On May 3, DPJ President Banri Kaieda issued the following statement.

Today marks the 67th anniversary of the promulgation of the Japanese Constitution. As we celebrate Constitution Memorial Day, we remember the history by which our current Constitution became the cornerstone of our nation’s post-war democracy.

While practicing the basic principles of “the sovereignty of the people, pacifism and respect for fundamental human rights” set forth in the Constitution, post-war Japan has overcome many obstacles to create peace and prosperity. However, we are now standing at a major turning-point regarding the Constitution.

The Constitution is a basic rule which invests our sovereigns, the Japanese people, with the ability to place limitations on state power, and to scrutinize and control it. However, Prime Minister Abe, who stands at the pinnacle of this state power, submitted a proposal to amend Article 96 of the Constitution, and has made repeated comments which appear to ignore constitutionalism, such as saying “I am the chief executive”, when referring to changing the significant interpretation of the Constitution relating to the use of the right to collective self-defence,

We do not deny that there is room for changing the interpretation of the Constitution to the extent that this receives the approval of the Japanese people, but the scope of such changes should be limited to one that can be logically derived and which endeavours to maintain consistency with existing interpretations. If the Cabinet makes opportunistic and deliberate changes which exceed this, this runs counter to constitutionalism and the rule of law and is unacceptable.

The Democratic Party of Japan believes that in the context of the fundamentals of constitutionalism and the rule of law it is unacceptable to directly deny the existing Cabinet interpretation relating to the exercise of the right to collective self-defence, which states that it is not permissible under Article 9 of the Constitution and does not permit its use, and to change the interpretation to permit the exercise of the right to self-defence in general.

At the same time, considering the changes in the various circumstances surrounding our nation, we will take the necessary response while firmly maintaining a logical interpretation that is consistent with the existing interpretation. This will take place from the perspective of protecting our nation’s territory, territorial waters and the lives and properties of citizens, and from the viewpoint of fulfilling our international obligations based on collective security. Moreover, should the Abe Cabinet move to approve a change in the interpretation of the Constitution, we call for a thorough and open debate involving the general public to take place in the Diet prior to this.

Currently, a legislative proposal to revise the National Referendum Law, submitted by seven parties, including the DPJ, is being debated in the Diet. We take the position that as many members of the public as possible should be able to state their opinion regarding the Constitution, and as such, we have continued to call for a reduction in the voting age, and a relaxation of the restrictions on public servants’ political activity. In addition to aiming for the enactment of this legislative revision, the Democratic Party of Japan will proceed to engage in a “Dialogue on the Constitution” with the public, and deepen the debate regarding what items should be added and what revised.
This year is a landmark year, marking the centenary of the start of the First World War. WWI was the first time that the human race experienced the terrible scourge of war on a global scale, and provided us with the impetus to seriously consider how we could prevent war. Reflecting once more on our human history of war and peace, the Democratic Party of Japan vows to oppose the Abe Cabinet, which may pose a threat to constitutionalism and pacifism, in order to realize the basic spirit embodied by the Japanese Constitution.