PM Abe’s drive to amend the Constitution: Can he overcome the hurdles?
October 2, 2017Author: Takenaka Harukata
Categories: In-Depth with Nippon.com
Prime Minister Abe is aiming to amend the Constitution of Japan by 2020. But support for his administration has declined sharply, and if he insists on pushing ahead with the amendment process according to his intended schedule, he runs the risk of failing both at revising the Constitution and at holding on to power.
Tags: Abe, Abe administration, amendment, constitution, constitutional revision, Diet, Japan, LDP, nippon.com, Politics, Shinzo Abe, snap election
Beyond article 9: Broader considerations for Japanese constitutional reform
August 24, 2017Author: Inoue Takeshi
Categories: In-Depth with Nippon.com
In Japan, debate over constitutional revision tends to focus narrowly on such hot-button issues as Article 9 and the status of the emperor. Constitutional scholar Inoue Takeshi argues for a broader conversation—encompassing such issues as environmental rights, gender parity, and intergenerational equity—to pave the way for reforms needed to strengthen and modernize Japan’s democracy.
Tags: constitutional revision, Diet, House of Representatives, japanese constitution
Sasakawa USA Fellow Tobias Harris quoted in New York Times article on President Trump and Prime Minister Abe
August 14, 2017Author: New York Times
Categories: In the News, Sasakawa USA Blog
Sasakawa USA Fellow Tobias Harris was quoted in an August 11 New York Times article on the impact of President Donald Trump’s tough rhetoric towards North Korea on Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s constitutional revision goals and public approval.
Tags: constitutional revision, donald trump, Japan, North Korea, Shinzo Abe
Adm. Dennis Blair’s Chairman’s Message covered by Japanese media
June 14, 2017Author: Asahi Shimbun
Categories: In the News, Sasakawa USA Blog
Asahi Shimbun recently provided Japanese-language coverage of Sasakawa USA Chairman Adm. Dennis Blair’s comments in his Chairman’s Message, published in May. An article published to the newspaper’s website highlighted Adm. Blair’s thoughts on the need for a revision to Japan’s constitution, and the development of Japan’s Self Defense Forces.
Public remains undecided on constitutional revision
June 8, 2017Author: Tobias Harris
Categories: Japan Political Pulse, Sasakawa USA Blog
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated that he would prioritize the revision of Japan’s constitution by 2020, reordering the political agenda and staking his government on the pursuit of the prime minister’s longtime goal. Yet, the need to win a referendum means that public opinion will cast a shadow over the entire process
Tags: abe shinzo, article 9, constitutional reform, constitutional revision, education, JSDF