Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday called for changing the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, saying there is a contradiction between the existence of the Self-Defense Forces and a ban on Japan maintaining armed forces.
The Constitution's second paragraph says: "Land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained."
Abe called for amending this text, citing a draft revised constitution tabled by his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in April 2012.