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EDITORIALS
Oct 6, 2015

Legislation Bureau misconduct

The Cabinet Legislation Bureau's failure to keep records of its internal discussions leading up to the Abe administration's reinterpretation of Article 9 only deepens suspicions about the legal legitimacy of the Cabinet decision and the subsequent security legislation.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 15, 2015

Abe is wrong to rush toward militarization

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to militarization could have dangerous unforeseen consequences for peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 20, 2015

It's alright for Japan to fudge the Constitution

A constitution must be interpreted pragmatically, to serve the nation's interests and help it avoid existential threats.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 8, 2015

We need to talk about Abe

Shinzo Abe is bent on making Japan a 'normal' country, but has he thought out the consequences of elevating the SDF to a full-fledged military?
JAPAN / 70 YEARS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY
Dec 31, 2014

Year ahead may mark turning point for SDF

The 70th year since the end of World War II may be a watershed for the Self-Defense Forces if they undergo the historic changes planned by the Cabinet.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 31, 2014

Abe's goal of constitutional reform faces many challenges

This will be a tough year for the Abe administration as the calendar is full of policy goals that are unpopular with voters, observers say, particularly on defense policy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 2, 2014

Wrong path to full sovereignty

The change in the government's long-standing interpretation of Article 9 of the Constitution may lift some restrictions on Japan's use of military force, but Japan will not become a full-fledged sovereign state as long as it has a leader who can neither think autonomously nor press a case on behalf of Japan with a negotiating partner.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2014

Japanese lawmakers say war-renouncing Constitution deserves Nobel Peace Prize

A group of lawmakers callfor the Nobel Committee to award Article 9 of the Constitution this year's Nobel Peace Prize, saying it would greatly encourage Japanese people as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushes to expand the nation's military capacity.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 15, 2014

Pacifism at a crossroads following panel's verdict

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe takes a major stride toward his goal of ending Japan's pacifist stance and orders the ruling parties to open talks on legalizing collective self-defense.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Aug 17, 2013

Stone weighs in on Japanese defense

It's August, when the Japanese media's attention turns to peace, or, at least, the absence of war. The anniversaries of the atomic bombings and subsequent surrender occasion print and broadcast discussions of what Japan learned from its bloody mid-century military campaign. For most people the fact that...
Reader Mail
Jun 28, 2012

Article 9 needs to be amended

Regarding Naoshi Koriyama's June 14 letter, "Article 9 has stood by Japan": Article 9 of Japan's Constitution has neither protected Japan nor prevented any type of enemy from causing harm to it. Article 9 was written by the American government after World War II to suppress Japan's military and prevent...
Reader Mail
Jun 14, 2012

Article 9 has stood by Japan

As a member of the Sagami Group to Protect Article 9, I am appalled by Andreas Kolb's June 10 letter. Kolb says Article 9 did not protect Japan from the Cold War and won't protect Japan from terrorists and fascists. But if Japan keeps its war-renouncing Constitution and refrains from suppressing other...
JAPAN
May 3, 2012

Conservative group wages war on Article 9

The war-renouncing clause to the Constitution is a threat to national security that leaves Japan vulnerable to foreign invasion and cyber-attacks and should be revised as soon as possible, a conservative citizens' group said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2006

Activists hold Tokyo rally to protect Article 9

About 1,500 people from diverse citizens' groups across the country gathered Saturday in Tokyo and pledged solidarity to block efforts to revise the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution.
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2004

Armitage wrong to link UNSC bid with reform of Article 9, officials say

Government officials on Friday dismissed advice by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and said Japan will not revise its Constitution to gain a seat on the U.N. Security Council.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 2000

Keidanren considers Article 9

OYAMA, Shizuoka Pref. -- Many of the business leaders who gathered here for an annual seminar organized by the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) called for an amendment to Article 9 of the Constitution.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 3, 2023

A plea and a promise for 2023: No more ‘pacifism’

The characterization of Japan as a “pacifist” country is widespread — and very misleading.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 26, 2021

Trump Senate trial starts as House delivers impeachment article

Delivery of the impeachment article formally signals the start of the proceedings, though arguments won't begin until the week of Feb. 8.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 11, 2020

Twitter wants to make sure you read the article before you retweet

Twitter Inc. will prompt some users to click links to other websites before retweeting them, part of an effort to discourage the spread of misinformation and foster more thoughtful communication on its social network.
EDITORIALS
Jan 6, 2016

Much at stake in Upper House poll

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appear ready to amend the Constitution if the LDP and its allies can secure a majority in the upcoming Upper House election.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 20, 2015

The tragedy of Shinzo Abe

If Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's concern is with strengthening the position of Japan, why he has made so little progress on economics reforms?
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 28, 2015

LDP aims to revise Constitution by 2017

A key member of the Liberal Democratic Party said Tuesday he wants the party to achieve its long-held goal of revising the Constitution within the next two years, arguing the 68-year-old charter should be updated to adapt to a changing domestic and international environment.
EDITORIALS
Mar 13, 2015

Amending for amendment's sake?

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party are moving to put amendment of the Constitution at the forefront of their agenda, with specific timetables already discussed for revising text that has remained unchanged since it took effect in 1947.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?