Party issues statement on Constitution Memorial Day

May 3 , 2016

Komeito is committed to rebuilding the lives and communities of people affected by earthquake disasters  and achieving a world without nuclear weapons, as mandated by the three constitutional principles

The Constitution of Japan came into effect 69 years ago today. Japan has consolidated democracy, secured peace, and steadily earned the trust of the international community, as mandated by the Constitution.

Komeito proactively makes it explicit that the Constitution, framed on the universal principles of humankind, namely, the three principles of popular sovereignty, respect for basic human rights, and eternal pacifism, is one of the finest of its kind. These three principles shall remain unchanged into the future, and Komeito will continue to make serious efforts to manifest the spirit of the Constitution.

Five years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Komeito is committed to rebuilding lives and communities by standing with the affected people, determined to ensure that these men, women, and children-each and every one of them, without exception-can enjoy even better lives than ever before . We make the same commitment to the recovery and reconstruction from the recent Kumamoto Earthquakes.

With regard to realizing politics in which the people play the leading role, the lowering of the voting age to 18-one of the proposals Komeito has long advocated, will finally be implemented from the House of Councillors elections this summer. We will make sure that the voices of young people are heard in politics.

Toward the abolishment of nuclear arms, Komeito's proposal for political leaders of the world to visit the sites of the atomic bombings made a step forward by the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Hiroshima in April. It is deeply meaningful that the foreign ministers of both nuclear and non-nuclear states visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, laid wreaths at the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims, and visited the Atomic Bomb Dome. Komeito will make further efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons.

In March, the legislation for peace and security came into effect. The objective of the legislation is to secure the lives and peaceful livelihoods of the Japanese people in the face of a severe security situation, in accordance with the fundamental principle of the exclusively defense-oriented policy under Article 9 of the Constitution. The exercise of the right of collective self-defense for purpose of defening of other countries is not be permitted due to the three new conditions for measures for self-defense, as advocated by Komeito and stated in law. Japan will contribute to international peace by strengthening its cooperation in the areas of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance and logistics support.

The three non-nuclear principles, coupled with postwar Japan's pacifism principle of not turning into a military power that poses a threat to other countries, remain unchanged and are firmly upheld in the legislation for peace and security. The legislation outlines how Japan will enhance deterrence and contribute to international peace in a way that is unique to our country. In this process, Japan will further promote diplomacy and dialogues with other countries and find peaceful solutions to conflicts. Japan essentially developed laws that will serve as a driving force for its peaceful diplomacy.

Komeito maintains the position that so long as the Constitution is a legal norm, it is appropriate to amend the Constitution to meet the new times. Issues may come to light that were unforeseen when the Constitution came into effect and for which constitutional amendments are the only solution. Komeito asserts that the existing Constitution should be maintained, but when amendments become necessary, amendments are made through the method of augmenting new provisions.

As themes of the provisions that could be augmented, Komeito has internally discussed new human rights, such as the right to a clean and safe environment, and the expansion of local autonomy. We will hold internal discussions that delve deeper into what should be considered for augmentation, make efforts to reach agreement among the political parties mainly through the Commissions on the Constitution at both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, and enhance the understanding of the Japanese people.

Komeito