Article 9

Commentary / Japan Sep 19, 2018

Abe should strike while the iron's hot on revising Article 9

by Ted Gover

At the height of his political power, now is an opportune time for Abe to attempt constitutional revision.

National / Politics Aug 11, 2018

Abe cites 'great responsibility' to rewrite Article 9 in preview pitch for LDP presidential election

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday said he was ready to win another term as the conservative Liberal Democratic Party's leader in September, which would all but ensure he becomes Japan's longest-serving leader. "My goal has not changed at all since I ran in the ...

National Jun 21, 2018

Japan lowers minimum voting age for constitutional referendums to 18

The minimum voting age in national referendums to amend the Constitution was lowered to 18 from 20 on Thursday as part of a series of moves to encourage civic participation by young people. The lowering of the voting age for referendums brings it into line ...

National / Politics May 27, 2018

Ex-Prime Minister Nakasone makes call for amending Constitution as he celebrates 100th birthday

At 100, former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, a legendary figure in Japanese politics, expresses hopes that “serious efforts” will be made to amend the postwar Constitution.

National / Politics May 25, 2018

LDP panels back Japanese government's pursuit of capability to attack in self-defense

Panels in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday approved a draft proposal for the government to develop the military capability to "strike enemy bases" in foreign countries. Considering North Korea's rapidly advancing nuclear and missile programs and China's maritime assertiveness, the LDP also will ...

National / Politics May 3, 2018

Abe's dream to revise Japan's Constitution drifts farther from reach as long-running scandals chip away at support

by Tomohiro Osaki and Daisuke Kikuchi

In a recent video message the prime minister spoke about the need to revise the top law, but does he still have the public support to do it?

National / Politics Apr 21, 2018

Abe woos LDP's prefectural ranks with rehash of constitutional revision quest as scandals cloud bid for third term

Abe reminds the party’s prefectural lawmakers of his lifelong quest to amend Article 9 as he battles for a third term as LDP president, and thus prime minister.

National / Politics Mar 25, 2018

Abe attempts to rally from scandal, repeating Article 9 vows at LDP's annual convention

by Tomohiro Osaki

In a speech at his LDP’s annual convention, the prime minister acknowledged the damage from the Moritomo Gakuen scandal and repeated his plans to revise the pacifist Constitution.

National / Politics Mar 22, 2018

Key LDP panel agrees to pursue Abe's proposed amendment of Japan's pacifist Constitution

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided to pursue a plan proposed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to amend Article 9 of the nation’s war-renouncing Constitution and add an explicit reference to the Self-Defense Forces. Abe, who is eager to make the first-ever revision to ...

National / Politics Mar 15, 2018

LDP panel fails to form consensus over revision of war-renouncing Article 9

by Reiji Yoshida

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's panel on constitutional revisions failed to reach a consensus Thursday over how the war-renouncing Article 9 should be revised, facing resistance from rank-and-file members calling for more radical revision than the ideas proposed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Those lawmakers ...