Meeting Agenda
1. Matters related to the Constitution of Japan
Commission members were invited to freely offer their opinions in the lead-up to Constitution Day.
Outline of Opening Remarks by Chairman Nakayama
>> With only a few days left before the Constitution Day, it is very significant for Commission members to freely express their views on the Constitution.
>> As Chairman of this Commission, I have always had the objective of "a Commission in steps with the people".
Outline of Statements by Commission Members (in speaking order)
MITSUZUKA Hiroshi, Liberal Democratic Party
>> Could work on areas where there is already national consensus not go ahead at an earlier date?
>> We should clearly state the right to self-defense in Article 9, and make a clear call for the elimination of nuclear weapons, as a country which is the world's only victim of nuclear bombing, while working hard for the advent of an era of permanent peace and cooperation among the world's peoples.
SENGOKU Yoshito, Democratic Party of Japan
>> I would like to put questions to those who claim that the Constitution was "imposed": which do they believe to be correct, the three principles contained in the Constitution of Japan or the Emperor-centered system that allowed oppression under the Meiji Constitution?
>> What should be debated is a new vision of Japan, which will contain the concepts of the protection of the global environment, restricted defense capacity and the "citizens' society".
KURATA Eiki, New Komeito and Reformers' Network
>> While it is important to examine the background to the enactment of the Constitution, equally important is to examine the Constitution in terms of how it is functioning in contemporary society.
>> A theory-based interpretation of sovereignty residing with the people and the "Emperor-as-symbol" system needs to be provided from the perspective of traditionalism, which should be contrasted with democracy.
HIGASHINAKA Mitsuo, Japanese Communist Party
>> Government attempts at having the people absorb the Constitution have been thwarted to date through the U.S.-led rearming of Japan.
>> A study should be undertaken to protect the most progressive Constitution of the 20th century.
NAKAMURA Eiichi, New Conservative Party
>> Japan needs to get beyond the "imposed Constitution" argument to create a Constitution which is by the Japanese, for the people and of the people.
FUTAMI Nobuaki, Liberal Party
>> Debate on the Constitution should be taken forward from our stance of soken (creating a Constitution) with the emphasis on quality rather than speed, aiming to develop a Constitution which carries on the principles of the existing Constitution while also engaging in an across-the-board review.
ITO Shigeru, Social Democratic Party
>> The coordinates for debating the Constitution should be definitely fixed.
>> Rather than collective self-defense, the need now is for collective security.
>> Efforts should be directed at better use of constitutional ideals. The problem is that Government policy is now out of line with the provisions of the Constitution.
OKUDA Mikio, Liberal Democratic Party
>> It is obvious that the present Constitution was not formulated on Japan's own initiative.
>> I don't consider it to be necessary to amend paragraph 1 of Article 9, but paragraph 2 should be revised. National debate will required to achieve this.
TAKAICHI Sanae, Liberal Democratic Party
>> A Constitution should be created which reflects the heart of Japan. A vision of the ideal state and the duties of the people and the state should be clearly delineated in the Constitution in plain and precise Japanese.
YOKOMICHI Takahiro, Democratic Party of Japan
>> My opinion is that it is a constitution which lays down the foundations of the nation, leaving specific details to laws enacted on the basis of the Constitution.
>> I believe that the process of formulation and the historical background of the Constitution should be taken into consideration in our constitutional debates.
OTA Akihiro, New Komeito and Reformers' Network
>> In exploring a vision for Japan, it is important to examine not only the process by which the Constitution was formulated, but also the historical course followed by Japan since the Constitution was enacted.
>> The important thing is that the Research Commission should beat the heart of public debate.
ISHIBA Shigeru, Liberal Democratic Party
>> No law on a national referendum has been formulated in regard to revision of the Constitution. This is the responsibility of the legislature.
>> The right to self-defense is a natural right inherent to a State, and is not a matter which should be stipulated in the Constitution.
OKUNO Seisuke, Liberal Democratic Party
>> I believe that the current Constitution was created as part of U.S. Occupation policy, which was intended to weaken Japan.
>> An objective grasp of the situation in and beyond Japan will be vital in developing a Constitution by Japanese hands.
SHIMA Satoshi, Democratic Party of Japan
>> A system should be introduced for electing the Prime Minister by popular vote.
>> This Commission should debate on the Constitution, delineating a vision for 21st century Japan, in order to get a Constitution formed by the people of Japan themselves.
ISHIKAWA Yozo, Liberal Democratic Party
>> The five-year study period should be utilized effectively to grasp the evolving situation at home and abroad while debating a vision for Japan.
SATO Megumu, Liberal Democratic Party
>> Given that the Constitution is no longer keeping pace with developments in and beyond Japan, reconsideration is needed of issues such as the environment, the bicameral system, and government subsidization of private education.
