hamayamike comments

Despite the naysayers, this is amazing!

First of all, Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution clearly prohibits the establishment and maintenance of any military forces whatsoever. Japanese law prohibits the exportation or sale of military armaments. The fact that they aren't allowed to have an army makes the second law unnecessary. The SDF is illegal anyway. The Abe government is trying to have Article 9 removed in its present form, replaced by a new article that would legitimize the SDF. Giving the Koreans ammunition is illegal according to Japanese law. Whether or not this should change is something the Japanese people should decide. The Abe government is trying to bypass the legal process by changing Article 92, which establishes the procedure for amending their constitution. The current action is another attempt by the Abe government to bypass the law.

The school year started in Japan until corporations asked it to be changed to April. These days all of Japan's major corporations employ as many if not more people outside Japan, and nearly all of them have fiscal years starting in months other than April and school years that start in September. So the excuse that companies hire people in April only is a weak argument. A September start opens many doors for Japan. One of thye biggest winners would be schools because they could offer summer courses for foreigners as well as folks right here in Japan. That is virtually non-existant now. If they arev on the same school year exchange and colaboration would also be much easier. Real time online classes could be offered amongst other things. The energy savings alone would be in the billions of dollars per year. School could be closed during the summer(other than summer programs).