Japan Press Weekly

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2026 March 25 - 31 [POLITICS]

PM Takaichi aims to revise Article 9 presumably in order to respond to US demands for SDF dispatch without restrictions

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

At the March 19 Japan-U.S. summit meeting, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, in response to President Donald Trump calling on Japan to send the Self-Defense Forces to the Strait of Hormuz, explained that under Article 9 of the Constitution, Japan has various constraints. This was revealed by Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu who was present at the two leaders’ talks.

However, in an interview with Fox News after meeting with Takaichi, President Trump said that Japan is constitutionally restricted, but “if necessary, Japan will support the United States.”

The current Constitution was enacted based on the resolve to ensure that the horrors of war would never again be caused by the action of government. As shown by the war-renouncing Article 9, it advocates a principled position endorsing pacifism.

Even after the end of WWII, conflicts have been fought across the world and many countries, such as NATO members and Asian countries, which got involved in such conflicts have suffered war casualties. However, thanks to the restrictions of Article 9, Japan suffered no casualties.

Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Kato Koichi once said that if Article 9 did not exist, Japan would have fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War under U.S. command, resulting in an estimated 10,000 military casualties in each war.

It is the Takaichi government that intends to revise Article 9 with the aim of removing its restrictions, including the prohibition of the dispatch of the SDF abroad, the exclusively defensive defense policy, the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, and the ban on arms exports.

PM Takaichi after the February general election announced her intent to create an environment so that a national referendum on constitutional revision can be held at the earliest possible date. She in her policy speech to the current Diet session expressed her expectations for an early initiation of constitutional amendments.

The need now is to encourage more people to support the movement calling for diplomatic efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran and oppose any move regarding an SDF dispatch. In addition, increasing public support and movements upholding Article 9 is also important.