Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on the 3rd, which is Japan's Constitution Memorial Day, that he would work to ensure that a constitutional amendment bill is submitted to the National Diet as soon as possible.
According to Kyodo News, Prime Minister Ishiba made these remarks in a video message sent to a rally in Tokyo calling for constitutional revision. He stated that he would push for amendments related to emergency response and the explicit mention of the Self-Defense Forces in the Constitution.
Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized, "The Constitution has not been amended even once since it came into effect in 1947." He added, "It is necessary to boldly review and discuss it, and ultimately leave the decision to the people."
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is pursuing constitutional amendments that would allow the government to issue emergency decrees with the same force as law without parliamentary approval in the event of a large-scale disaster or widespread infectious disease. The amendments would also explicitly state the existence of the Self-Defense Forces, which function as a de facto military, in the Constitution.
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that in a mail-in public opinion survey of 2,012 voters conducted from March 10 to April 16, 60% said it would be better to amend the Constitution, while 36% said it would be better not to amend it. Regarding Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, which stipulates the permanent renunciation of war and the use of force, 80% responded that there is no need to revise it. As for the need to revise Article 9, Paragraph 2, which prohibits the possession of land, sea, and air forces and denies the right of belligerency, 47% said there is a need for revision, while 49% said there is not, showing a nearly even split.
To submit a constitutional amendment bill in the Japanese National Diet, two-thirds of the members must approve. In last year's House of Representatives election, the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito, both of which have promoted constitutional revision, failed to secure a majority of seats, resulting in the pro-amendment lawmakers falling short of the required number. The Yomiuri Shimbun analyzed that the momentum for constitutional revision has weakened under the minority ruling party system, and that discussions in the House of Representatives' Commission on the Constitution are increasingly being led by the opposition parties.
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