Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida appears in a video message shown at a May 3 gathering sponsored by a group in favor of constitutional revision. (Naotaka Fujita)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for revisions to make the Constitution better match the current times, including changes that would strengthen the government’s response to emergency situations.

Kishida appeared in a video message delivered at a gathering of a group pushing constitutional revision on May 3, which was Constitution Day, a national holiday.

Although Kishida said amending the Constitution would not be an easy task, he stressed that attempts to change it should continue.

The war-renouncing Constitution has never been revised since its promulgation after World War II.

Pointing to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as the novel coronavirus pandemic, Kishida touched upon the importance of adding a provision to the Constitution to deal with major emergencies.

He also called for early passage of four changes proposed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, including a clear legal definition of the status of the Self-Defense Forces.

Kishida praised the ongoing debate about the Constitution in the commissions of the two chambers of the Diet, but added: “The major player in constitutional revision is the general public. We must further heighten the momentum for such revision.”

Constitutional revisions require approval from two-thirds of Diet members, as well as public support from a majority in a national referendum.

Attending the gathering were lawmakers from parties enthusiastic about revising the Constitution, such as the LDP, junior coalition partner Komeito, Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People.

Kishida’s predecessors, Yoshihide Suga and Shinzo Abe, delivered video messages at past gatherings sponsored by the same group on Constitution Day.

Other opposition party lawmakers attended a different gathering organized by groups that oppose revisions to the pacifist Constitution.

Soichiro Okuno of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan called for cooperation among opposition parties in this summer’s Upper House election to prevent elements in favor of revising the Constitution from gaining two-thirds of the seats in that chamber.

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