That position alone is priceless.

To hell with nationalistic idiocy that will just put Japan in debt and Japanese people in danger once again.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Ishy missed his chance. The heady late 80s end of the Bubble was, as far as I can recall, the height of his popularity.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

To answer his question: The kind of fool who realizes there is nothing wrong with the constitution itself.

In fact, the real fool is the one who would scrap a perfectly good constitution on account of who made it. In short, Shintaro Ishihara.

The real question is what kind of fool votes for that ass clown?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Some here seem to confuse the whole constitution with Article 9. It seriously not the same thing.

Besides, Japan has an SDF. Isn't it enough? If its not, then you are effectively saying that Japan needs an offensive military to start colonizing again. Um. No.

There is not a thing wrong with the constitution except for Article 9 which simply needs to be amended to allow for the SDF. That's it. And if Ishihara were not such a blowhard idiot of the IJA mold, that is all he would say.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"The Japanese public agrees with this sentiment." That must explain why young men line up and vie for the opportunity to join the SDF. All those bravehearted stalwarts that now shuffle across the Shibuya scramble intersection. Or the lions who don ridiculous costumes and ride proudly in their black lorries, blaring slogans and striking fear in... well, nobody. Oh, they aren't lining up to enlist? But this universal agreement with Ishihara certainly explains why Ishihara did it himself. Volunteered, put his foot forward, put his own @rse on the line for Japan. But, gasp, Ishihara, Mr. Mouth himself, demured when he had a chance to serve his country in uniform. Ishihara is proposing a fantasy that cannot be fulfilled under current conditions in Japan. Sure, change the constitution however you like. Make the emperor a god and free Japan to fight wars. But Japan will have enough expenditures on elderly care without starting an arms race in Asia that it cannot possibly win and this nation has very few young people with the fortitude for military service, let alone war. And the numbers of those few young people are declining.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Even though this constitution was probably forced on Japan, the majority of Japanese at the time had zero complaints about Article 9.

Based on what? Did they have a referendum?

Besides, Japan has an SDF. Isn't it enough? If its not, then you are effectively saying that Japan needs an offensive military to start colonizing again. Um. No.

If the SDF was enough, there would not be any need for American forces in Japan. Strengthen the SDF and kick out the occupiers, they are not wanted.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

America is strong, but I don't trust their leaders and military, especially in recent years. Japan should be able to defend itself, and they should be able to write their own constitution.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yea right. Good luck building up a military when your deficit is more than your GDP. See if you can raise enough taxes to keep up with China. You fools can't even rebuild your own cities that were destroyed over a year ago.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I never,EVER thought I'd agree with this old raisin. Japan should absolutely ditch the constitution and start over. It's about time Japan ditches it's diapers and puts on it's big boy pants and starts defending itself. But the sad fact is they can't. Who are they going to have protecting the country? Kabukicho hosts? When the Japanese finally come to terms with the reality they need the U.S. to defend them, the U.S. can negotiate even better terms. Who knows, maybe even make Japan the 51st state. God knows nobody here can run this country.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Ishihara may often stick his foot in his mouth, but he's 100% correct on this issue. People wonder why he gets re elected every time, and this is why. He puts Japan first. The Japanese public agrees with this sentiment.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

the Japanese expenditure for military products is the world's 6th highest.

and yet it needs 35,000 US troops inside their borders for its 'defense' including an aircraft carrier and some 15,000 amphibious shock troops. Article 9 is no mere word play, it's effectively forcing Japan to outsource much of its needed strategic hardware from overseas.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Stupid Ishihara, send in the Americans, their dead cost nothing.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

tkoind2: Sorry to see you, too, have been brainwashed and bought into the Big Lie. Your naivete is stunning. Hate to break this to you but there already is an arms race going on in Asia. I never said the US should stop supporting Japan. Just remove all US troops, but teach the Jp how to build their nukes and missiles, and keep selling them state-of-the art military goods. It's beyond ridiculous to compare the situation now and WWII. Better that Japan be in debt for its own defense than the US, and the Jp people will be in danger with or without Article 9 and the US' presence. It's all smoke and mirrors, dude . . . open your eyes and stop reading the mainstream press.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Maybe it's not Article Nine Ishihara doesn't like but Article 19:

Freedom of thought and conscience shall not be violated.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The Constitution is well written and has most points covered, unless you are a right-wing nationalist and then you probably want an atomic bomb or two.

because they have this delusion that somehow in the even of a nuclear blackmail Japan should have an option other than to merely submit or beg the Americans for help.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Change it then. Just done expect China and many other countries to play nice.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Yea right. Good luck building up a military when your deficit is more than your GDP.

That's why they should stop wasting all that money hosting the US military occupation.

Anyway, how can Japan depend on a military that was not even able to stop a few guys with box cutters?

Eventually, the US will attack China (before China surpasses the US), they certainly will be willing to sacrifice Japan to get this started.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Ishihara is the governor of Tokyo, so he's entitled to say what he feels is best for HIS country. The Constitution needs to be written up again to reflect the needs of the Japanese people. This is not about YOU

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Ishihara is absolutely right, despite all the knee-jerk haters who bristle at the mere sight of his name. Japan must scrap Article 9, throw out all US troops, go nuclear and defend itself. Period.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

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