Rightist Dietmembers intending to completely rewrite Preamble and Article 9 of Constitution

   A group of Liberal Democratic Party and Democratic Party Dietmembers affiliated with the Japan Conference (Nippon Kaigi), a rightist pro-Yasukuni Shrine organization calling for the remaking of Japan in a reactionary way, is drawing up an outline of a new constitution with the Preamble and Article 9 completely rewritten.

   This group is planning to publish the outline by May 3, the day marking the 60th anniversary of the Japanese Constitution.

   Until assuming the office as the prime minister, Abe Shinzo played a leading role in this group. Twelve out of the 15 cabinet ministers are members of it.

   According to a draft outline Akahata has obtained, the group is calling for a preamble that puts emphasis on Japan’s history and traditional values and states, “The Japanese people shall make use of their rights and freedom for public ends with the consciousness of being Japanese citizens.” It also demands that the new preamble recognize the historical significance of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan.

   The outline calls for the emperor (Tenno) to be maintained as the symbol of Japan, and demands that the constitution stipulate that “a man in the imperial paternal line inherits the Throne” and that the emperor is the “head of state.”

   In regard to Article 9, Paragraph 1, the document expresses the need to change the wording in order to make clear that Japan will not give up its inherent right to defend itself and to wage wars in self-defense.” It seeks the complete deletion of Article 9, Paragraph 2 that declares the non-possession of war potential and the denial of the right of belligerency.

   The outline demands that the article stipulate the possession of armed forces so that they can “contribute to international peace and stability,” and demands that the new constitution allow armed forces to be dispatched abroad and to use force abroad.

   At the same time, it calls for the state to have the right to declare a state of emergency and provisions establishing “obligations of the public to defend the nation.”

   The outline also proposes completely rewriting provisions stipulating fundamental human rights and calls for restrictions of human rights in the name of “security of the state or the public” as well as “public order.”

   The Japan Conference representatives include leaders of the Association of Shinto Shrines and the Japan War-Bereaved Families Association as well as Yasukuni Shrine. Its prospectus calls for respecting the Imperial House, enacting a new constitution, and promoting history education to foster love for the nation.

              - Akahata, April 11, 2007