New Peace Constitution before the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
HANABUSA Masamichi / Former Ambassador to Italy
December 19, 2014
In the latest snap general election, Prime Minister Abe scored an overwhelming victory, securing for himself another 4 years in power. Based on the new expression of popular support, Prime Minister Abe is expected to take positive actions towards steering the Japanese economy out of deflation and legislations to enable Japan to exercise limited use of the right of collective self-defence. Among other major political issues facing the Prime Minister is the amendment of the present Constitution.
The governing Liberal Democratic Party(LDP) has already made public its "Proposals for Constitutional Amendments." Throughout the election campaign, however, the LDP candidates argued that their party would “work towards presenting a draft for constitutional amendments to the Diet while seeking understanding among the people.” It appears that the LDP has somewhat softened its hard line stance early last year of insisting on its original Proposals into that of seeking a broad consensus among the people. In view of the concern that its advocacy to steamroll the change by starting with amending Article 96 on constitutional amendment procedure aroused even among those who support the constitutional change, the possible change of heart on the part of the LDP is welcome. At any rate, it is naturally important to seek a broad consensus throughout the nation on this important issue, as any proposal for the change of the present Constitution would come to naught if it failed to receive the approval of the majority of the Japanese people.
If we look back on the past seven post-war decades, Japan has surely succeeded in building a stable and prosperous nation. Successive Prime Ministers have said, "Japan shares with major nations such basic values as respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law." For these seven decades Japan has unfailingly promoted peaceful diplomacy based on international cooperation. This clearly demonstrates that the nation has lived up to the ideals of its Constitution. There does exist in Japan a strong and broad support for the continuation of this policy, and it is along these basic lines that Japan should embark upon the path of amending its Constitution to create a better nation. It would therefore be simply foolish to play into the political propaganda that as a result of Constitutional amendment, the "Peace Constitution" would turn into a "War Constitution." Unfortunately, thoughtless remarks by certain Japanese politicians suggesting that Japan is undergoing a "regime change" have given rise to an impression in neighboring China and ROK and even in some quarters in Japan’s ally, the United States, that the proposed Japanese constitutional change is intended to undo Japan's past positive achievements over the past seven decades. Both at home and abroad, there seem to be forces playing up overtly or covertly for political purposes the image of Japan “shifting to the right.”
Not to speak of the pro-Constitution political parties that would never countenance any constitutional change, the Democratic Party of Japan is unclear about the extent of the party's approval of the change. Likewise, the Komeito, the LDP’s coalition partner, has not clarified what it means by its advocacy of “adding to the present Constitution.” In a parliamentary democracy like Japan, there is no other way to ascertain people's intentions but to arrive at a conclusion in the Diet as a result of deliberations among the political parties conducted in a spirit of "open speech."
In 2020 Tokyo will host the Olympic/Paralympic Games. In 1964 the Tokyo Olympic Games was a proud moment for Japan to show to the world that the nation had been reconstructed from the war. If a referendum is to take place then for constitutional change, it will have the participation of most of the young people, with the voting age lowered to 18. It is my wish that the political parties of Japan will join together to forge a broad national consensus, so that we may be able to host with pride the 2020 Olympics/Paralympics as a genuine democratic nation with the New Peace Constitution approved by the nation's first referendum with the participation of the generations who will shoulder Japan’s future in the 21st century.
I am convinced that the Japanese are not so foolish as to deviate from the principal ideals of the present Constitution such as popular sovereignty, democracy, respect for fundamental human rights and dedication to peace. In that sense, the revised Constitution will still remain a "Peace Constitution." It is my fervent wish that the LDP, the principal government party, will not try to settle once and for all the issues which 70 years' domestic political battle have not been able to resolve, on the occasion of the first ever national referendum to take place in Japan's history. It is important to limit the constitutional change to the Preamble and those urgent issues on which a broad national consensus may be expected, while deferring the controversial Article 9 till later.
Would it not be possible for the LDP to show the political wisdom to strive to forge a broad national consensus to make a new Peace Constitution on the occasion of the first constitutional amendment under popular sovereignty in Japan’s history? If the LDP were reluctant to do so, why would not the Komeito or even the Democratic Party of Japan take the initiative to build the public opinion to support this idea?
The hosting of the Olympic/Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 provides a heaven-sent opportunity for Japan to amend its Constitution. Probably this would be the last opportunity for us to do so. Should we miss this opportunity, I fear that the present Constitution, made under the Allied Occupation of Japan, will remain to be "never worn thin." There is a “window of opportunity” starting from the next year marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the war until 2020. It is hoped that all political parties will take advantage of this opportunity to sort out their respective positions on the constitutional amendments, thrash out their views, and join forces to formulate out a proposal for constitutional amendments which can command the broad consensus of the Japanese people.
