LDP backs away from election promise of 'free education' election promise
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers tasked with drawing up proposed constitutional amendments approved a plan Tuesday that does not include a guarantee to make all education free. The LDP's decision comes as the party continues to debate proposed revisions, with an aim toward presenting a ...
Split clears a path for Constitution revisionists
The National Society to Create a Constitution for a Beautiful Japan met at the Budokan on Nov. 10 to listen to speakers advocate for a new national charter. One was Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who addressed the rally via a prerecorded video. According to the ...
Thousands rally in Nippon Budokan Hall for constitutional change
Thousands of people packed Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo on Tuesday in support of revising the pacifist Constitution while pledging to collect 10 million signatures favoring their cause. The organizing group claimed 11,321 people attended the political rally at one of Japan's most prestigious halls, ...
Japan, U.S. to release interim report on defense guidelines next week
Japan and the United States plan to release an interim report on a planned revision of bilateral defense cooperation guidelines next Wednesday after their senior officials meet in Tokyo to finalize it, a Japanese government source said on Thursday. The meeting of director general-level officials ...
Japan's industrial output in June suffered a revised 3.4% drop
Industrial output fell a seasonally adjusted 3.4 percent in June from the previous month, downgraded from an initially reported decrease of 3.3 percent, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday. The index of output at factories and mines stood at 100.0 against the ...
Lawyer gives Article 9 some coffee shop buzz
One morning in late April dozens of mothers, some with children, gathered at an Italian restaurant in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, hoping not only to dine, but also to learn what kind of future might await their children if the Constitution is amended. During the two-hour ...
Energy plan revision eyed to avoid nuclear reliance 'misunderstandings'
The Abe administration will consider revising a draft energy policy so it doesn't stir "misunderstandings" that the nation will rely heavily on nuclear power in the medium to long term, industry minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Friday. The draft says nuclear power is an "important base-load ...
Former leader of Japan's ruling party against raising defense profile
Ahead of the anniversary Thursday of Japan's surrender in World War II, former Liberal Democratic Party President and noted dove Yohei Kono says Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could be igniting a never-ending regional arms race.
