What is Article 9 ? (1)
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized. Astonishing, isn’t it? This is the only provision of the Japanese Constitution that states the basics of national security! The key words used here are all in the negative. Non-reliance on war, non-possession of armed forces, non-recognition of the state’s right of belligerency... Article 9 orders Japanese political leaders not to do something instead of ordering them what to do. So it is quite natural that MacArthur was surprised when Kijuro Shidehara first proposed to him to put those provisions in the new Constitution on January 24, 1946. And, more importantly, the next moment MacArthur embraced his proposition enthusiastically. The Japanese people also approved the new Constitution and its Article 9 by an overwhelming majority. Probably because in this article, in the year of 1945, the sincerest wish of not only the Japanese people but the whole of humankind burst forth in the purest form: the wish to never repeat war. Common sense suggests: the more idealistic a political idea is, the more difficult it becomes to realize it. But such is not the case with Article 9. Article 9 was adopted because it was the most idealistic. It was so idealistic that no one could object to. It is because Article 9 is an ideal coming into existence that we routinely repeat Article 9, article 9... like a mantra. Of course we think so. As is often said, no Japanese has been killed and no Japanese has killed any foreigner in battlefield since the end of WWII. This period is the period that started when Article 9 came to exist in our Constitution. But, on the other hand, it is also the periode that coincides with the period when the Self-Defense Forces and US Military authorized by the Japan-US Security Treaty exist in our country. It is a question which of the two has more substantially contributed to maintaining peace.Still we think it is undeniable fact that Article 9 has always directed political leaders to make restrictive uses of those war potentials. The Self-Defense Forces have not been allowed to hold aircraft carriers, bombers, long/medium -range missiles and prohibited from deployment overseas or acting on the right of collective self defense. Those policies have enabled the state to reduce the military expenditure so as to boost economic growth and free individuals from the draft to leave them larger chances of self-fulfillment And they have also brought about friendly relations, particularly with Asian countries.