The government and the ruling parties are making preliminary moves toward enacting legislation designed to meet future military crises directly involving Japan. The assumption is that in the event of an armed attack from abroad, the Self-Defense Forces will be mobilized to defend the country with the support of U.S. forces. Such joint military operations will be facilitated through a range of emergency measures, including control of private facilities, land expropriation and resident evacuation.

One wonders why the ruling coalition is taking active interest in such legislation now. There is no tension building in areas around Japan. There is virtually no possibility of this country being attacked by an outside force. But the most important factor is that no efforts have been made to build national consensus on whether to create such legislation.

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, referring to the coalition's request to start preparations for "emergency legislation" in his policy speech to the Diet last month, said the government will "take fully into account what the ruling parties have in mind." The statement -- a de facto green light for such legislation -- represents a step forward from the previous government position that called for only theoretical studies.