Deputy chief cabinet secretary advocates constitutional revision

A senior Koizumi Cabinet official has publicly argued for the Japanese Constitution to be revised, saying that it is the only way to set Japan free from "the product of the postwar spell".

Abe Shinzo, deputy chief cabinet secretary, made this statement in a speech at a forum in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture on June 15.

He stated, "Nothing has been changed in the present Constitution since it was ratified 56 years ago. So it should be called the 'Showa Constitution.' The task is for the young generation who were born in the latter half of the Showa era to enact a new constitution called the 'Heisei Constitution'." "Showa" is the name for the imperial era (1926-1989) that preceded the present "Heisei."

When asked about what he would do if he is prime minister, Abe showed his extreme enthusiasm for a constitutional amendment.

Abe has long been an advocate of amending the Constitution. Akahata of June 16 criticized Abe for breaching the Constitution as a deputy chief cabinet secretary.

Abe is publicly hostile to the constitutional principles of peace and democracy which have been the foundations of the present Constitution established after WWII, the paper stated. (end)