Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marked the 60th anniversary of the Constitution on Thursday by calling for a bold review of the document to allow the country to take a larger role in global security and foster a revival of national pride.
Overhauling the Constitution, which was imposed by the Allied Occupation, is one of Abe's top goals. The 1947 charter bans military force in settling international disputes and prohibits maintaining a military for warfare. It has never been altered.
While several polls this week have suggested substantial support for some changes to the document, one of the surveys showed far more opposition than support for changing the Constitution's pacifist clause.