Nippon Keidanren to propose constitutional revision

In its annual general assembly on May 27, the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) reelected Okuda Hiroshi, Toyota Motor Co. president, as its chairman.

Using corporate donations to political parties," Okuda Keidanren" began his second term by more brazenly intervening in domestic politics.

This year's assembly drew media attention by establishing a new committee to examine the nation's basic issues concerning the Constitution and national security.

Miki Shigemitsu, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.'s president and Keidanren vice president, assumed the committee chair.

The committee is expected to discuss the issues of Article 9 of the Constitution and the right of collective self-defense, and publish the report next autumn.

Akahata on May 28 reported, "At last, Japan Keidanren-affiliated companies, including the munitions industry, established a committee that will systematically discuss constitutional issues. This means that Keidanren's strategy of more directly intervening in politics and placing it under its influence has stepped onto another stage." (end)