For Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, exercising the right to collective self-defense will help Japan become what he calls a "normal" country on a more equal footing with the United States.

His push comes as Japan and the U.S. are scheduled to revise their defense guidelines by the end of this year for the first time in 17 years.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel welcomed Abe's efforts earlier this month during his visit to Japan ahead of Wednesday's arrival of President Barack Obama. The U.S. has been calling on Japan and other allies to match their military contributions to the size of their economies as the world's largest economy cuts back on its military spending.