MATSUZAWA Shigefumi, Democratic Party of Japan
>> First, we should conduct full debate on a vision to be formed for Japan in the new era, and then go ahead with work to create a new Constitution.
KYUMA Fumio, Liberal Democratic Party
>> The current Constitution limits the extent to which Japan can participate in UN activities for security, and should be revised so that Japan can fulfil its obligations as a UN member.
HIRANUMA Takeo, Liberal Democratic Party
>> It is the duty of Diet members to ensure that Japan as a constitutional state puts behind it a supposedly imposed Constitution, and to engage in vigorous discussion toward the creation of a new Constitution.
ISHIGE Eiko, Democratic Party of Japan
>> It will be important to carry forward and build on the major contributions which the present Constitution has made to the establishment of human rights, as well as to the fact that it caused no war.
ISHIDA Katsuyuki, New Komeito and Reformers' Network
>> In recent years, even those supporting the Constitution in its current form have recognized Japan's right to self-defense, gradually reducing the heat of the Article 9 debate with those supporting Constitution revision. Public opinion too is now ripe for Constitution revision, I think.
FUKADA Hajime, Social Democratic Party
>> I am opposed to the view that the Constitution should be revised simply because it was originally allegedly "imposed" upon Japan. Rather than shaping the Constitution to fit reality, reality should be shaped to fit Constitutional ideals.
FUNADA Hajime, Liberal Democratic Party
>> While Japan has tried to bring the Constitution into line with our changing society simply through changes of interpretation, leaving the Constitution itself exactly as it was originally formulated, this approach has reached its limits. The necessary revisions should be undertaken while preserving Constitutional ideals.
NAKASONE Yasuhiro, Liberal Democratic Party
>> The Meiji Constitution was granted by the Emperor, while the current Constitution was the product of the Occupation. As the 21st century ushers in a new era, we now need to involve the people in creating a people's Constitution.
>> Five years of discussion is too long. Arguments on particular items to be incorporated into the Constitution should be covered in the next two years, with parties drawing up their revision proposals in the third year and submitting these to discussion beyond party factions.
HOZUMI Yoshiyuki, Liberal Democratic Party
>> We need to lay down a basic direction for Japan to follow in the 21st century and tackle the necessary revisions in the spirit of MIYAZAWA Kenji's well-known poem "Ame-nimo makezu (No matter if it's raining...)".
ABE Motoo, New Conservative Party
>> Rather than the Constitution, it has been the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty which has maintained the peace of Japan up to now.
>> In our debates on the Constitution, we should reflect a correct understanding of the international situation and the relationships between rights and public welfare, and seek ways to make it possible to revise the Constitution flexibly.
NAKANO Kansei, Democratic Party of Japan
>> Constitutional debate should focus on the future, not the past.
>> The Constitution needs to be drastically reviewed to create a document with a uniquely Japanese identity.
MORIYAMA Mayumi, Liberal Democratic Party
>> I want to work together with the House of Councillors Research Commission on the Constitution in discussing the ideal bicameral system.
>> The relation between the freedom of expression and public welfare needs to be considered with a view to promoting regulations on magazine advertising and sales that have a bad influence on young people.
TASSO Takuya, Liberal Party
>> A new Constitution should be created which will respond to the emerging information society.
>> After the new Constitution has been drawn up, it should be revised every five years in line with social changes. Such revisions should take advantage of the Internet to input the voice of the people, aspiring to an "e-Constitution".
SASAKI Rikukai, Japanese Communist Party
>> The purpose of those pushing for revision of the Constitution is to amend Article 9 to allow the Self-Defense Forces to use armed force abroad.
>> The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty should be revoked, with Japan pursuing a path of peace.
YOKOUCHI Shomei, Liberal Democratic Party
>> As the so-called Ashida amendment, or Ashida's insertion of a line into the draft of Article 9, clearly allows Japan to retain the right to maintain the military capacity for self-defense, Article 9 should be revised to make this plain.
>> We should consider pushing ahead with revision of Article 9, with other revisions to follow later.
SUGIURA Seiken, Liberal Democratic Party
>> After close examination of constitutions of the past, a new Constitution which draws worldwide praise should be created for the 21st century.
EDANO Yukio, Democratic Party of Japan
>> Rather than arguing abstractly for or against Constitutional revision, concrete discussion is needed on exactly what parts should be changed.
>> Discussion should be based on a shared understanding of what a constitution is and what should be covered by a constitution.
AICHI Kazuo, Liberal Democratic Party
>> As the ideal state of the nation has changed since the time when the Constitution was formulated, the present Constitution needs to be rewritten.
>> In formulating the new Constitution, consideration should be given to our vision for Japan in the years to come, bearing in mind Japan's history and traditions.