Political Group Expresses Concern over Constitutional Revision Prospects
A meeting of a political organization established by Nippon Kaigi, a long-time proponent of constitutional revision, was held in Tokyo on November 24th. The meeting was marked by a sense of panic among members, who expressed concern over the recent setbacks faced by pro-revision lawmakers in the October Lower House election.
The organization, called Utsukushii Nippon no Kenpou wo Tsukuru Kokumin no Kai, aims to initiate the process of amending the postwar pacifist Constitution. However, the election results have significantly weakened the position of pro-revision parties, making the path to constitutional amendment more challenging.
Akira Momochi, a senior official of the organization and a professor emeritus at Nihon University, acknowledged the difficult situation. "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 Lower House election resulted in a decline in the strength of both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the opposition Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), both of which have traditionally supported constitutional revision. Consequently, the number of pro-revision members in the Lower House has fallen below the two-thirds majority required to propose an amendment.
In response to these developments, the organization adopted a statement calling for a resumption of discussions at the Commissions on the Constitution of the Diet. However, the current head of the commission in the Lower House is a member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which opposes constitutional revision.
Despite the challenges, Itsunori Onodera, who chairs the LDP's Policy Research Council, expressed determination to move forward. "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 declared.
The meeting was also attended by 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. These individuals represent a range of perspectives on the issue of constitutional revision, highlighting the complex political landscape surrounding this topic.