Japan’s ruling party gears up to revise pacifist constitution that divides public
JAPAN’S conservative ruling party is gearing up for a new push to achieve its long-sought goal of revising the country’s Usdrafted post-second World War constitution, but it needs to win over a divided public.
Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers and other supporters rallied yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s Constitution Day holiday, when Japan’s democratic and war-renouncing charter took effect 68 years ago.
The party, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has resumed meetings of its constitution reform panel after a two-year recess, and this week started distributing a cartoon pamphlet to raise public awareness and drum up support.
Backers of a revision denounce the 1947 constitution as one imposed by the United States, which occupied Japan from the end of the Second World War until 1952. They say it is outdated and inadequate for today’s society.
Amending the constitution will not be easy. It requires twothirds approval by both houses of parliament, followed by a referendum.
Mr Abe’s ruling coalition controls two-thirds of the lower house and hopes to do the same in the upper house by winning elections in summer next year.
If successful, the Liberal Democrats hope to introduce a proposed revision after the elections.
Hajime Funada, head of the Liberal Democrats’ team promoting constitutional revision, said it is time to begin discussing details of a proposed revision.