First Meeting

Thursday, September 28, 2000

Meeting Agenda

1. Resignation of a director and appointment of a substitute director

EDANO Yukio (Democratic Party of Japan and Club of Independents) resigned as director, and SHIMA Satoshi (Democratic Party of Japan and Club of Independents) was appointed director to replace him.


2. Matters relating to the Constitution of Japan (the ideal image for Japan in the 21st century)

After statements were heard from Professor TANAKA Akihiko and Mr. ODA Makoto concerning the above matters, questions were put to them.

Informants:

  • TANAKA Akihiko, Professor, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, The University of Tokyo
  • ODA Makoto, Author

Members who put questions to Professor TANAKA:

Members who put questions to Mr. Oda:


3. Brief report on the findings of the House delegation dispatched to survey the constitutions of European nations (Chairman NAKAYAMA Taro)

(See the summary of the findings given at the end of this text.)


Main Points of Professor TANAKA's Statement

1. The world in the 21st century

>> End of the Cold War: diminishing clarity of the priorities of global issues

>> Globalization: acceleration of the spread of global influences

>> Democratization: spread of liberal democracy, with respect for the individual as a universal value

>> Diversification of players (states, international organs, corporations, NGOs, individuals) and increasing complexity of the relationships among players

>> Three kinds of country: countries with stable peace, countries in the process of modernization, countries suffering from civil wars and famines

2. Role of the state

>> The state = an organization to secure the safety of the people who live

within the confines of a specific area, aggregate their interests, treat their interests as a unified whole, and work toward maintaining and promoting their interests

>> Decline in the relative influence of the state

>> Significance as representatives of areas in global politics

>> New concept of the nation-state (state of citizens with a shared sense of identity)

3. The ideal image for Japan

>> Current image of Japan: as a large-scale state (large in terms of gross national product, population, and other parameters)

>> Image of Japan to the Japanese: securing safety, maintaining prosperity, maintaining values (necessity of welcoming talented personnel from foreign nations as "new Japanese" and securing a new identity for the nation as a whole that includes these people)

>> Image of Japan to the world: responsibility to lead the world in various fields as a large-scale state

Main points of questions put to Professor TANAKA

KYUMA Fumio, Liberal Democratic Party

>> Can Japan contribute sufficient personnel to United Nations' PKO under the present Constitution?

>> Specifically, how should paragraph 2 of Article 9 be revised?

>> While virtually all nations with vast national land areas have adopted federal administrative systems or their equivalents, the Chinese administrative system is highly centralized. Do you think that China's centralized government will change in the future?

>> I think that the requirements for the naturalization of foreigners residing in Japan should be eased. What is your opinion regarding this?


IGARASHI Fumihiko, Democratic Party of Japan and Club of Independents

>> What do you think about the explicit stipulation of non-nuclear principles and other fundamental values and national goals in the Constitution?

>> It seems that there is no consistent ideology for Japan's foreign diplomacy and internal affairs. What is your opinion regarding this?

>> In the diplomatic field, do you think it is a problem that Japan takes a compliant stance toward the U.S.?


SAITO Tetsuo, New Komeito

>> What do you think about the role the Constitution has so far served in securing stability, and about the role the Constitution should play in the world in the future?

>> In addition to the state and the people, culture is also an important factor. What do you think about the relationships among these three factors?

>> You refer to contemporary times as the new "Middle Ages". What do you mean by this?

>> How should the concept of the state be addressed in future education?


TAKEYAMA Yuriko, Liberal Party

>> My party advocates the explicit stipulation of national goals in the Constitution based on Japanese tradition and pride. What is your opinion regarding this?

>> From the perspective of Japan in the international community, how should we foster talented political leaders?

>> What role should Japan play in global economic growth?

>> A change of perception is required to welcome many talented individuals from foreign nations as "new Japanese". Why is this not progressing?

>> What is necessary to preserve security and peace in the regions surrounding Japan?


HARUNA Naoaki, Japanese Communist Party

>> What do you think is the significance of the summit meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea?

>> What do you think about the opinion that Japan needs to clearly express its remorse for its past aggressive behavior and colonial rule to gain the trust of Asian nations?

>> How do you evaluate the movement in the international community toward the elimination of nuclear weapons?


ABE Tomoko, Social Democratic Party

>> What type of message of peace and of the elimination of nuclear weapons for the right to a peaceful existence, that even children can understand, should Japan present to the world?

>> Is it not Japan's role in East Asia to make every effort toward the elimination of nuclear weapons?

>> What should Japan's role be in United Nations' peace activities?

>> Under the present Article 9, does not the participation of Japanese Self-Defense Forces in United Nations' PKO represent an arrogation of the powers of the legislative branch by the executive branch?


KONDO Motohiko, 21st Century Club

>> In the future international situation, will U.S. dominance grow stronger and stronger, or will a counter-axis appear to oppose this?

>> Amid the ongoing global integration, I understand that there will be a division of roles among the nations of the world. What type of role should Japan fulfill?

>> In what fields do you expect "new Japanese" to be particularly active?


MATSUNAMI Kenshiro, New Conservative Party

>> What are the reasons why the international community's response differed in the cases of the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War?

>> What do you think about the fact that during the Gulf War Japan provided monetary assistance but made no personnel contributions?

>> Do you not think that Japan should make every effort to resolve disputes in the Middle East region and the Central Asian region?

Main Points of Mr. ODA's Statement

1. As a long-term development, Japan should aim to become a "military conscientious objector state".

(1) Background

The German system of conscientious objection to military service

>> Historical awareness that war should never be repeated

>> The massive carnage and destruction from the advances in weaponry

>> Respect for freedom of conscience

>> Practice of pacifism through "civilian service activities" rather than "military service activities"

(2) Understanding of a "military conscientious objector state"

>> Originating from the "pacifism" expressed in the Japanese Constitution, a consistent ideology of "nonviolence" including the resolution of disputes without resorting to arms.

