The LDP has proposed comprehensive revisions to Japan's constitution that would weaken protections for human rights and expand government power. Key changes include lowering the threshold for constitutional amendments, removing references to universal human rights, imposing new duties on citizens, and allowing states of emergency that suspend some rights. Critics argue this turns away from global trends toward stronger rights protections and government accountability. The proposals face opposition from groups like the Japan Civil Liberties Union.

1. LDP Proposals to Revise Human Rights
Provisions of Japan’s Constitution
Lawrence Repeta
Professor, Meiji University
May 23, 2013

2. Background
• The Liberal Democratic Party released comprehensive proposals to
amend Japan’s Constitution in April 2012. Prime Minister Abe has
repeatedly confirmed that the Party will move forward on this plan
under his leadership. He has said that the first step would be to
reduce parliamentary majorities required for amendment from
two-thirds to simple majorities.
• The LDP has advocated revision of the Constitution since its
founding in 1955. For many years, debate over constitutional
amendment has focused on Article 9, in which Japan renounces
war, but the LDP’s current reform plan promises much more.
• The overall theme of the 2012 package is expanded government
power over the people and reduced protection for individual rights.
If this plan were adopted Japan would be turning its back on the
global movement toward expanded human rights protection and
government accountability.
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3. Amendment Procedures
Present Article 96(1) AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this Constitution shall be initiated by the Diet, through a
concurring vote of two-thirds or more of all the members of each
House and shall thereupon be submitted to the people for ratification, which
shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast thereon, at a special
referendum or at such election as the Diet shall specify.
LDP Proposed New Article 100(1)
Amendments to this Constitution shall be initiated by either the House of
Representatives or House of Councilors and after resolutions of both Houses are
approved by majorities of all members of each House, shall be
submitted to the people for ratification. This ratification shall require a vote of the
people conducted as provided by law and the affirmative vote of a majority of all
valid votes cast.
第十章 改正 第百条
この憲法の改正は、衆議院又は参議院の議員の発議により、両議院のそれぞれ
の総議員の過半数の賛成で国会が議決し、国民に提案してその承認を得なけれ
ばならない。この承認には、法律の定めるところにより行われる国民の投票にお
いて有効投票の過半数の賛成を必要とする。
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4. Amendment Procedures
• If adopted, this change would expedite any and all
constitutional amendments, including LDP proposals to
weaken protection for fundamental human rights, as
described below.
• The LDP has never submitted a proposal through the
existing amendment procedure in Constitution Article
96(1).
• Most constitutional democracies require parliamentary
super-majorities for constitutional amendment. The
common belief is that this requirement serves as a strong
commitment to protect fundamental rights and other
constitutional values that should not be easily changed.
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5. Preamble: “Universal” or “Unique”?
• The Preamble in the present Constitution
declares allegiance to the universal nature of
human rights, including the statement that
popular sovereignty is “a universal principle of
mankind.” The LDP proposes to delete this
language. In contrast, the LDP Preamble begins
by asserting Japan’s unique nature: “Japan is a
nation with a long history and unique culture,
with a tenno who is a symbol of the unity of the
people….”
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6. Universal Rights or Traditional Rights?
• The United Nations Charter and numerous
international human rights treaties seek to protect
universal human rights. Japan has enthusiastically
supported this system.
• The LDP explains its opposition to universal rights:
“Rights are gradually formulated through the history,
tradition and culture of each community. Therefore,
we believe that the provisions concerning human rights
should reflect the history, culture and tradition of
Japan. The current Constitution includes some
provisions based on the western theory of natural
rights. We believe these provisions should be revised.”
(From Q&A # 12)
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7. Delete Guarantee of Fundamental
Human Rights
Article 97 of the present Constitution provides this
powerful declaration:
The fundamental human rights by this Constitution
guaranteed to the people of Japan are fruits of the age-old
struggle of man to be free; they have survived the many
exacting tests for durability and are conferred upon this and
future generations in trust, to be held for all time inviolate.
The LDP proposes to delete Article 97. In the pamphlet
“Draft Reform to Japan’s Constitution, Q & A” released in
October 2012, there is no explanation for this deletion.
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8. New Duties for the People
LDP proposals would not only reduce human rights protections, they
would also impose new duties on the people, including the following:
 Duty to “Respect the national flag and national anthem”
LDP Proposed Article 3:
1) The national flag is the rising sun flag and the national anthem is
kimigayo.
2) The people must respect the national flag and national anthem.
（国旗及び国歌）
第三条 国旗は日章旗とし、国歌は君が代とする。
２ 日本国民は、国旗及び国歌を尊重しなければならない。
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9. New Duties for the People
 Duty to “Respect the Constitution”:
LDP Proposed Article 102(1):
“All of the people must respect this Constitution.”
