A Gathering of Constitutional Revisionists in Tokyo
On November 24th, a meeting of the political organization "Utsukushii Nippon no Kenpou wo Tsukuru Kokumin no Kai" took place in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. This organization, established by the long-time proponent of constitutional revision, Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference), seeks to initiate the process of amending Japan's postwar pacifist Constitution.
However, the meeting was overshadowed by a sense of panic among the attendees. The recent Lower House election had resulted in the loss of seats for several pro-revision lawmakers, significantly weakening the position of those advocating for constitutional change.
Akira Momochi, a senior official of the organization and a professor emeritus at Nihon University, expressed the group's anxieties. "For us who seek quick proposals to amend the Constitution in the Diet, this is truly a difficult situation. It's the winter of our time," he stated.
The election results have shifted the balance of power in the Lower House, with both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), traditionally leaning towards constitutional revision, experiencing losses. Consequently, the number of pro-revision members in the Lower House has fallen below the 310-member threshold required to propose an amendment.
Despite the setback, the organization adopted a statement calling for a resumption of discussions on constitutional revision within the Diet's Commissions on the Constitution. However, the leadership of the Lower House commission has now shifted to a member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which gained significant ground in the election.
Itsunori Onodera, who chairs the LDP's Policy Research Council, acknowledged the challenges ahead. "We will pull together with parties that are in favor of amending the Constitution and do our best to make even a step forward," he stated.
The meeting also saw the participation of Sayaka Sasaki, an Upper House member of Komeito, Yuichiro Wada, a Lower House member of Nippon Ishin, and Takanori Kawai, an Upper House member of the Democratic Party for the People. Their presence suggests a potential for collaboration among different political groups in the pursuit of constitutional revision.
However, the path forward remains uncertain. The weakened position of pro-revision forces and the change in leadership within the relevant Diet commission present significant obstacles. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether the momentum for constitutional revision can be regained.