Commentary / Japan Sep 15, 2020
Abe’s last national security legacy for Suga to complete
by Kuni Miyake
Tokyo is contemplating setting a new direction for national security policy to cope with missiles targeting Japan.
National / Politics Sep 9, 2020
All three LDP leadership candidates back revising Constitution
All three candidates in the race to pick the next leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who will subsequently be elected the country's new prime minister have voiced support for revising Japan's pacifist Constitution. Meanwhile, the three prime minister hopefuls differed on whether to ...
National Sep 7, 2020
The acquisition is in line with the medium-term defense buildup program for 2019-2023.
Issues | LAW OF THE LAND Jul 15, 2020
Is the Article 9 labyrinth merely academic?
by Colin P.A. Jones
Numerous creative theories have been read into the Constitution's no-war clause by scholars over the years.
National Jun 24, 2020
China asks Japan to maintain 'exclusively defense-oriented' policy
China on Wednesday asked Japan to maintain its "exclusively defense-oriented" policy under the war-renouncing Constitution, as some Japanese ruling lawmakers have called for Tokyo to acquire the ability to attack foreign bases. "Because of historical reasons, Japan's military security trends have always received the attention ...
National Jun 22, 2020
69% oppose change to Japanese Constitution's war-renouncing Article 9, poll shows
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed his eagerness to revise the article to add a provision that recognizes the Self-Defense Forces.
Commentary / Japan May 13, 2020
Now's not the time to debate constitutional revision
by Rintaro Nishimura
The government should focus on coming up with policies to help citizens weather the COVID-19 crisis.
National / Politics Mar 12, 2020
Coronavirus overshadows milestone as Abe marks 3,000 days in office
Abe is also battling against time as Tokyo is counting down to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.
Commentary / Japan Jan 29, 2020
Article 9, ittaika and Japan's liaison officer corps
by Michael MacArthur Bosack
The Constitution's Article 9 has shaped the SDF in ways that are deeper than most observers, analysts and policymakers realize.
Commentary / Japan Jan 23, 2020
Komeito, the 20-year-old security watchdog
by Michael MacArthur Bosack
Komeito wields influence in major security policy decisions, especially the one that has most Japan-watchers intrigued: constitutional amendment.
National / Politics Dec 30, 2019
How socialism and the left wing failed in Japan
by Masahiko Fukada
Three decades ago, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Malta Summit signified the end of the Cold War and the defeat of left-wing forces, including the socialists and communists. The communists lost power in the East, and the socialist parties in the West ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Dec 28, 2019
Tetsu Nakamura's death in Afghanistan exposes a gap of perception in Japan
by Philip Brasor
Following the assassination of Dr. Tetsu Nakamura in Afghanistan earlier this month, the government of Afghanistan held a memorial ceremony for him as his body was delivered to the airplane that would take it out of the country. President Ashraf Ghani was one of ...