Japan’s Takaichi: "Plan to submit constitutional amendment before next year’s party convention"

The Financial News, Tokyo – Correspondent Seo Hye-jin – On March 12, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declared, "The time has come to amend the Constitution," adding, "I want us to enter next year’s party convention with a clear path toward submitting an amendment proposal." It was the first time Takaichi had publicly laid out a timetable for constitutional revision.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other outlets on March 13, Takaichi made these remarks the previous day at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) regular convention held at a hotel in Tokyo. "What we must do now is hold discussions that lead to a decision," she stated.
Regarding the ongoing constitutional debate in the National Diet of Japan, she stressed that it "must not be debate for debate’s sake," and continued, "If we are to respond to the people’s expectations, we need discussions that lead to a firm decision." She then urged, "Let us proudly ask the people whether it is time to turn a new page," signaling her intention to move toward a national referendum.
To introduce a constitutional amendment in Japan, at least two-thirds of the members in both the House of Representatives of Japan and the House of Councillors must approve the proposal. It is then put to a national referendum, where it must win a simple majority to pass. The core of the amendment drive led by Takaichi is to explicitly state the existence of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan.
Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, often referred to as the "peace constitution," was established after Japan’s defeat in the Pacific War and stipulates the permanent renunciation of war and the use of force, as well as the non-possession of war potential. Provisions such as the ban on maintaining war potential have fueled controversy over whether the JSDF is unconstitutional. Pro-revision forces, including the LDP, are seeking to resolve this issue through constitutional amendment.
In the general election held in February, the LDP scored a landslide victory and now holds 316 of the 465 seats in the House of Representatives of Japan, surpassing the 310-seat threshold needed to initiate a constitutional amendment. However, in the House of Councillors, even when combined with seats held by its coalition partner, the Japan Restoration Party, the pro-amendment camp still falls short of a majority.
Even so, observers note that a considerable number of opposition lawmakers also agree on the need for constitutional revision, meaning passage in the House of Councillors is not out of the question.
Analysts also see a realistic chance that a national referendum could be held, given the overwhelming approval ratings for the Takaichi Cabinet and the current international security environment.
In a Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted in February, 57% of respondents said they "expect" constitutional amendment debates to move forward in the National Diet of Japan during Takaichi’s term as prime minister, exceeding the halfway mark. Those who answered that they "do not expect" such progress accounted for 37%.
The LDP, led by Takaichi as party president, is also at the forefront of driving the push for constitutional revision.
In its document "The Liberal Democratic Party's History and Mission for the Future," released ahead of the convention to mark the party’s 70th anniversary, the LDP described constitutional amendment as "a matter of vital urgency" and called for "mobilizing the party’s full strength to make it a reality." At the convention, it also adopted the "2026 Action Policy," which sets goals such as submitting a draft amendment to the National Diet of Japan.
Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, which forms a coalition government with the LDP and the Japan Restoration Party, also attended the convention as a guest. He echoed Takaichi’s stance, saying that constitutional revision is "something that must be advanced now more than ever."

sjmary@fnnews.com Seo Hye-jin Reporter