[War] Japan: "Article 9"

[Ian Martell]

“Article 9”
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Japan
September 20th 2006

The final draft of the amendment was complete, penned in part by Hiroshi 
Ishida the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Legal and Constitutional 
Affairs and also his son in law, who had worked with lawyers, judges and 
diet members on the final rewording of what may become the first amendment 
of the “Macarthur” constitution. Hiroshi didn’t know to be pleased or 
nervous as he joined the meeting in the Prime Minister’s office to discuss 
the final push to make the Amendment a reality.

“Hiro-kun, at last,” Sato greeted his son in law warmly as he entered the 
office without having to knock. The Prime Minister as Hiroshi thought of 
Sato these days had received daily reports of the amendment team’s work. The 
others smiled as well taking the Prime Minister’s lead as much as anything. 
“Congratulations,” Akira said from his seat by the Prime Minister’s desk 
raising his cup of tea in a salute. The others did the same, Minister 
Takezo, Minister Inoue and of course Director Mura which completed the 
group.

Hiroshi took his seat and was poured tea by Minister Takezo, a distinct 
honour from such an august statesman. Honestly this was the work of many 
Hiroshi thought, this out pouring of pride was unseemly but as they were his 
seniors he couldn’t object, he simply took it with humility and went on.

“Shall I read the final document?” he asked.

“Please,” Sato said as he reclined behind his desk.

Hiroshi took out a copy of the Amendment and put it on his lap and read:

“Article 9, Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice 
and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of 
the nation.

“To ensure the peace and independence of our country defence forces shall be 
maintained in the service of the Japanese people. Their first duty shall be 
the security of the state and may with the approval of the government 
participate in international efforts of peace and defence.

“As the symbol of the Japanese people the Emperor shall be the ceremonial 
head of these forces with the Prime Minister of the Cabinet as the supreme 
commander.”

The men in the room nodded quietly and went over their own copies in the 
folders provided to them before looking up at the Prime Minister.

“Very good,” Sato said. “And this copy has been shown to the Executive 
Council and the caucus?” he asked Hiroshi.

“Yes Prime Minister,” Hiroshi said. “Some had doubts about including the 
Emperor, but in general it was well received.”

“Will it pass?” Akira asked.

Hiroshi nodded. “I would say yes, at least in our party.”

“And the New Komeito?” asked Inoue, who had kept himself distant from the 
fighting between the LDP and their coalition partners over this issue.

“We will get the votes,” Akira said. “But we will need to bring Ishikawa 
into the cabinet.”

“Won’t we risk alienating Kanzaki?” asked Inoue. “After all he is still 
party president.”

“No,” Akira said. “Now is the time, we need to switch out Kanzaki for 
Ishikawa in the cabinet, the New Komeito Party leadership convention is next 
month, a clear sign of favouring Ishikawa will make it clear who the party 
should follow if they want to stay in the coalition.”

Hiroshi frowned. “No offence Akira-san, but won’t that be seen as 
kingmaking?”

“Yes, but honestly with the bridges we’ve built with China, our position is 
strong.”

Hiroshi thought he caught the ghost of a frown on the lips of the Prime 
Minister before he spoke. “I would rather not lose public support so soon 
after we’ve won it back. The rumor of infighting with the coalition lost us 
confidence before, the proof will likely lose us the gains the China 
agreements have won for us. Mura, do you see a solution?”

“Ashiba,” he said. “We ask him to step down in favour of Ishikawa, he’s one 
of his supporters anyhow. When the convention is over and if Kanzaki loses 
to Ishikawa, we make Ashiba the Minister of Transportation. This will 
provide the illusion that Ishikawa’s rise to the cabinet is the result us 
capitalizing on a change in internal New Komeito politics. No one can fault 
us for that.”

The Prime Minister nodded. “Ask Ashiba if he’s willing, what if there is a 
split in the party with both Kanzaki and Ishikawa in cabinet, though?”
“Ishikawa at last count commands the support of enough of the party to give 
us our two thirds majority in the lower house,” Mura reported confidently.

“And the public?” asked Inoue. “What about the referendum that will follow?”

Hiroshi spoke to this question. “We’ve looked at the polls on the subject, 
its close but this amendment with a mention of peacekeeping will pass, 
though at a closer margin than it would without.”

The Ministers and advisors nodded.

“Then we’ll go forward with it as is,” said Sato. “Takezo, what about 
internationally?”

“Nothing to concern ourselves with in the West, the Americans will most 
likely be very supportive. South Korea will likely be wary of the inclusion 
of the Emperor and make noises of it harkening back to our imperialist days, 
same with supreme commander, we can expect a similar response from the 
hardliners in China but President Hong will not likely to oppose the 
changes. North Korea, at this juncture, is anybody’s guess, best case 
scenario, a press release, worst, a missile test or similar demonstration, I 
don’t think they’d attack over what we’ve been discussing doing for years 
now. The rest of Asia will accept these changes as will Europe, who I think 
will be relieved to have a new partner in Peacekeeping.”

