July 8, 2016
Akahata ‘current’ column
The weekly comic magazine targeting young adult males, Big Comic Spirits, in its latest issue allotted several pages to feature the Constitution of Japan. The featured section introduces the full text of the Constitution with comic illustrations. This may be the first time that a comic magazine has run a special feature on the supreme law.
The special feature included interviews with 18-year-old female “local idols” (local-based entertainers) about their impression of the Constitution as the minimum voting age was lowered from 20 to 18. This special issue was published to provide young people with an opportunity to think about the Constitution which emerged as one of key issues in the July 10 Upper House election, said a Big Comic Spirits editor. In addition to this comic magazine, weekly and monthly women’s magazines have also published articles dealing with political issues, including the move to amend the pacifist Constitution.
Stating, “I want to accomplish my goal while still in office” Prime Minister Abe Shinzo during the latest ordinary session of the Diet expressed his strong desire to change the Constitution. However, he mentioned nothing about this desire in the Upper House election campaign.
The LDP published a booklet clarifying points in the LDP draft constitution. Talking about why the LDP draft preamble uses the phrase, “the state”, instead of “the Japanese people” as in the current preamble, the booklet explains that this is “in order for the general public to not overly feel they are important.” Regarding Article 9, the LDP draft constitution abandoned the phrase “renounce war” and added the creation of national defense forces. The LDP booklet states that the renamed military forces will be allowed to go anywhere in the world to participate in wars launched by other countries.
An attempt by the PM and his Liberal Democratic Party to change the Constitution will deny and jeopardize Japan’s postwar history renouncing war.
The weekly comic magazine targeting young adult males, Big Comic Spirits, in its latest issue allotted several pages to feature the Constitution of Japan. The featured section introduces the full text of the Constitution with comic illustrations. This may be the first time that a comic magazine has run a special feature on the supreme law.
The special feature included interviews with 18-year-old female “local idols” (local-based entertainers) about their impression of the Constitution as the minimum voting age was lowered from 20 to 18. This special issue was published to provide young people with an opportunity to think about the Constitution which emerged as one of key issues in the July 10 Upper House election, said a Big Comic Spirits editor. In addition to this comic magazine, weekly and monthly women’s magazines have also published articles dealing with political issues, including the move to amend the pacifist Constitution.
Stating, “I want to accomplish my goal while still in office” Prime Minister Abe Shinzo during the latest ordinary session of the Diet expressed his strong desire to change the Constitution. However, he mentioned nothing about this desire in the Upper House election campaign.
The LDP published a booklet clarifying points in the LDP draft constitution. Talking about why the LDP draft preamble uses the phrase, “the state”, instead of “the Japanese people” as in the current preamble, the booklet explains that this is “in order for the general public to not overly feel they are important.” Regarding Article 9, the LDP draft constitution abandoned the phrase “renounce war” and added the creation of national defense forces. The LDP booklet states that the renamed military forces will be allowed to go anywhere in the world to participate in wars launched by other countries.
An attempt by the PM and his Liberal Democratic Party to change the Constitution will deny and jeopardize Japan’s postwar history renouncing war.
