Japan's Contested Constitution

by Glenn D. Hook, Gavan McCormack

From the beginning of the year 2000, Constitutional Research Councils have been set up in both Houses of the National Diet in Japan. The constitution, adopted when Japan was defeated and occupied, defines the nature of the Japanese polity and constrains Japan's military role in the world. The opening of the debate on constitutional reform is set to play a crucial role in shaping the realignment of domestic political forces and defining the international roles Japan may pursue in the new millennium.As the Constitutional Research Councils begin their deliberations, this timely book brings together for the first time, in English translation, four of the major proposals on constitutional reform. These are the proposals of the Yomiuri and Asahi newspaper groups, one of Japan's major publishing houses, Iwanami, and Ozawa Ichiro, president of the Liberal Party of Japan and a key player in Japanese politics. Hook and McCormack place these documents in their historical and contemporary context, providing a thorough analysis of their significance in the development of thought on the constitution.

Subjects covered include:
-- the no war, 'pacifist' clause
-- the tension between the constitution and the US-Japan security treaty
-- the political import of the constitution for Japanese political parties
-- the significance of the constitution for civil society in Japan

Japan's Contested Constitution: Documents and Analysis presents extensive analysis of the evolution of constitutional government in Japan and examines differing interpretations of key clauses in the constitution. It is an indispensable resource for anyone with an interest in modern Japan, its politics, law and itsinternational role.

Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2001