Japan's constitutional amendments prepare for authoritarian rule

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Thanks Ismail for the link.

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/07/31/japa-j31.html


Constitutional amendments prepare authoritarian rule in Japan

By John Watanabe
31 July 2013

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, won a sweeping victory in the upper house elections on July 21, winning 65 seats out of the contested 121. The second-placed Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) only got 17.

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The LDP now hopes its upper house majority will boost its chances of implementing its right-wing agenda, notably revising the Japanese constitution. The changes—including undermining basic democratic rights and legalizing Japan’s involvement in aggressive wars abroad—will set into motion an explosive confrontation with the working class.
The draft constitution prepared by the LDP in April reeks of Japanese nationalism. The most significant changes include eliminating key democratic rights, granting new “emergency powers” to the prime minister, restoring the emperor as head of state, and voiding the constitution’s pacifist Article 9.
The current constitution was created by US occupation authorities after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Facing the threat of social revolution amid deep popular opposition to Japan’s bloody militarist regime, US authorities made significant political concessions. Basic democratic rights were formally inscribed in the constitution; Article 9 aimed to placate broad anti-war sentiment, as well as to ensure that Japan would not return to war against the US.
The LDP explains that today’s “constitutional amendments… will unshackle the country from the system established during the Occupation and make Japan a truly sovereign state.”
Abe’s nationalist rhetoric insists that Japan must restore its status as a “normal country.” Under the current constitution, Japan is, strictly speaking, banned from having a military, even though Japan’s “Self-Defence Force” is among the largest and most advanced in the world. As a result, it currently lacks crucial offensive capacities.
The new Article 9’s title has been changed from “Renunciation of War” to “National Security.” Although it retains the phrase “renounces war as an instrument of national policy”, the new Article 9 will rename the Self-Defence Force to a National Defence Force with the prime minister as commander in chief, in order to “secure the peace, independence, and security of the country and the people.” Practically, the LDP wants the legal basis to act as a partner in US military operations and to create a force with offensive capabilities, including so-called “pre-emptive” strikes against enemy states.
The move towards militarism is going hand-in-hand with far reaching attacks on democratic rights. The preamble of the present constitution emphasizes the universality of the principle of popular sovereignty and of “laws of political morality.” It declares: “We, the Japanese people... [have] resolved that never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government.”
The LDP plans to remove these passages, arguing that they are concepts “based on the Western theory of natural rights.” It counterposes Japanese uniqueness in a preamble that would begin, “Japan is a nation with a long history and unique culture, with the emperor as a symbol of the unity of the people.”
Without explaining why, the LDP is proposing to delete Article 97, which declares: “The fundamental human rights guaranteed by this Constitution to the people of Japan [are] to be held for all time inviolate.” Instead, the LDP would impose “duties” such as: “The people must respect the national flag and national anthem,” and “All the people must respect this Constitution.”
Freedom of speech and assembly are to be curtailed. The draft declares that “engaging in activities with the purpose of damaging public interest or public order, or associating with others for such purposes, shall not be recognized.” In other words, any speech or demonstration that challenges state authorities or policies would be considered unconstitutional.
The draft constitution’s new emergency powers clearly spell out the dictatorial forms of rule that would follow, in which state and security agencies could rule by decree. It reads, “In the event of armed attacks on the nation from abroad, disturbances of the social order due to internal strife... or other emergency situations... the Prime Minister may issue a declaration of emergency situation.”
At this point, “the Cabinet may enact cabinet orders having the same effect as laws,” and “all persons must comply with the directives of national or other public institutions ... taken to protect the lives, persons or property of the people.”
With Japan’s political parties largely discredited, the LDP is seeking to boost the emperor’s role, presenting him as an arbiter above parties or class interests. He is to be officially declared the “head of state,” rather than the “symbol of national unity” the present constitution declares him to be.
The LDP draft also removes the present stipulation that “the Emperor or Regent... has the obligation to respect and uphold this Constitution,” effectively preparing to return him to the role he played before World War II—a semi-divine figure placed above the law and used to justify fascistic policies at home and abroad.
The LDP also aims to strengthen religion’s role in the state, eliminating constitutional provisions forbidding the appropriation of public funds “for the use, benefit or maintenance of any religious institution or association.” Exceptions are to be introduced here for such expenses if the religious content “does not exceed social etiquette or customary behaviour.” This would facilitate financing religious ceremonies connected to the imperial house.
As in Europe and the US, Japanese imperialism is seeking to re-establish authoritarian forms of rule to suppress opposition from the working class, as it ruthlessly pursues social counter-revolution at home and war abroad.
LDP can only push for such a militaristic, anti-democratic agenda because it is broadly supported in the political establishment. The DPJ, which once presented itself as a “liberal” alternative to the LDP, continued the LDP’s pro-war and pro-austerity policies upon taking power in 2009. It initiated the doubling of the consumption tax and Japan’s commitment to the US “pivot to Asia” to militarily confront China.
The DPJ is now in disarray after losing office in December and the upper house majority this month. It has opposed the LDP’s proposed changes to Article 96, which set the bar for constitutional amendments at a simple majority, rather the current two-thirds, of both chambers of parliament. LDP wants this reduced to simple majority. By focusing on this, the DPJ aims to avoid public discussion of the far-reaching implications of the LDP’s moves to destroy fundamental democratic rights.