Masamichi Hanabusa is Chairman Emeritus of the English-Speaking Union of Japan.
The governing Liberal Democratic Party(LDP) has already made public its "Proposals for Constitutional Amendments." Throughout the election campaign, however, the LDP candidates argued that their party would “work towards presenting a draft for constitutional amendments to the Diet while seeking understanding among the people.” It appears that the LDP has somewhat softened its hard line stance early last year of insisting on its original Proposals into that of seeking a broad consensus among the people. In view of the concern that its advocacy to steamroll the change by starting with amending Article 96 on constitutional amendment procedure aroused even among those who support the constitutional change, the possible change of heart on the part of the LDP is welcome. At any rate, it is naturally important to seek a broad consensus throughout the nation on this important issue, as any proposal for the change of the present Constitution would come to naught if it failed to receive the approval of the majority of the Japanese people.
If we look back on the past seven post-war decades, Japan has surely succeeded in building a stable and prosperous nation. Successive Prime Ministers have said, "Japan shares with major nations such basic values as respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law." For these seven decades Japan has unfailingly promoted peaceful diplomacy based on international cooperation. This clearly demonstrates that the nation has lived up to the ideals of its Constitution. There does exist in Japan a strong and broad support for the continuation of this policy, and it is along these basic lines that Japan should embark upon the path of amending its Constitution to create a better nation. It would therefore be simply foolish to play into the political propaganda that as a result of Constitutional amendment, the "Peace Constitution" would turn into a "War Constitution." Unfortunately, thoughtless remarks by certain Japanese politicians suggesting that Japan is undergoing a "regime change" have given rise to an impression in neighboring China and ROK and even in some quarters in Japan’s ally, the United States, that the proposed Japanese constitutional change is intended to undo Japan's past positive achievements over the past seven decades. Both at home and abroad, there seem to be forces playing up overtly or covertly for political purposes the image of Japan “shifting to the right.”
Not to speak of the pro-Constitution political parties that would never countenance any constitutional change, the Democratic Party of Japan is unclear about the extent of the party's approval of the change. Likewise, the Komeito, the LDP’s coalition partner, has not clarified what it means by its advocacy of “adding to the present Constitution.” In a parliamentary democracy like Japan, there is no other way to ascertain people's intentions but to arrive at a conclusion in the Diet as a result of deliberations among the political parties conducted in a spirit of "open speech."
In 2020 Tokyo will host the Olympic/Paralympic Games. In 1964 the Tokyo Olympic Games was a proud moment for Japan to show to the world that the nation had been reconstructed from the war. If a referendum is to take place then for constitutional change, it will have the participation of most of the young people, with the voting age lowered to 18. It is my wish that the political parties of Japan will join together to forge a broad national consensus, so that we may be able to host with pride the 2020 Olympics/Paralympics as a genuine democratic nation with the New Peace Constitution approved by the nation's first referendum with the participation of the generations who will shoulder Japan’s future in the 21st century.
I am convinced that the Japanese are not so foolish as to deviate from the principal ideals of the present Constitution such as popular sovereignty, democracy, respect for fundamental human rights and dedication to peace. In that sense, the revised Constitution will still remain a "Peace Constitution." It is my fervent wish that the LDP, the principal government party, will not try to settle once and for all the issues which 70 years' domestic political battle have not been able to resolve, on the occasion of the first ever national referendum to take place in Japan's history. It is important to limit the constitutional change to the Preamble and those urgent issues on which a broad national consensus may be expected, while deferring the controversial Article 9 till later.
Would it not be possible for the LDP to show the political wisdom to strive to forge a broad national consensus to make a new Peace Constitution on the occasion of the first constitutional amendment under popular sovereignty in Japan’s history? If the LDP were reluctant to do so, why would not the Komeito or even the Democratic Party of Japan take the initiative to build the public opinion to support this idea?
The hosting of the Olympic/Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 provides a heaven-sent opportunity for Japan to amend its Constitution. Probably this would be the last opportunity for us to do so. Should we miss this opportunity, I fear that the present Constitution, made under the Allied Occupation of Japan, will remain to be "never worn thin." There is a “window of opportunity” starting from the next year marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the war until 2020. It is hoped that all political parties will take advantage of this opportunity to sort out their respective positions on the constitutional amendments, thrash out their views, and join forces to formulate out a proposal for constitutional amendments which can command the broad consensus of the Japanese people.
