The Japan Times2d ago
Protests against revising the Constitution's pacifist Article 9, which included denunciations of academics as politically compromised, reflect a broader pattern of judging scholarship by affiliation and not substance. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/05/29/japan/japans-new-cancel-culture/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #freespeech #academia #journalism #constitution #article9
<i>Goyo gakusha</i>: Welcome to Japan’s new cancel culture

Guilt by affiliation is not scholarship. It is the abandonment of scholarship.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMay 21
Public support for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet inched up 0.3 percentage point from the previous month to 59.4% in May. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/21/japan/takaichi-cabinet-approval-may/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sanaetakaichi #cabinet #surveys #article9 #constitution
Takaichi Cabinet’s approval rate almost flat at 59.4%

By political party, Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party remained the most popular party, backed by 27.8% of all respondents, up 2.1 points.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesApr 28
Revising Article 9 would not change how China or North Korea view Japan's military strength, but could reinforce hostile narratives, increase regional suspicion and reduce Japan's room for calibrated ambiguity. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/04/28/japan/revising-article-9-would-be-a-mistake/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #constitution #article9 #defense #sdf #us #china #northkorea
Japan’s constitutional theater: Revising Article 9 would be a mistake.

The distance between constitutional language and security practice is not a mistake that needs correcting.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesApr 24
Japan's easing of arms export restrictions is intended to strengthen security cooperation and defense capabilities while adapting to a more unstable global environment without abandoning its core pacifist principles. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2026/04/24/japans-new-arms-export-stance/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #defernse #selfdefenseforces #china #us #contitution #article9 #sanaetakaichi
Japan’s new arms export stance and changing security realities

This new policy responds to the new security reality, recognizing that dangers are mounting and every nation must do more.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesApr 17
Japan's Upper House has begun constitutional revision talks, and four key themes have already emerged as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pushes to advance an amendment by next year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/17/japan/politics/constitutional-debate/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #upperhouse #constitution #ldp #nipponishinnokai #iran #article9
Four things to understand in Japan’s constitutional debate

Japan's legislature started debate on constitutional amendment as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to have a proposal ready in a year.

The Japan Times
井原憲吾Apr 16
NHK reports, "Citizens' group launches signature campaign demanding upholding of Article 9 of the Constitution." Here are my thoughts: Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Article 9 of the Constitution can be protected by "signatures." We should change our approach of relying on "signatures" for everything. We should gather our wisdom and consider better measures. #Article9, #signatures https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/na-k10015101151000?app=true
{"@value" => "市民団体 憲法9条の堅持など求めて署名活動", "@language" => "ja"}

{"@value" => "戦争の放棄や戦力の不保持などを定めた憲法9条の堅持などを求め、市民団体が16日、都内で署名活動を行いました。\n\n\n憲法9条を守ろうと活動している「九条の会」などの6つの市民団体は、4月から新たに署名活", "@language" => "ja"}

NHKニュース
The Japan TimesMar 22
Japan does not need to abandon its pacifist identity. It needs to stop hiding behind it. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/03/22/japan/article-9-mantra-not-foreign-policy/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #article9 #defense #iran #sdf
Repeating Article 9 like a mantra isn’t a foreign policy

Any serious defense debate becomes, by rhetorical sleight of hand, a warning of imperial revival.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 20
China's claim that Japan is returning to militarism is misleading because legal and institutional constraints make such a shift unlikely and current defense reforms reflect responses to changing regional threats. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/20/japan/myths-of-japanese-militarism/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #wangyi #china #munichsecurityconference #yasukunishrine #taiwan #alliedoccupation #sdf #gsdf #msdf #sanaetakaichi #article9 #shinzoabe #defense #us
Debunking the myth of Japanese militarism

It is necessary to be clear on this point: Japan in 2026 is not the Japan of 1936.

The Japan Times
Show threadWelkinFeb 16

@JazzyKindaFella @politics @journalismandcomment

#SanaeTakaichi is no godzilla. Nor does she represent imperial #nihon.

#Japan remains the most peaceful, pacified country in the world. The only country whose constitution renounces war, the threat or use of force to settle international disputes, and the maintenance of armed forces with war potential. ☮️

Does ANY neighbor of Japan, say #PRC or #RoC, have #Article9 equivalent? 

The Japan TimesJan 2
As the United States retreats from its postwar leadership role under Donald Trump, Japan must overcome domestic constraints and step up with partners to help sustain the global order it has long quietly supported. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2025/12/31/it-is-japans-time-to-step-out/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #us #donaldtrump #nationalsecuritystrategy #worldwarii #apec #shinzoabe #tpp #china #africa #developmentaid #article9 #constitution #coldwar #sanaetakaichi #taiwan #shinzoabe
As the U.S. steps back, Japan must step up

In the wake of Trump’s reassessment of the U.S. place in the world, Japan should be ready to step up.

The Japan Times