>> Practice of "civilian services" as a state, including mediation in peace negotiations, aid to refugees, and reduction of developing nations' debts.

2. Toward realizing a "military conscientious objector state" and establishing Japan-U.S.

relations that do not assume armed force, the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty should be abrogated and a Japan-U.S. Treaty of Peace and Amity should be concluded.


Main points of questions put to Mr. ODA

TAKAICHI Sanae, Liberal Democratic Party

>> Do you believe that Germany, which you offered as an example of a nation that recognizes conscientious objection to military service, and Greece, which opposed the NATO bombing of Kosovo, are nations that practice pacifism?

>> You stated that there is no possibility, as a practical issue, that Japan could be invaded, but in the unlikely event of an invasion, would you still renounce a war of self defense?


HOSONO Goshi, Democratic Party of Japan and Club of Independents

>> As a short-term issue, how do you view Japan-U.S. relations in the military field?

>> As a short-term issue, how do you view the role of the Self-Defense Forces?

>> How do you view the inclusion of the right of asylum (the right of individuals subjected to political persecution to receive protection), the nation's environmental preservation duties, and other such items in a constitution such as that of Germany?


AKAMATSU Masao, New Komeito

>> You stated that Japan today has sufficient "strengths" to become a "military conscientious objector state". Where do these "strengths" lie?

>> I believe that the three non-nuclear principles should be preserved as a matter of course, and that Japan should also advocate the three new non-nuclear principles of not tolerating the production, possession, or use of nuclear weapons. What is your opinion regarding this?

>> What do think are the merits and demerits of the IT revolution?


TAKEYAMA Yuriko, Liberal Party

>> What do you think are the reasons why the ideal of pacifism in the Japanese Constitution has so far failed to be understood by the Japanese people?

>> What do you think should be done to further spread the concept of a "military conscientious objector state"?

>> What type of education should be implemented to practice pacifism?


YAMAGUCHI Tomio, Japanese Communist Party

>> What do you think are the necessary conditions for pacifism to spread throughout the world in the 21st century?

>> What do you think about the recent debate in Japan about revising Article 9 of the Constitution?

>> What do you think the relationship should be between the Constitution and public assistance to disaster victims?


HOSAKA Nobuto, Social Democratic Party

>> Some people are advocating making volunteer activities mandatory in public school education. What do you think about this?

>> In discussions of human rights, what do you think of the opinions that advocate the fulfilling of provisions regarding obligations and the clarifying of the contents of public welfare?

>> Regarding the assertion that the present time affords an opportunity to make a global appeal for pacifism, what was the reaction from each nation?


KONDO Motohiko, 21st Century Club

>> Is it not true that the concurrent use of the "herbal medicine" of pacifism is effective precisely because of the deterrent provided by the "powerful drug" of military force?

>> In the military field, what are the reasons why Japan has so far been unable to assert the items that need to be asserted to the U.S.?

>> What are the reasons why "service activities" have failed to become firmly established in Japan?

>> Do you think that in the future items will arise that need to be incorporated into a preamble to the Constitution?


(Reference: Summary of a survey mission by the House delegation on constitutions of European nations)

1. Composition of the delegation

Leader: NAKAYAMA Taro

Deputy Leader: KANO Michihiko

Members: HANASHI Nobuyuki, ISHIKAWA Yozo, NAKAGAWA Shoichi, SENGOKU Yoshito, AKAMATSU Masao, HARUNA Naoaki, TSUJIMOTO Kiyomi

2. Mission period

Sunday, September 10, 2000 - Tuesday September 19, 2000

3. Mission destinations

Germany: Federal Constitutional Court; institutions for handicapped children

where conscientious objectors to military service perform their civilian service; Federal Assembly (Bundestag).

Switzerland: Federal Assembly and Federal Department of Justice and Police

Italy: Constitutional Court; Chamber of Deputies Committee on Constitutional Issues.

France: National Assembly; Constitutional Council (Conseil constitutionnel).

>> The delegation also invited a secretary from the embassy of Finland to explain and answer questions on the revisions to the constitution of Finland (at the official residence of the Ambassador of Japan to Germany), and held discussions with SHIONO Nanami, who presently resides in Italy (at the official residence of the Ambassador of Japan to Italy).

4. Survey Outline

Germany: Questions and answers regarding the following items: summary and background to the major revisions to Germany's Basic Law (Grundgesetz), which has been revised 46 times since the end of World War II; problems in making judgements on the constitutionality of dispatching German military forces outside of NATO; actual conditions of the military service obligation and the system for conscientious objection to military service.

Finland: Explanation of the background and process of revising Finland's constitution, which was completely revised this March.

Switzerland: Explanation of the background and process of drafting the new constitution, which was completely revised last year after 140 partial revisions to the former constitution since it was promulgated in 1874; characteristics of the new constitution (bioethics, etc.).

SHIONO Nanami: Explanation and exchange of opinions regarding the following items: the concept of "law" in ancient Rome; and Ms. Shiono's ideas regarding the Japanese Constitution.

Italy: Questions and answers regarding the following items: trends of the Italian constitution, which has been revised 10 times since the end of World War II, and of the constitutional court system; national perceptions regarding the obligation to defend the nation; relationship between "safeguarding regional autonomy" and "the right of the central government to oversee regional government bodies"; problems related to the EU integration.

France: Questions and answers regarding the following items: trends of the revisions to the present French Constitution, which has been revised 13 times (national referendum on revising the constitution to reduce the President's term of office, etc.); the issue of harmonizing human rights and public social obligations; the so-called "cohabitation" issue (co-existence of conservative and liberal elements in the administration).