Japanese citizens are voicing strong objections to the government's attempts to amend the nation's pacifist Constitution and rapidly expand the military.

Naohiko Hasegawa, a Tokyo-based lawyer, said he is absolutely against the revision of Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, which renounces war.

However, recently, due to the significant influence of the media, there are many who intentionally use the situation with China or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a basis to advocate for constitutional revision, he said.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, agreed on Monday it will seek to specifically mention the name of the Self-Defense Forces in a revised Constitution. This decision outlines key proposed changes as the party prepares for an upcoming election to select its new leader. The LDP plans to retain the wording of the war-renouncing Article 9 while adding a new section to explain the Self-Defense Forces, Kyodo News reported.

The LDP's panel on constitutional reform made this decision, which will have a bearing on whoever wins the party leadership election on Sept 27. In this race, candidates are expected to clearly state their positions on revising the Constitution, which has been in force since 1947, according to the Japanese news agency.

Government officials claim that changes in the security environment necessitate military expansions, but what they are proposing, including acquiring the capability to strike enemy bases, is extremely dangerous from the perspective of neighboring countries, said Kohei Aoyama, 33, a member of the Democratic Youth League of Japan.

Currently, many conservative members of the LDP, particularly those in the faction formerly led by late prime minister Shinzo Abe, support such an amendment, and winning their support is crucial for any candidate aspiring for the LDP presidency. As a result, candidates tend to emphasize the importance of amending Article 9 to gain the support of these members.

However, the public is not particularly keen on this issue, instead urging the government to focus on economic measures, said Shigeaki Koga, a policy analyst and a former official of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Low approval

Opinion polls conducted by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and major newspapers show that the percentage of Japanese citizens who favor revision of the Constitution is low.

"The public is more concerned about improving their livelihoods and social security than about constitutional revision. Yet, the LDP is pushing for this because of its inherently conservative nature, which is a big problem," said Takakage Fujita, president of the Alliance to Stop the Impermissible Acts of Slush Fund and Tax Evasion by the LDP.

Igarashi Hajime, a 66-year-old resident of Tokyo, is firmly against revising the Constitution.

"Thanks to Article 9, Japan has managed to stay out of wars alongside the United States, even when pressured by the US," Hajime said during a rally in Tokyo last week to oppose the proposed constitutional changes.

Toshihiro Inoue, a special committee member of the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs, believes that Japan cannot truly protect its people by strengthening its military power. Instead, he argues that Japan should focus on fostering friendship and goodwill with its neighboring countries, guided by the principles of the Constitution.

Keisuke Okamoto, a 49-year-old resident of Yokohama, stressed that war could lead to the extinction of humanity. Speaking on behalf of many who oppose Japan's massive military buildup, he said, "The Constitution was founded on the principle of peace, shaped by reflections on the postwar era, and we are committed to protecting it."

jiangxueqing@chinadaily.com.cn

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