Oh look, more fascist, nation-cult flag-bowing jingoist bile from this disgusting neoliberal shithole of a country. Why am I not surprised?

Figures these dogs would call themselves the 'Liberal Democratic Party'. Because there's nothing more Liberal and Democratic than bowing down to the fucking flag and turning the emperor into a god again :rolleyes: . This is the fucking result of rightist-derived cultural relativity, people.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

I'll add this article too as it seems related to the revived militarism the LDP is pushing for in parliament.

The bloodied hooks and chains of Japanese Imperialism are swinging once again.

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/08/17/japa-a17.html


Japanese PM drops pledge to renounce war
By John Chan
17 August 2013
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe exploited the 68th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II on August 15 to make even more explicit his restoration of Japanese militarism. For the first time in nearly two decades, he deliberately omitted the pledge made by every prime minister that Japan would never again go to war.

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Abe was attending the annual ceremony, together with the Japanese emperor and empress, to commemorate the war dead. At this event, every prime minister since Tomiichi Murayama in 1994, including Abe during his first term in 2007, has expressed “profound remorse” and “sincere mourning” for the suffering in Asian countries occupied by the Japanese military, and pledged never to go to war again.
This year Abe did not include these phrases in his speech to the gathering of 5,000 relatives of war dead at the Nippon Budokan Hall. He declared instead: “We will carve out the future of this country as one full of hope, as we face history with humility and engrave deeply into our hearts the lessons that we should learn.”
The omission was not accidental. In April, Abe declared that he was not bound by Murayama’s 1995 statement, which acknowledged that Japan had waged wars of aggression. Abe claimed that “aggression” was judged differently, depending on which side one stood. In the face of protest at home and abroad, he softened the remark, saying the interpretation should be left up to scholars.
Abe’s latest remarks provoked opposition even among the select audience at the ceremony. Michiko Toya, whose husband was killed just five months before Japan’s defeat, declared: “Wars are gruesome and cruel. I do not want anybody to have to go through the sorrow and predicament that we experienced.”
Among the wider population, anti-war sentiment remains strong, above all in the working class. Japan’s militarist regime in the 1930s and 1940s suppressed any independent, organised labour movement at home, just as ruthlessly as it imposed its rule in South Korea, China and throughout Asia. The US air war against Japan, including the fire-bombing of Tokyo and atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, inflicted huge civilian casualties.
In the end, Abe did not visit the notorious Yasukuni Shrine to Japan’s war dead on Thursday. Just days earlier he left open the question of a visit, hinting that a “strong” national leader would not bow to pressure from China or South Korea—two countries occupied by Japan until 1945.
Abe did, however, send one of his special aides to make a ritual offering at the Yasukuni Shrine, instructing him to tell the media that the prime minister offered an “apology” to the war dead for his personal absence. Abe himself told reporters that the aide had conveyed to the war dead “a feeling of gratitude and respect for those who fought and gave their precious lives for their country.”
Three cabinet ministers—Yoshitaka Shindo, minister of internal affairs, Keiji Furuya, chairman of the National Public Security Commission, and Tomomi Inada, minister in charge of administrative reform—did visit the shrine. In all, 89 lawmakers, mainly from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as well as the representatives of another 101 lawmakers, paid homage at the shrine.
The privately-run Yasukuni Shrine, financed by right-wing nationalist organisations, is a symbol of Japanese wartime militarism. It symbolically inters many of Japan’s war dead, including 14 “Class A” war criminals convicted by an Allied tribunal. The attached museum whitewashes Japan’s military atrocities, portraying the so-called “Great East Asian War” as the “liberation” of Asia from “White” colonial powers.
Abe, who has only been in power since December, is not only rapidly reviving the symbols of Japanese militarism. He has already boosted defence spending and begun to revise national military strategy. The ruling LDP is also pressing for changes to the country’s post-war constitution, including a watering down of the so-called pacifist clause that renounces war as an instrument of state policy.
The Abe government’s moves have provoked criticism from China and South Korea, which both suffered under Japanese wartime occupation. Beijing issued a formal protest over Thursday’s visit by ministers to the Yasukuni Shrine. Both governments are stirring up anti-Japanese sentiment to divert from growing social tensions at home.
The US “pivot to Asia” aimed against China has directly encouraged the revival of Japanese militarism. The previous Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) government took an aggressive stance on Japan’s longstanding territorial dispute with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea. Tensions flared in 2010, and again in 2012 when the DPJ “nationalised” the islands.
The implications of President Barack Obama’s reckless “pivot” were underscored by two military manoeuvres marking the World War II anniversary. Russia sent 16 warships through the La Perouse Strait, north of the Japanese island of Hokkaido on August 14, while China announced a 10-day live-fire naval drill in the East China Sea from August 15. Both exercises were meant as a warning against Japanese military ambitions.
The Obama administration is seeking to strengthen Japan as a military ally as part of US plans to undermine China as a potential rival. However, relations between South Korea and Japan have deteriorated as a result, creating an obstacle to Washington’s plans for a “trilateral” alliance with South Korea and Japan against China.
The Obama administration appears to have intervened to press Abe to refrain from personally visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. Robert Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met Abe and told reporters in Tokyo: “I think his decision today is one that’s very clear, very thoughtful and looking toward the future.”
There are broader concerns in ruling circles in the US and Europe that the revival of Japanese militarism could be a two-edged sword. While the Abe government continues to express its full support for the US alliance, Japanese imperialism has its own independent interests. As in the 1930s, it will, if necessary, prosecute its aims by military means, even if they clash with those of the US.
In a comment this week, Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman underlined the nervousness in Europe. After stating that he used to regard Chinese and South Korean reactions to Abe’s revival of the symbols of Japanese militarism as “paranoia,” Rachman added: “But now I am not quite so sure.” He cited a government source in Tokyo who told him that “some of those in Mr. Abe’s circle give the impression that ‘the only thing wrong with the Second World War was that Japan lost’.”
The last remark accurately sums up the attitude in significant sections of the Japanese ruling classes, which grudgingly accepted a subordinate role to the US after World War II, but have never abandoned their aspirations to be the dominant power in Asia.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

