Three samurai in yoroi about 1890 (photo: Kimbei Kusakabe).
Posted on 11/22/2005 2:09:20 PM PST by Flavius
JAPAN will once again have a "military" in name 60 years after the United States stripped it of the right to keep armed forces.
It is the first revision of the post-World War II constitution. The draft, which has already been made public, was formally presented at the Liberal Democratic Party's 50th anniversary event yesterday.
The move may raise tensions with neighbouring countries, which accuse Japan of not atoning for past aggression.
The constitution, however, will maintain Japan's official pacifism, keeping a clause that says: "The Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes."
The constitution is almost certain to go through parliament, with the main opposition Democratic Party also backing revision. It would then be submitted to a referendum, with opinion polls indicating it would easily pass.
Other than in name, Japan already has one of the world's best funded "militaries," devoting close to $60 billion to defence a year.
The revision cuts out a paragraph in pacifist Article Nine that says "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained."
The draft says: "In order to secure peace and the independence of our country as well as the security of the state and the people, military forces for self-defence shall be maintained with the prime minister of the cabinet as the supreme commander."
Three samurai in yoroi about 1890 (photo: Kimbei Kusakabe).
Good for Japan! BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI!
Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)
Now they can kick Godzilla's, Rodan's and Gamera's butt
And help us out with/against their Communist neighbors.
Japanese Self-Defence Force personnel drive past a municipal project in the southern Iraq city of Samawa March 22, 2005. Photo credit: Mohammed Ameen, Reuters
Yes and the samauri-class was all bound directly or indirectly to the emperor by ties of fealty. But this never prevented the Shogun from wielding real power. It's this kind of flexible observance of their own laws that makes Japan's neighbors nervous.
...probably because Imperial Germany's Pacific possessions were ripe for the taking. Japan's Navy could also 'help' Britain's Royal Navy by taking over patrol duties north of Hong Kong -- a slight-of-hand maneuver that neatly ejects one western navy from Japan's backyard.
Japan was very good at Realpolitik. They just overplayed their hand later on.
Good news. This may end up being a real force multiplier for us not if but when the SHTF with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (aka WW3 Axis).
And they've got much heavier armor than that. We're talkin' Abrahms. I rode in one way up north, near Ruskie land (Hokkaido).
As they will likely be again, in WW3.
I almost got run over by a herd of M47's at Gotemba long, long ago.
LOL!
I agree with GOP_1900AD this is good news.
Along with India, the Japanese will be a powerful addition to the forces of democracy around the world.
As they build up their armed forces, they will be in a better position to ask to join the UN Security Council, and they will get a seat there.
This is great.
Thanks for posting this.
This is the Japanese pattern, which at it's longstanding bureaucratic heart is not *nearly* as democratic in the western sense as it is generally regarded.
Oh yes, rest assured there will be elaborate Parliamentary theatrics, lots of "debate", but mark my words.
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