An overwhelming majority of lawmakers in Japan support the idea of revising the post-war Constitution, which bans the nation's use of force for settling international disputes, according to a Kyodo News survey.

The survey, conducted during the month of August, found that 84.5% of members in both houses of parliament support the idea and eight out of 10 Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers favor revising the war-renouncing Article 9.

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=9&id=311086

Let's just see that it happens.

The Japanese are back to their old ways again. Oh the days of Nanjing massacre, imperialism, conquests and greed. You will pay for it.

I hope China uses this as an excuse to advance military and brutally conquer Japan.

The thought of an expansionist China makes me go teehee.

Haha, japan is digging their own grave.

I don't understand. Why can't even the most influential and powerful of Japan's lawmakers see that they should solve a few issues and problems before planning for a constitutional revision?

Japan should offer an official apology, adequately compensate and take some big steps to reconcile with her neighbours. It's not simple, but if Japan succeeds in doing that, I don't think her neighbours would object as strongly as they would now. Then it would be easier to revise her Constitution - no protests from her neighbours.

I don't think so. By remaining as we are now we are as good as dead at the hands of our lovely neighbors.



China will not be harming japan just yet. They may make empty threats perhaps but they wont do anything as extreme as you have suggested. I strongly doubt it. This is the perfect time.

Musashino:



I agree with you on this. However I feel that japan should go through with it despite the concerns of our neighbors. Especially when our neighbors threaten us with nuclear weapons and more than double their military spending.



I am sure they will complain even if japan did attempt anything. Japan should act in the best interest of the japanese people because no one else will.

Nice avatar, who's that in your signature Ogumo?

I think Japan should do not only what is best for her, but also what is easiest. And I believe that the best and easiest way for Japan to go about revising Article 9 is to atone for what she had done in the past.

Japan has enough money and technology to fund and produce powerful military equipment and personnels. That won't be a problem.

However, the problem for Japan is that her getting a powerful army would only give her neighbours an excuse to increase their military spending. They can justify their stocking of nuclear weapons by linking Japan's past aggression to her current military force.

I don't think it's in Japan's best interest to give her neighbours any excuse.



They will but think about it. Right now, not everyone can criticise China, Korea and co. for complaining. They have plenty of reason to. And that's partly Japan's fault - she virtually handed her Asian neigbours those reaons on a silver platter.

However, when Japan solves all those nagging issues - apologising, compensating, showing remorse and properly revising her history textbooks - there won't be a legitimate excuse for her neighbours to oppose Japan becoming a 'normal' nation.

Look at it this way. When Japan finally does atone for her past crimes and then proceeds to build a strong military force, her neighbours cannot really use their biggest weapon against Japan: that is the "victim" or the "Japan's aggressive militaristic past" drawcard. They might attempt to, but I believe that the rest of the world will be far more supportive of Japan in this case. After all, what other excuse do they have to not support Japan? China, Korea and co. can continue to cite Japan's past aggressions, but then they would have to cut back on their military spending and minimise stockpiling of weapons if they want to look like "victims". Otherwise, they would look very hypocritical when criticising Japan's military force while they have one of their own. In fact, if Japan's neighbours do continue to complain, then it will only make them look selfish and pitiful - Japan would have already completed her end of the deal (reparation and apology) while her neighbours haven't (recognising Japan's right to be a 'normal' nation). In this case, it would make Japan look like the victim of her neighbours' pettiness and that's something these neighbours cannot afford to do.

I believe the best interest of the Japanese people would be to become a 'normal' nation and avoid any more backlash. To do that, Japan needs to take proper steps and solve all problems preventing her from having an army.

Kangxi:



Meiji.


Musashino:



Musashino i feel that the moment japan rearms it will begin a arms race immediately. I don't think that it will matter if japan attone for the past crimes against others. The problem is human paranoia.



Agreed.



I do not know if i can agree or not. I feel that they will oppose it even if they do not have legitmate complaints. They will always bring up the past in their arguments against us even we attempt to correct them. They are using it in their advantage. Do you honestly think that china actually fears japan conquering the land once more? I do not. Especially when china has dozens of capable nukes and strong defensive capability. What they fear is military competion with japan more than a second rise of imperialism. This is my thought on it atleast.



I cannot say for sure. Asians are crazy people. Irrational at times. Outside of asia the rest of the world does not really seem to care what japan has done because they were not the victims. Though japan should take the route that you suggested but unfortunately they seem not to understand how much easier it would be that way. If it was up to me it would have been done decades ago. Unfortunately it is not.