To be perfectly honest, my only real surprise is that this hasn't happened much, much earlier. I imagine next they'll amend the German Constitution to acknowledge Merkel's role as the supreme god emperor of europe.

[Sendo]

dont forget the osaka mayor.

he went one further than denying the so called comfort women institution. he declared it to have been necessary for the fatigues and stressed soldiers.


rank sexism racism..all that. and ridiculous myths about their foundation. much like america where nearly half cheer on the fascistic rubbish.


oh and the japanese imperial line was like how it was founded by invaders from what is now called the korean peninsula. the line carries a particular birthmark seen in mongolia and korea. the founding family was a group of horse riders (none existed elsewhere on honshu or hikoku etc but did exist on mainland) who first appeared in western japan.

EDIT: severe typographical errors from typing on smart phone

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

dont forget the osaka mayor.

he went one furtger than dying the so called comfort women institution. he declared it to have been necessary for the fatigues and stressed soldiers.


rank sexism racism..all that. and ridiculous mytgs about their foundation. much like america were nearly half cheer on the fascistic rubbish.


oh and the japanese imperial line was likelt founded by invaders from what is now called korean peninsula. the line carries a particular birthmark seen in mongolia and korea. the founding family was a group of horse riders (none existed elsewhere on honshu or hikoku etc but did exist on mainland) who first appeared in western japan.

That's actually kinda interesting, if you could provide an article on the founding of the japanese monarchy that'd be pretty interesting to read about. Luckily I tend not to encounter many Japanese ultra nationalists on this side of the world so I don't need it for counter propaganda

[Sendo]

My original post was riddled with typing errors due to using a smart phone at the time and the font was too small to make out what I was writing.