Masamichi Hanabusa is Chairman Emeritus of the English-Speaking Union of Japan.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
２０２０年東京オリンピックまでに「新平和憲法」を
英 正道 / 元駐伊大使
2014年 12月 19日
総選挙は安倍総理の完勝に終わった。更に数年の政治的な寿命を得た安倍総理は、国民の負託を得たとして、デフレ脱却、集団的自衛権の限定的な行使の法制化に向けて積極的な行動をとるものと予想される。安倍総理が取り組まなければならない多くの問題の中に憲法改正がある。
政権党である自由民主党は「憲法改正草案」を作成済みであるが、今回の選挙に当たっては、「国民の理解を得つつ憲法改正原案を国会に提出し」と述べて、自民党草案に固執しないで国民の広範な意見の一致を図ると言う柔軟な姿勢に転じたように見える。昨年の始めに見られた９６条の改正条項の改正から着手するというような強行路線が、憲法改正に前向きな国民の中にも危惧の念を起こしたことを考えると、好ましい変化と云える。いずれにせよ両院の３分の２の賛成で発議された改正案は国民投票に掛けられ、過半の賛成が得られない場合には改正は実現しないことを考えると、当然とは言いながら国民の広範な理解を求める姿勢は重要である。
振り返ると戦後７０年の節目を迎えた今日から振り返ると、この７０年に日本は安定して繁栄した国家を建設できた。歴代首相は、「日本は人権尊重、民主主義、法の支配等の基本的な価値観を主要国と共有する」と述べ、７０年に亘り日本は国際協調主義の平和外交を進めて来た。これは現行憲法の掲げる理念を体現したと言って間違いはない。国民の間には今後も日本がこの路線を堅持することに広範な支持がある。
その基本路線の上に、より良き日本を作るために必要な憲法の改正を行うのであるから、憲法改正に依り、「平和憲法」が「戦争憲法」代わるという政治的な宣伝に乗じられるのは愚というものである。近隣の中国や韓国のみならず、同盟国の米国にも、日本の政治家の不用意な「レジーム・チェンジ」等という発言から、憲法改正があたかも戦後７０年の日本の成し遂げた成果を逆転させるかのような印象が作られ、また内外にそのような「右傾化」論を政治的に煽る意図も見え隠れする。
憲法改正に向けては、絶対に改正を認めない護憲派政党は論外であるが、民主党のみならず政権与党である公明党ですらその主張する「加憲」内容を明確にしていない。国民の支持を得ると言っても、議会制民主主義の日本においては、「開かれた言論」を反映した政党間の論議を経ての結論以外に、国民の意向を確認する術はない。
２０２０年には東京でオリンピック/パラリンピックが開催される。１９６４年のオリンピックは復興日本を世界に晴れがましくアピールした。１８歳まで引き下げられる投票年齢により２１世紀の日本を担う若者も参画した、日本の歴史始まって最初の国民投票を経た「新平和憲法」を持つ正真正銘の民主主義国として、我が国が胸を張って２０２０年のオリンピック／パラリンピックを主催出来るように、諸政党は大同に付くべく協力出来ないだろうか。
私は日本国民は現行憲法の基本理念である主権在民、民主主義、人権の尊重、平和主義から逸脱することを望むほど愚かでないと信じている。だから改正後の憲法も「平和憲法」であると思う。私は、最大の政権党である自民党が、７０年間の国内の政治論戦で達成できなかったことを、日本の歴史上最初となる憲法の改正の国民投票の機会に、一気に実現しようと求めないことを希望する。最初の憲法改正を国民の間に政治的な分裂を招く機会にしないで、当面は議論の多い第９条改正は見送り、まず前文とか広範な国民の間に意見の一致を期待できる緊急性の高い条項の改正に限定することが重要であると確信する。
自民党は国民主権の下の史上最初の憲法改正において、「新平和憲法」を作るために広範な国民世論の結集を計ると言う方針を打ち出すという政治的な英知を示せないだろうか。自民党が躊躇するのであれば公明党、民主党が積極的にこういう考えを打ち出して、世論形成に主体性を発揮してもらいたい。
