62% of Japanese House of Councillors Members Support Constitutional Revision to Explicitly Recognize the Self-Defense Forces

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed his intention to propose constitutional revision as soon as possible, and it has been revealed that 62% of the Japanese House of Councillors believe that constitutional revision, including the explicit mention of the Self-Defense Forces, is necessary.

According to a joint survey conducted by Asahi Shimbun and the University of Tokyo targeting newly elected House of Councillors members from the election held on the 10th and existing (non-revised) members, and announced on the 12th, 62% of respondents were in favor of constitutional revision. The overall response rate was 81% (94% among newly elected members, 67% among existing members).

When asked specifically what content should be reflected in the constitutional revision, 78% of respondents answered "explicit mention of the Self-Defense Forces," the highest response, which is a 12 percentage point increase compared to the 2019 survey. Following that, 74% supported the "establishment of an emergency clause" to strengthen government authority in case of emergencies such as foreign invasion, 64% supported "stipulating measures to enhance education quality," and 50% supported "stipulating the jurisdiction of the House of Councillors by prefecture."

By political party, 93% of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members responded that the Self-Defense Forces should be explicitly mentioned. This is a 12 percentage point increase from 81% in the 2019 survey. For the Japan Innovation Party, which became the main opposition party, the same response increased significantly from 38% in 2019 to 86% this year. Support for the establishment of an emergency clause rose sharply compared to 2019, with 80% for the LDP, 90% for the Innovation Party, and 100% for the Democratic Party for the People.

However, Asahi analyzed that only 54% of the coalition partner Komeito were in favor of constitutional revision, showing a difference from the LDP, Japan Innovation Party, and Democratic Party for the People, where most members were pro-revision and classified as the "constitutional revision camp." Furthermore, among Komeito members who support revision, there was a tendency to prioritize the establishment of environmental rights or privacy rights over the explicit mention of the Self-Defense Forces or the emergency clause.

In the House of Councillors election on the 10th, the four pro-revision parties?LDP, Komeito, Japan Innovation Party, and Democratic Party for the People?secured 177 seats, well above the two-thirds majority (166 seats) required for constitutional revision. Prime Minister Kishida stated the day after the election, "I will carry on the will of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and tackle difficult issues such as constitutional revision."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.