Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pledged Tuesday to put the nation on a reform path to meet the challenge of a rapidly changing world, and to this end presented his party's blueprint to amend the Constitution for the first time to bring the charter in line with global realities.

Koizumi's pledge came as part of a celebration of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 50th anniversary.

The draft of the new Constitution, the centerpiece of the party's birthday, revises Clause 2 of the war-renouncing Article 9 to allow Japan to possess in name what it already has in the form of the Self-Defense Forces -- a military.

Koizumi likened Japan's current state of change to the dramatic transformation that occurred during the Meiji Restoration and shortly after World War II.

"Both the Meiji reforms and postwar reforms were carried out at the sacrifice of the people," he said, noting many "sacred lives" were lost in war.

"Commemorating the (LDP's) 50th anniversary, our responsibility as the ruling party lies in the reforms we carry out in peace time to deal with changes in the world."

Citing the LDP's landslide victory in the Sept. 11 general election, Koizumi said his party feels an immense responsibility to live up to the expectations of the people, who acknowledged the party's performance and its will to pursue future reforms.

"The LDP still receives many people's support. It has demonstrated resilience and flexibility by staying in power or returning even (in a coalition) with rival opposition parties after once losing power," he said.

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who chaired the party's Constitution drafting committee, welcomed the draft, saying the LDP must "humbly" work with other parties and gain public support for the revisions.

"The current Constitution is said to have been drafted by (the Occupation) in nine days, but it took the LDP 50 years" to come up with its own, Mori said, calling the planned new charter "the starting point and the (reason for) the LDP's formation."

"It's the 21st century," he said. "The time is ripe for the Japanese to choose a Constitution of their own."

New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki said his party, the LDP's junior partner in the ruling coalition, is still discussing how to identify the SDF in the Constitution and the extent of Japan's international contribution under it, hoping to have a clear picture by next fall.

Kanzaki said his party and the LDP will start discussions again on how to amend the Constitution with the goal of gaining the public's acceptance.

The new preamble states that the people of Japan share an obligation to protect their country and society and share a sense of responsibility. New concepts stipulated include human rights regarding the environment and privacy.

Also specified are obligations the people must bear to enjoy the freedom and rights guaranteed under a new Constitution.

The LDP in addition has mapped out plans to amend the Fundamental Law of Education.

New Komeito remains cautious, however, about revisions the LDP is pushing espousing patriotism.

Opponents to revising the Constitution, and people in other parts of Asia, meanwhile see the LDP's amendment push as an attempt to strengthen state power and lead the country to the right.

The LDP was formed Nov. 15, 1955, by the merger of two rival conservative parties about one month after left- and rightwing Socialist camps formed the Socialist Party.

About 3,000 people attended the LDP's celebratory convention Tuesday, including a guest speaker, Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren). The event, held at a Tokyo hotel, was put off a week due to the Nov. 15 wedding of Princess Nori.

The LDP adopted a 50th anniversary declaration advocating "respect of the nation's history, tradition and culture, and for raising morals." It promised to create a country that "acts on its own initiative as a responsible member of international society."

The declaration notes that Japan is saddled with many problems, ranging from an aging society to intensifying international terrorism, and says the LDP must proceed with structural and internal reforms.

Defense ministry eyed

The Administrative Reform Promotion Headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party agreed unanimously Tuesday to submit a government-sponsored bill to the Diet next year to upgrade the Defense Agency to a ministry, LDP lawmakers said.

The LDP will urge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the LDP president, to submit the bill to the Diet session that starts early next year, the lawmakers said.

The LDP will also arrange with New Komeito, its junior coalition partner, to work together on the plan, the lawmakers said.

"We will make every effort to submit the bill as a government-sponsored one and to have it passed during the ordinary Diet session by promoting cooperation with New Komeito and opposition parties," Seishiro Eto, who heads the LDP's reform promotion headquarters, said at the outset of the general meeting.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told reporters he takes the LDP decision seriously and will monitor the discussions with New Komeito.