Debate over constitutional revision could heat up, depending on the results of the Upper House election next month, in which revising the supreme law, a goal of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will likely become a key issue.
Abe said in a press conference on Wednesday the election will be held on July 10, with official campaigning kicking off on June 22.
Members of civic groups opposed to revising the Constitution call for protecting the war-renouncing Article 9, while those supporting revision hope a win by the ruling bloc led by Abe's Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Councilors election will add momentum to constitutional changes.