Revision risks freedoms, U.S. academic warns
Constitution is an outlandish idea, and amending it is simple common sense," Lummis, a former professor at Tsuda College in Tokyo and a staunch supporter of the current Constitution, said via e-mail. "But a large portion of the public is not buying that, as ...
Sakurai weighs in on patriotism
Love of nation has become a hot political debate topic in Japan. Many Japanese are arguably reluctant to wave the flag, some out of a sense of guilt for what the symbol once stood for, and the bitter memories it conjures up. Then there are ...
Beware loss of peace clause: philosopher
Philosopher Tetsuya Takahashi is thankful for the unconditional freedom of thought, conscience, religion, expression, even academic freedom embodied in the Constitution — all elements crucial to his profession. The University of Tokyo professor also has high regard for Article 9, which renounces war and prohibits ...
LDP wants to cut freedoms: DPJ
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe doesn't understand the basics of the Constitution and wants to use it to reduce human rights, not protect them, according to the head of a constitutional study panel for the Democratic Party of Japan. Lawyer Yukio Edano, a House of Councilors ...
Proponent of rewriting Article 9 still wants limits
The Constitution marks its 60th anniversary on May 2. This is the first in a series of interviews with politicians and experts on whether or how the charter should be changed. Article 9, the war-renouncing component of the Constitution, should be revised to widen — ...