“Good,’ the Prime Minister said. “Then deliver a copy of the new version of 
the Article to China and South Korea, let the people who are going to scream 
scream now and get it out of their systems, otherwise I see no reason not to 
go ahead.”

The Prime Minister looked around the room and seeing no arguments he nodded.

“Good, timing?” he asked.

“Well it will take time to finalize the changes in the Cabinet and get time 
to table the bill before the Diet,” Mura said the gears in his head churning 
over the dozen or so different factors. “First week of October?” he 
suggested.

Hiroshi remembered something from his building consensus. “There is a 
definite desire to see this handled appropriately, and there would I think 
need to be at least two days of debate in the Diet on this issue before we 
vote,” Hiroshi said.

The Prime Minister looked to Mura and Mura nodded. “I’ll talk to the Speaker 
and clear the time we need. I would suggest giving them more time; we begin 
the debate on the second week, say the tenth, after the long weekend.”

“Very well,” said the Prime Minister. “And the referendum?”

Mura answered. “Holding the debate now, tying it to the summer elections for 
the House of Councillors will be too long of a gap, we’d need to hold a 
separate vote.”

“When would be an acceptable time. Well I will speak with the Elections 
Agency and see how quickly it could be done, but I’d say by the end of 
October or early November if we want to rush things along.”

“Alright, then inquire how long it would take but do not set a date, we 
don’t want to appear arrogant and assume we will win in the Diet.”

Mura nodded.

“Well,” the Prime Minister said. “I think that concludes the meeting, we’ll 
meet weekly until it is time for the vote to keep updated on the situation. 
Thank you all.”

The men smiled as did Hiroshi who put away his copy of the Amendment and was 
about to leave when Prime Minister Sato called out to him and Takezo.

Akira blinked and looked over at Hiroshi as if to ask, what is this about? 
But Hiroshi only shrugged and turned back and joined the Foreign Minister by 
the Prime Minister’s desk the door closed behind him.

“Yes Prime Minister,” Hiroshi said.

“I want to congratulate you again on your work, also, you are fairly well 
versed in the opinions of the Diet on this issue, correct?”

Hiroshi nodded. “Yes,” he replied.

“What do you expect the Diet’s reactions would be like if North Korea were 
to test another missile or a nuclear bomb?”

Hiroshi blinked with surprise. “Is there… I mean never mind I’m not cleared… 
um, well they’d likely be more supportive of it, many people were calling 
for first strike capabilities when the missiles were tested in July, the 
attitude of the people and Diet would be one more accepting to the changes 
we’ve proposed I believe.”

“There is only one more thing,” the Prime Minister said. “As you know I hope 
to remain in office at least as long as Koizumi did, but when I do leave, I 
hope to name Takezo as my successor to the party leadership, with the longer 
view in mind, Takezo-san has asked me about your political aspirations 
Hiroshi, which is something I haven’t been able to answer.”

“Uh,” Hiroshi said. “To be honest Prime Minister, I have not given it much 
thought, I am here at your request and I am pleased to assist you in 
whatever way I can but I suppose I always assumed I would inherit my 
father’s business and continue the family tradition.”
“Understandable,” the Prime Minister said.

Takezo nodded. “Commendable,” he said. “However please do consider the value 
you could be to the government Hiroshi, you’ve done excellent work, and if 
you are willing to work with Sato-san for the duration of his government, 
then there will be a place in mine for you, perhaps even Director of the 
PMO.”

“What about Akira, I would not want to keep him from what should be his.”

Sato shook his head. “There is no conflict, you will both be part of my 
office until I leave this post, and then hopefully you will go on to work 
for Takezo’s government and my son will prepare to take a seat in the Diet.”

Hiroshi got the sense by the uncomfortable shifting of Minister Takezo he 
was less confident of Akira’s abilities in this role than the Prime Minister 
was.

“I am grateful and will give this serious thought.”

The Prime Minister nodded. “Good, then that is all, except keep the question 
about North Korea between us, you understand?”

“Yes Prime Minister.”

And with that Hiroshi left the office, wondering how just a few moments ago 
the Amendment could be the only thing on his mind.

Actions:

1>	Shuffle the cabinet, remove Ashiba for Ishikawa in the post of Cabinet 
Secretary, retain Kanzaki until the NKP convention in October where he is 
likely to lose the Presidency of his party.
2>	Send copies of the Amendment to South Korea and China to get the 
complaints from elements of those governments over with sooner rather than 
later.
3>	Schedule the debate to start Oct. 10th and complete at the end of the 
session on Oct 11th the vote to take place on the 12th
4>	Hold referendum if the vote is successful in the Diet two or three weeks 
afterwards.

Wording of the Amended Article 9:

Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and 
order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the 
nation.

To ensure the peace and independence of our country defence forces shall be 
maintained in the service of the Japanese people. Their first duty shall be 
the security of the state and may with the approval of the government 
participate in international efforts of peace and defence.

As the symbol of the Japanese people the Emperor shall be the ceremonial 
head of these forces with the Prime Minister of the Cabinet as the supreme 
commander.

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