私は２０２０年のオリンピック/パラリンピック開催は、日本に訪れた絶好の憲法改正の機会であると思う。そして恐らくこれが最後の機会で、この好機を逸したら日本は、占領下に出来た現行憲法を今後 永きにわたり「不磨の憲法」としてしまうのではないかと危惧する。戦後７０年の明年を切っ掛けに、２０２０年まで開いているこの「機会の窓」を生かして、諸政党がその立場を明らかにして、議論を尽くして、日本国民が大同団結できる内容の「新平和憲法案」を作り上げてもらいたい。
（筆者は本連盟の名誉会長である。）
政権党である自由民主党は「憲法改正草案」を作成済みであるが、今回の選挙に当たっては、「国民の理解を得つつ憲法改正原案を国会に提出し」と述べて、自民党草案に固執しないで国民の広範な意見の一致を図ると言う柔軟な姿勢に転じたように見える。昨年の始めに見られた９６条の改正条項の改正から着手するというような強行路線が、憲法改正に前向きな国民の中にも危惧の念を起こしたことを考えると、好ましい変化と云える。いずれにせよ両院の３分の２の賛成で発議された改正案は国民投票に掛けられ、過半の賛成が得られない場合には改正は実現しないことを考えると、当然とは言いながら国民の広範な理解を求める姿勢は重要である。
振り返ると戦後７０年の節目を迎えた今日から振り返ると、この７０年に日本は安定して繁栄した国家を建設できた。歴代首相は、「日本は人権尊重、民主主義、法の支配等の基本的な価値観を主要国と共有する」と述べ、７０年に亘り日本は国際協調主義の平和外交を進めて来た。これは現行憲法の掲げる理念を体現したと言って間違いはない。国民の間には今後も日本がこの路線を堅持することに広範な支持がある。
その基本路線の上に、より良き日本を作るために必要な憲法の改正を行うのであるから、憲法改正に依り、「平和憲法」が「戦争憲法」代わるという政治的な宣伝に乗じられるのは愚というものである。近隣の中国や韓国のみならず、同盟国の米国にも、日本の政治家の不用意な「レジーム・チェンジ」等という発言から、憲法改正があたかも戦後７０年の日本の成し遂げた成果を逆転させるかのような印象が作られ、また内外にそのような「右傾化」論を政治的に煽る意図も見え隠れする。
憲法改正に向けては、絶対に改正を認めない護憲派政党は論外であるが、民主党のみならず政権与党である公明党ですらその主張する「加憲」内容を明確にしていない。国民の支持を得ると言っても、議会制民主主義の日本においては、「開かれた言論」を反映した政党間の論議を経ての結論以外に、国民の意向を確認する術はない。
２０２０年には東京でオリンピック/パラリンピックが開催される。１９６４年のオリンピックは復興日本を世界に晴れがましくアピールした。１８歳まで引き下げられる投票年齢により２１世紀の日本を担う若者も参画した、日本の歴史始まって最初の国民投票を経た「新平和憲法」を持つ正真正銘の民主主義国として、我が国が胸を張って２０２０年のオリンピック／パラリンピックを主催出来るように、諸政党は大同に付くべく協力出来ないだろうか。
私は日本国民は現行憲法の基本理念である主権在民、民主主義、人権の尊重、平和主義から逸脱することを望むほど愚かでないと信じている。だから改正後の憲法も「平和憲法」であると思う。私は、最大の政権党である自民党が、７０年間の国内の政治論戦で達成できなかったことを、日本の歴史上最初となる憲法の改正の国民投票の機会に、一気に実現しようと求めないことを希望する。最初の憲法改正を国民の間に政治的な分裂を招く機会にしないで、当面は議論の多い第９条改正は見送り、まず前文とか広範な国民の間に意見の一致を期待できる緊急性の高い条項の改正に限定することが重要であると確信する。
自民党は国民主権の下の史上最初の憲法改正において、「新平和憲法」を作るために広範な国民世論の結集を計ると言う方針を打ち出すという政治的な英知を示せないだろうか。自民党が躊躇するのであれば公明党、民主党が積極的にこういう考えを打ち出して、世論形成に主体性を発揮してもらいたい。
私は２０２０年のオリンピック/パラリンピック開催は、日本に訪れた絶好の憲法改正の機会であると思う。そして恐らくこれが最後の機会で、この好機を逸したら日本は、占領下に出来た現行憲法を今後 永きにわたり「不磨の憲法」としてしまうのではないかと危惧する。戦後７０年の明年を切っ掛けに、２０２０年まで開いているこの「機会の窓」を生かして、諸政党がその立場を明らかにして、議論を尽くして、日本国民が大同団結できる内容の「新平和憲法案」を作り上げてもらいたい。
（筆者は本連盟の名誉会長である。）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