In the previous blog I have discussed the heightened tension in East Asia mainly from the point of the existing military alliances. This, however, is not the whole picture. It is also urgent to discuss the tension mounting between Japan on one hand and China and South Korea on the other, which are almost on the collision course at the moment.
There are many phases to this, but the issue of Japan's Constitution is no less important than others. There is a strong opinion among the conservative elements in Japan's politics that the present Constitution was imposed by the US Occupation soon after the end of the war, and we should have our own independent Constitution. Sounds beautifully, but their main point is to make it legal to have National Defence Forces, and make it possible also for them to fight shoulder to shoulder with the US military. It would make Japan more dependent on, and subservient to, the US politically and militarily, rather than otherwise.
But here let me introduce Mr.Suzuki Yasuzo, on the basis of his own memoir, published in 1977, and see if the present Constitution is really a translation of an American draft and not more, as is claimed by the above-mentioned elements. What he writes will show that it is not true.
In a few months after the war, a small group of highly intelligent people, liberal-minded and in some cases a little left-of-the-centre, took shape with a view to make their own draft for a new Constitution. Suzuki Yasuzo, then in his early 40s and a Constitutional expert, acted as its de facto secretary. Finally seven persons signed it on 26 December, 1945. It was a framework of a Parliamentary democracy with the Emperor only as the figurehead. They gave the draft to the Prime Minister's secretary, newspaper people, and the GHQ. The newspapers published the full text two days afterwards. It was the first of its kind.
The GHQ immediately translated the draft(there were two translated versions), gave it a scrutiny, and thought that it was democratic and acceptable. There is no doubt that they took it as an important source of input, although I will not go into the details. The study group was of the hope that the draft would be placed before a kind of a Constituent Assembly to be elected by the whole nation as well as others, and discussed there. But the standard of political consciousness of the people had not come up to that and their hope was not materialized.
The above would show that the American draft, handed to the Japanese Government in February 1946, had incorporated some of the indigenous ideas. It is definitely beneath the dignity of those who call the present Constitution imposed by the Americans.
There are many phases to this, but the issue of Japan's Constitution is no less important than others. There is a strong opinion among the conservative elements in Japan's politics that the present Constitution was imposed by the US Occupation soon after the end of the war, and we should have our own independent Constitution. Sounds beautifully, but their main point is to make it legal to have National Defence Forces, and make it possible also for them to fight shoulder to shoulder with the US military. It would make Japan more dependent on, and subservient to, the US politically and militarily, rather than otherwise.
But here let me introduce Mr.Suzuki Yasuzo, on the basis of his own memoir, published in 1977, and see if the present Constitution is really a translation of an American draft and not more, as is claimed by the above-mentioned elements. What he writes will show that it is not true.
In a few months after the war, a small group of highly intelligent people, liberal-minded and in some cases a little left-of-the-centre, took shape with a view to make their own draft for a new Constitution. Suzuki Yasuzo, then in his early 40s and a Constitutional expert, acted as its de facto secretary. Finally seven persons signed it on 26 December, 1945. It was a framework of a Parliamentary democracy with the Emperor only as the figurehead. They gave the draft to the Prime Minister's secretary, newspaper people, and the GHQ. The newspapers published the full text two days afterwards. It was the first of its kind.
The GHQ immediately translated the draft(there were two translated versions), gave it a scrutiny, and thought that it was democratic and acceptable. There is no doubt that they took it as an important source of input, although I will not go into the details. The study group was of the hope that the draft would be placed before a kind of a Constituent Assembly to be elected by the whole nation as well as others, and discussed there. But the standard of political consciousness of the people had not come up to that and their hope was not materialized.
The above would show that the American draft, handed to the Japanese Government in February 1946, had incorporated some of the indigenous ideas. It is definitely beneath the dignity of those who call the present Constitution imposed by the Americans.
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