Japan sees largest protest in support of pacifist constitution as PM Takaichi pushes revisions

Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi , has called for “advanced discussions” on revising the pacifist constitution, as large demonstrations were held nationwide to oppose any changes to the country’s supreme law. Speaking during an official visit to Vietnam, Takaichi said the constitution, which was written by US occupation forces after the second world war, “should periodically be updated to reflect the demands of the times”. Takaichi and others on the conservative wing of the ruling Liberal Democratic party have long called for change, saying the current document restricts Japan’s ability to respond to growing security threats from North Korea and China . Revisionists have set their sights on article 9 – the co-called “pacifist” clause – which forbids Japan from threatening or using military force to settle international disputes. While controversial legislation passed a decade ago theoretically allows Japan to exercise collective self-defence – or coming to the aid of an ally under attack – Takaichi has turned reform into a focal point of her administration since becoming prime minister last autumn. Any revisions would need to secure a two-thirds majority in both houses of Japan’s national diet – or parliament – and a simple majority in a national referendum. …