December 14, 2019

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has delivered a video message calling for amendments to the Constitution, Article 9 in particular, to all Liberal Democratic Party local chapters in Japan as well as to all LDP lawmakers so that they can utilize the video in their meetings or rallies.

At the beginning of the video footage Akahata obtained on December 13, PM Abe says, "As about 70 years have passed since the present Constitution was enacted, provisions which do not fit the times should be revised," and he claims Article 9 of the Constitution as the most conspicuous example of what should be changed.

The video includes a scene showing a National Defense Academy graduation ceremony followed by footage of SDF units which were dispatched overseas and SDF disaster-rescue and relief activities. Meanwhile, Abe keeps talking up the SDF.

He says, "Constitutional scholars who flatly state that the SDF is constitutional account only for 20%," implying that that is a big problem. Calling for the need to clarify the legal status of the SDF in a revised Constitution, he says, "Let's put an end to debates over the constitutionality of the SDF!"

At the very end of the 7-minute and 37-second video footage, he says, "I'd like to deepen national discussions regarding constitutional amendments throughout the country."

According to sources close to the LDP, the party is urging all its organizations to actively use this video message at various party meetings and rallies, and the party will subsidize expenses necessary for video screenings such as for projector rental.