Japan's ruling LDP push to accelerate constitutional revision debate draws opposition

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Wednesday renewed its call for accelerating discussions on constitutional revision, drawing criticism and opposition from some opposition parties, Jiji Press reported.

At a meeting of the House of Councilors' Commission on the Constitution on Wednesday afternoon, LDP lawmaker Tsuneo Kitamura referred to the party's proposals for revising the Constitution, including explicitly mentioning the Self-Defense Forces in Article 9.

Kitamura said it was "extremely abnormal" that the Japanese people had not yet been consulted on the necessity of constitutional revision, calling for discussions on the issue to be advanced as soon as possible, according to the report.

In response, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Hiroyuki Konishi said the fundamental principles of the Constitution were universal. He stressed the need to firmly oppose misguided proposals for constitutional revision and uphold the use of the Constitution to protect the public.

Taku Yamazoe, policy chief of the Japanese Communist Party, said constitutional revision was not a priority for the Japanese people, adding that rushing discussions on the issue in response to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's call was "unacceptable."

The LDP has long advocated constitutional revision, including explicitly stipulating the existence of the Self-Defense Forces in Article 9.

At an LDP convention in April, Takaichi said it was the party's basic policy to pursue constitutional revision initiated by the Japanese people themselves, declaring that "the time has come." She also expressed hope that progress could be made toward submitting a constitutional amendment proposal by the time the party holds its convention next year.

Takaichi's remarks and the government's moves toward constitutional revision have continued to fuel concerns in Japanese society.

On Tuesday, marking the 80th anniversary of the promulgation of Japan's current Constitution, about 14,000 people gathered in front of the National Diet in Tokyo to call for the protection of the pacifist Constitution and oppose the Takaichi administration's arbitrary push for constitutional revision, warning that it could lead Japan down a dangerous path.