Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday signaled her intention to pursue a revision of the constitution, stressing that the postwar supreme law should be periodically updated in accordance with the demands of the times. In a video message to revision proponents on Constitution Memorial Day, she vowed to explain potential amendments to the public and advance Diet discussions with other parties' cooperation. Meanwhile, rallies calling to keep the constitution intact were held nationwide.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in a video message to a gathering of revision proponents on Constitution Memorial Day, stressed that the postwar supreme law, which serves as the foundation of the country, "should be periodically updated in accordance with the demands of the times." She vowed to explain potential amendments carefully to the public, adding that her ruling Liberal Democratic Party would "advance discussions in the Diet aimed at reaching decisions while securing the cooperation of other parties."
Known as a conservative hawk, Takaichi is pushing to change the constitution for the first time since it came into effect following World War II. Among possible areas of amendment is the war-renouncing Article 9, seen as the cornerstone of Japan's postwar pacifist stance. An amendment requires approval by a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Diet, followed by majority support in a national referendum; the LDP won two-thirds of seats in the House of Representatives in February, and it and pro-reform forces are within reach in the House of Councillors.
At the LDP's annual convention in April, Takaichi said she aims to initiate a proposal by next year's convention amid a deteriorating security environment. Tomohiko Taniguchi, a former special adviser to the cabinet, cautioned at Sunday's gathering, "Article 9 stands squarely at the center. I hope we avoid taking easy detours."
Rallies and demonstrations calling for the constitution to remain intact were held nationwide the same day. At one in Tokyo, nonfiction writer Shinobu Yoshioka criticized the government's move to make desecrating the national flag a crime, saying, "Centralized methods are becoming increasingly entrenched. Where this leads is a country that wages war." Haruka Watanabe, an 87-year-old war survivor, said at a rally in Osaka Prefecture, "I want to cherish the Constitution like my own child and pass it on to the next generation." A recent Kyodo News poll showed 73 percent of the public prioritizing broad consensus across parties.
