Japanese Political Community Leaning Towards Neo-Conservatism

A survey result conducted on the members of the Diet in Japan indicated that Japanese political circles are transforming to neo-conservatism.

In particular, neo-conservatism could have assumed power, as the neo-cons are not proportionally distributed in the ruling and opposition parties.

The weekly magazine AERA published by Asahi Shimbun released, in the latest issue, interview results conducted for all House of Representatives and Councilors in their 20s and 30s (total 48) about amendments to the peace constitution and nuclear armament.

Barring the three lawmakers who did not give a response, 60%, or 30 out of 45 interviewed, said Article 9 of the current constitution which prohibits Japan from having an armed forces and the right of belligerency should be modified.

In addition, 6 people responded that Japan`s nuclear armament, which has been much discussed due to North Korea’s nuclear crisis, should also be reviewed. It has been taboo to even mention nuclear armament because of the bitter experience of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima during the Second World War.

What is even more disturbing is that there are one or more lawmakers who support nuclear armament even in the Democratic Party, the strongest opposition party as well as in the Liberal Democratic Party, the coalition party, and the New Conservative Party.

Not one lawmaker of those interviewed among the 15 ruling Liberal Democratic Party members opposed reviewing both the amendment of Article 9 of the constitution and nuclear armament. However, two lawmakers of the Clean Governance Party which has been opposed to changes are opposed to both.

“Even Japan is equipped with a missile defense system, the success rate of downing missiles is still low. So Japan should have nuclear weapons in order to attack in advance while the enemy is attempting to launch missiles at Japan,” some lawmakers said, claiming that Japan should have nuclear weapons.

The AERA said it is natural that the number of ‘neocons’ has increased sharply among lawmakers when considering that 82% of lawmakers said ‘North Korea may go to war with Japan.’

“As a result, it is now an important moment to decide whether Japan will become a hard-line neo-conservative country which relies heavily on its armed forces,” the magazine reported.

“Let`s create a law which bans Korean residents in Japan who have visited North Korea from not being able to return to Japan,” some lawmakers claimed.

It has been speculated that the prevailing neo-conservatism in the U.S. has spread in Japan while George W. Bush was dealing with the war in Iraq and North Korea`s nuclear problems.

Some point out that the passing of three similar enactments by overwhelming votes and the dispatching of troops to Iraq indicate this new trend.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com