April 29, 2026

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Takaichi government on April 29 held a ceremony commemorating the centennial of the “Showa” era with the aim of looking back on Showa, learning from the dynamism of predecessors, and sharing the memories of that time.

However, it is not possible to commemorate the prewar, wartime, and postwar periods simply by grouping them together under the label of Showa.

The 100 years of the Showa era experienced two distinct political systems: the prewar/wartime autocratic regime which treated the Emperor as absolute; and the postwar political system which is based on popular sovereignty. For the Japanese people, this transformation was monumental.

The postwar pacifist Constitution became the symbol of that change. It establishes democratic and peaceful provisions, including popular sovereignty, the renunciation of war, respect for fundamental human rights, the Diet as the highest organ of state power, and the principle of local autonomy.

What Japan must learn from the Showa era is to clearly acknowledge the mistake of the past war of aggression and resolve not to repeat that mistake. Furthermore, Japan must take the lead in “aspiring sincerely pursuing to an international peace” as enshrined in Article 9 of the Constitution.

However, successive Liberal Democratic Party governments, and particularly the current prime minister, Takaichi Sanae, do not formally recognize that the previous war was an act of aggression. During a meeting of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee in 1995, Takaichi declared, “I myself haven’t reflected on it. There isn’t any reason for me to be asked to reflect.”

In a blog post on her official website on August 15, 2012, she wrote that forming a new constitution to replace the current Constitution, which was enacted under U.S. occupation, would be her ultimate task as a politician.

PM Takaichi in her recent policy speech expressed her expectation for an early initiation of steps to implement constitutional amendments in the Diet.

The postwar Constitution helped Japan overcome the era of aggressive wars. It establishes peace, popular sovereignty, and human rights. The history of the 100th year of Showa is teaching the Japanese people the importance of thwarting Takaichi’s attempt to undermine the spirit of the Constitution.