Japan has moved a step closer to what it claims to be a normal country that can wage war as its ruling coalition emerged victorious in Sunday's upper house election.
Combined with other conservative politicians, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Buddhist-backed Komeito won a two-thirds majority in the House of Councilors. Because the ruling coalition already has such a super majority in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has secured the strength to propose a referendum to amend the postwar pacifist Constitution imposed by the United States after World War II.
The coalition's victory primarily resulted from the weakness of the opposition as voters passively approved "Abenomics" with no alternatives. Growing fears about North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and China's military assertiveness also appear to have affected the election outcome.
Japan lowered the voting age from 20 to 18 for the first time to attract young voters, but the voter turnout remained low amid their disillusionment with mainstream politics.
Sunday's election has paved the way for Abe to have a long hold on power and continue his economic policies centered on easy money and expanded fiscal outlays. Most importantly, however, the far-right prime minister will step up his call to revise the Constitution that outlaws war as a means to settle international disputes and limits its military to a self-defense role.
This concern is well-founded, considering that Abe has been ramping up his voice about the need to change the Constitution since taking power in late 2012. In July 2014, in particular, the Abe government even approved a constitutional reinterpretation that would enable the Japan Self-Defense Forces to defend other allies in case of war being declared upon them.
Even so, it's unlikely that Abe will rush to revise the Constitution anytime soon. First of all, he must pay heed to the fact that any such revision will need a majority in a national referendum at a time when many Japanese are supportive of the Constitution's pacifist ideals. As Abe pointed out in post-election press interviews, it would be premature to claim that the ruling coalition won endorsement for pushing the constitutional change because the latest election was primarily about economic matters.
Japan's obsession with the revision will obviously cause serious conflicts with Korea, China and other Asian countries, given their stinging memories of imperial Japan's World War II brutalities. Certainly, it will be none other than sensible Japanese people who can put the brakes on the resurgence of Japan's militarism.
Combined with other conservative politicians, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Buddhist-backed Komeito won a two-thirds majority in the House of Councilors. Because the ruling coalition already has such a super majority in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has secured the strength to propose a referendum to amend the postwar pacifist Constitution imposed by the United States after World War II.
The coalition's victory primarily resulted from the weakness of the opposition as voters passively approved "Abenomics" with no alternatives. Growing fears about North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and China's military assertiveness also appear to have affected the election outcome.
Japan lowered the voting age from 20 to 18 for the first time to attract young voters, but the voter turnout remained low amid their disillusionment with mainstream politics.
Sunday's election has paved the way for Abe to have a long hold on power and continue his economic policies centered on easy money and expanded fiscal outlays. Most importantly, however, the far-right prime minister will step up his call to revise the Constitution that outlaws war as a means to settle international disputes and limits its military to a self-defense role.
This concern is well-founded, considering that Abe has been ramping up his voice about the need to change the Constitution since taking power in late 2012. In July 2014, in particular, the Abe government even approved a constitutional reinterpretation that would enable the Japan Self-Defense Forces to defend other allies in case of war being declared upon them.
Even so, it's unlikely that Abe will rush to revise the Constitution anytime soon. First of all, he must pay heed to the fact that any such revision will need a majority in a national referendum at a time when many Japanese are supportive of the Constitution's pacifist ideals. As Abe pointed out in post-election press interviews, it would be premature to claim that the ruling coalition won endorsement for pushing the constitutional change because the latest election was primarily about economic matters.
Japan's obsession with the revision will obviously cause serious conflicts with Korea, China and other Asian countries, given their stinging memories of imperial Japan's World War II brutalities. Certainly, it will be none other than sensible Japanese people who can put the brakes on the resurgence of Japan's militarism.
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