Japan Press Weekly

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2016 January 27 - February 2 [POLITICS]

Rightists strengthen grassroots efforts to gain public support for adding emergency clause to the Constitution

Rightwing, anti-constitutional groups are increasing their grassroots efforts in tandem with PM Abe’s move to revise the Japanese Constitution by focusing on the introduction of an emergency clause.

Prime Minister Abe repeatedly expressed his intent to change the pacifist Constitution to one containing an emergency clause in his New Year address and remarks made in the current ordinary Diet session.

Regarding this clause, the Liberal Democratic Party’s draft constitution states that in the event of emergency, the Cabinet will be able to issue government orders which have the same legal force as law. It also stipulates that an obligation of obedience will be imposed on the general public under such a circumstance.

It is the Japan Conference (Nippon Kaigi), Japan’s largest rightwing, anti-constitutional organization, that strongly advocates the introduction of an emergency provision in the Constitution. PM Abe serves as a “special advisor” to a parliamentarians’ group supporting the Nippon Kaigi.

The Nippon Kaigi is proclaiming that with the constitutional revision, it seeks to restore the Emperor as the head of state, take the teeth out of the war-renouncing Article 9, and insert a new clause allowing the temporary concentration of power in the hands of the prime minister on occasions of emergency such as natural disaster, military attack by a foreign country, and terrorism.

Nippon Kaigi President Takubo Tadae in an interview, which was reported in the 2015 July issue of Nippon Kaigi’s monthly magazine, praised Abe, saying, “He is a leader sent from heaven above. Constitutional revision should be achieved while Abe is in power.”

The Nippon Kaigi is now conducting a 10 million signature drive with the aim of strengthening its influence at the grassroots level and increasing public support for the constitutional revision.

Past related articles:
> Abe eyes right to impose dictatorship in emergency [January 15, 2016]
> Block Abe’s attempt at actual revision of the pacifist Constitution [January 14, 2016]
> Religious agency conducts signature drive misleading public into supporting abolition of pacifist Article 9 [January 10, 2016]