In advance of Constitution Day, on Tuesday, research commissions on constitutional reform from both houses of the Diet last month adopted final reports summarizing five years of debate. The Lower House panel focused on amending the supreme law, including revision of the war-renouncing Article 9.
The governing Liberal Democratic Party, which will mark its 50th anniversary in November, and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan will publish their own proposals for constitutional amendments before yearend. New Komeito, the LDP's junior partner, will also propose a version of amendments.
Japan's three major economic organizations have already come up with their own amendment proposals. The LDP, the DPJ and New Komeito have agreed to start discussions on legislation for a national referendum on constitutional amendments. For the first time in its 58-year history, revision of the Constitution is now on the political agenda.