The year 2006 will go down in history as a turning-point year during which Japan experienced a resurgence in nationalist sentiment and felt a weakening in the influence of the lessons from its modern wars (1930s through 1945). As a result, concerns have mounted that the pillars of Japan's postwar democracy are at risk.
While Mr. Junichiro Koizumi was prime minister, nationalist sentiment strengthened in Japanese society. His repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine, Japan's war shrine, and anti-Japanese feelings in China and South Korea contributed to that tendency. But Mr. Koizumi's Yasukuni visits were prompted by his emotions rather than ideology.
A decisive change came after Mr. Shinzo Abe assumed power. He has made constitutional revision and a "departure from the postwar regime" his political agenda. Mr. Abe is the second postwar prime minister to officially advocate constitutional revision. Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama had done so during his third administration (November 1955 to December 1956).