Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is pushing to draft constitutional revision proposals by next year, while thousands of citizens rally in Tokyo against military expansion, government policy toward the United States, and proposed changes to the pacifist constitution.
The House of Representatives Commission on the Constitution held its first meeting of the current parliamentary session. The commission’s chairman, Keiji Furuya, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, told lawmakers that he hopes to advance discussions toward summarizing opinions
on revision. Furuya emphasized that the panel’s fundamental duty is to provide an opportunity for a national referendum so citizens can decide whether to amend the supreme law.
Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Yoshitaka Shindo told the committee that I feel that constitutional revision is needed now.
By contrast, Toru Kunishige, representing the centrist reform coalition, argued that it is necessary to cautiously discuss the content and effects of constitutional revision.
The governing party’s longstanding revision agenda centers on four specific goals originally introduced under former leader Shinzo Abe: explicitly mentioning the Self-Defense Forces in Article 9, creating an emergency powers clause for major natural disasters, removing cross-prefectural electoral districts in the House of Councillors, and expanding education provisions.
Citizens Rally in Tokyo Against Constitutional Changes
Organizers estimated that more than 10,000 people attended the central rally, accompanied by approximately 300 solidarity events held across the country. Demonstrators gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo to voice opposition to the government’s military buildup and constitutional overhaul plans.
Protesters chanted slogans demanding an end to defense policies aligned closely with Washington and calling for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Japan is facing the most severe security environment since World War II.
Revision advocates, cited in parliamentary debates
Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, warned at the rally that the ruling coalition is attempting to pave the way for revision by cutting proportional representation seats in the lower house. Fukushima argued that large-scale joint military exercises between Japan and the United States, which commenced on the same day as the rally, demonstrate a continuous march toward militarization.
Taku Yazo, policy research committee chair for the Japanese Communist Party, addressed the crowd with a warning regarding the government’s procurement of advanced weaponry.
Japan’s current politics has already presented a dangerous, comprehensive revival of militarism.
Taku Yazo, Japanese Communist Party Policy Committee Chair
Parliamentary Math Blocks Ruling Coalition Goals
In the 248-seat House of Councillors, the Liberal Democratic Party holds 101 seats, and the Japan Innovation Party holds 19. Even when factoring in allied groups such as the Democratic Party for the People, the Sanseito, the Conservative Party, and Team Mirai, the pro-revision bloc reaches roughly 164 seats—falling two short of the 166 seats required for a two-thirds majority. Because the next upper house election is not scheduled until July 2028, analysts note that the ruling leadership lacks the parliamentary votes in the upper chamber to force through constitutional amendments in the near term.
The Liberal Democratic Party and its ally, the Japan Innovation Party, command a two-thirds supermajority in the House of Representatives. The Japan Innovation Party has signaled little interest in the ruling party’s incremental package, preferring instead to abolish Article 9’s second paragraph entirely, lift restrictions on collective self-defense, and officially rename the Self-Defense Forces as a national defense military.
Debates Over Emergency Powers and Military Budgets
Proponents argue the measure is necessary to extend lawmakers’ terms if a catastrophic disaster prevents timely lower house elections. Critics point out that such an expansion of lower house authority would inevitably diminish the constitutional standing of the upper house, drawing sharp institutional resistance.
With defense expenditures hovering around 2 percent of gross domestic product, proposals to elevate military spending further—potentially reaching 3.5 percent or 20 trillion yen—have ignited fears that social security and public welfare budgets will face severe cuts.