As far as the imperial line hypothesis, I encountered it during a college lecture from a professor under whom I studied a lot by the name of William B. Hauser noted mostly for his essays in compiled works, though the birthmark thing was related to me by a classmate. It was also in relevant course material, but I don't remember the books or the sources.

http://discovermagazine.com/1998/jun/japaneseroots1455#.UjnF2hBHQ-c

has some mention of it. The Japanese nationalist counter-claims are ridiculous (they say evidence points to Japan conquering Korea) and I'm sure that contrary evidence in Japan and in Korea is lost to time especially after the Imjin War and the direct occupation from 1907-1945. (Formal annexation in 1910).

Chinese culture definitely passed through Korea first before Japan had direct contacts since Chinese and Korean civilization (ie having recorded history) goes back much further (though not nearly as far back as Korean nationalists claim....certainly not 2333 BCE!). Though I shouldn't say Korea so much as a Manchurian-Korean continuum. Gaya had close contacts with Japan but there is nothing to suggest anything more than a cultural continuum from the Korean kingdoms to Japan and not Japanese conquest of the peninsula (no claims were ever exercised to retake the land in question; debates have hovered over the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin and Dokdo and Diaoyu, all taken in 1895-1945 and returned except for Diaoyu which Japan is guarding with warships, and also over Tsushima which is claimed by nutcase Korean nationalists but is thoroughly Japanese and has been so)

Unlike the younger civilization of the English conquering Egypt with superior guns in the modern era, the idea of a technologically less developed conquering the Korean peninsula is quite silly. Japan did make formidable advances in military tactics and technology and a booming population...but their leaps were in the latter 1500s and the latter 1800s.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Actually, I have read that the most current theory in modern linquistics on the Japanese language (it is commonly grouped with manchu, Korean, Mongolian and the turkic languages I think) posits that the original Japanese language, far from originating from mongolian riders, was originally spoken by rice farmers in Korea (I'd imagine Korea, being as mountainous as it is, once had a good deal of different languages at one point) who were exiled by the emperor to Japan.

A little redundant, but it always pisses nationalists and other kinds of weird romanticists off when you bring up this stuff so :lol:

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

dont forget the osaka mayor.


Or the mayors of Nagoya and Tokyo. Fucking corrupt vile nationalist neo-liberal scum. Never forget the 1955 coup by the LDP filth, either.

[MarxSchmarx]

This won't happen. There is insufficient popular support and the Abe regime has nothing to gain by pushing it. It is unlikely, for instance, that either China or South Korea would take Japan any more seriously if Article 9 were amended.

Not to get too OT but:


Actually, I have read that the most current theory in modern linquistics on the Japanese language (it is commonly grouped with manchu, Korean, Mongolian and the turkic languages I think) posits that the original Japanese language, far from originating from mongolian riders, was originally spoken by rice farmers in Korea (I'd imagine Korea, being as mountainous as it is, once had a good deal of different languages at one point) who were exiled by the emperor to Japan.


Do you know the latest on this or who proposed this? As far as I am aware, the common consensus is that Korean is a language isolate much as basque in Europe is. My impression was that Korean and Japanese are sufficiently distant despite sharing a common orthography at one point that although there have been repeated attempts by linguists for centuries they have failed to reliably establish a link between the two languages.

[Yuppie Grinder]

If even the worst of these measures were made realities, it wouldn't bring about a 'explosive confrontation with the working class', at least not a productive confrontation.

[MarxSchmarx]

If even the worst of these measures were made realities, it wouldn't bring about a 'explosive confrontation with the working class', at least not a productive confrontation.

It's a sign how times have changed for the worse. In the 1960s, when the Japanese-American alliance was ratified, the anti-militarists in Japan were able to organize massive protests, sit-ins, and campaigns that ultimately led to the fall of the prime minister who oversaw the negotiations:

http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/japanese-protest-security-treaty-us-and-unseat-prime-minister-1959-1960

Unlike Thatcherism in Britain or Nixon's "southern strategy" in America, it's hard to pinpoint exactly how this sort of response became muted.

Yet in a 2010 survey, 77% of the Japanese public support the alliance, and only 13% see leaving it as a serious option. Perhaps it is a generational thing, as people who don't remember the ravages of war and are accustomed to peace no longer see the threat of militarism.

[adipocere]

I suspect this has a lot to do with the US strengthening it's unholy right-wing alliance with Japan as part of its "Pivot Towards Asia" (http://thediplomat.com/2013/08/06/the-tpp-abenomics-and-americas-asia-pivot/) (ie containment of China).