（憲法尊重擁護義務）
第百二条 全て国民は、この憲法を尊重しなければならな
い。
 The authority of government officials is limited to powers
granted by the Constitution. Article 99 requires that they
“respect and uphold the Constitution.” The people hold
sovereign authority. What is the purpose of imposing a
similar duty on the people?
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10. Article 12
“Public Order” vs. Individual Rights
• Present Article 12 The freedoms and rights guaranteed to the people by
this Constitution shall be maintained by the constant endeavor of the
people, who shall refrain from any abuse of these freedoms and rights and
shall always be responsible for utilizing them for the public welfare.
• LDP Proposed Article 12: The freedoms and rights guaranteed to the
people by this Constitution shall be maintained by the constant endeavor
of the people, who shall refrain from any abuse of these freedoms and
rights. They shall be aware that duties and obligations accompany
freedoms and rights and shall never violate the public order and public
interest.
• （国民の責務）
• 第十二条 この憲法が国民に保障する自由及び権利は、国民の不断の
努力により、保持されなければならない。国民は、これを濫用してはなら
ず、自由及び権利には責任及び義務が伴うことを自覚し、常に公益及び
公の秩序に反してはならない。
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11. Article 13
“Public Order” vs. “Rights to Life, Liberty…”
• Present Article 13
• All of the people shall be respected as individuals. Their right to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness shall, to the extent that it does
not interfere with the public welfare, be the supreme consideration
in legislation and in other governmental affairs.
• LDP Proposed Article 13:
• All citizens shall be respected as persons. Their rights to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness shall, to the extent that it does not
interfere with the public interest and public order, be the supreme
consideration in legislation and in other governmental affairs.
• （人としての尊重等）
• 第十三条 全て国民は、人として尊重される。生命、自由及び幸
福追求に対する国民の権利については、公益及び公の秩序に反
しない限り、立法その他の国政の上で、最大限に尊重されなけれ
ばならない。
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12. “Duties and Obligations,”
“Public Order”
• LDP Article 12: The people “shall be aware that duties and
obligations accompany freedoms and rights and shall never
violate the public order and public interest.…”
• What are these “duties and obligations?”
• What is the meaning of “public order and public interest”?
• LDP partial explanation: “Our use of the term “public
order” is not intended to mean “prosecute actions against
the state.” “Public order” here is “social order” (shakai
chitsujo); it means peaceful social life (heibon na
shakaiseikatsu). There is no question that individuals who
assert human rights should not cause nuisances to others.”
(From Q&A # 13)
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13. New Duty Regarding Information
LDP Proposed New Article 19-2
“No person shall improperly acquire, possess or use
information concerning individuals.”
（個人情報の不当取得の禁止等）
第十九条の二 何人も、個人に関する情報を不当に取得し、
保有し、又は利用してはならない。
This is phrased in order to impose another duty on the
people (“no person”). It raises the question whether the
true intent is to use this as the basis for new government
regulation of the news media and other writers.
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14. New Restriction on Free Speech
Present Article 21(1) Freedom of assembly and association as well
as speech, press and all other forms of expression are guaranteed.
No censorship shall be maintained, nor shall the secrecy of any
means of communication be violated.
LDP Proposes to retain present Article 21(1), but add this New
Article 21(2):
Notwithstanding the foregoing, engaging in activities with the
purpose of damaging the public interest or public order, or
associating with others for such purposes, shall not be recognized.
（表現の自由）
第二十一条 集会、結社及び言論、出版その他一切の表現の自
由は、保障する。
２ 前項の規定にかかわらず、公益及び公の秩序を害することを
目的とした活動を行い、並びにそれを目的として結社をすることは、
認められない。
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15. State of Emergency
LDP proposes a new constitutional power to authorize extraordinary
government action when the PM declares a state of emergency.
Proposed New Article 98(1) (Declaration of State of Emergency)
(1) “In the event of armed attacks on the nation from abroad,
disturbances of the social order due to internal strife, etc., large-scale
natural catastrophes due to earthquakes, etc., or other emergency
situations as designated by law, if it is considered especially necessary to
do so the Prime Minister may issue a declaration of emergency situation
as provided for by law and after putting the matter to the Cabinet.”
第九章 緊急事態 （緊急事態の宣言）
第九十八条 内閣総理大臣は、我が国に対する外部からの武力攻撃、
内乱等による社会秩序の混乱、地震等による大規模な自然災害その他
の法律で定める緊急事態において、特に必要があると認めるときは、法
律の定めるところにより、閣議にかけて、緊急事態の宣言を発することが
できる。
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16. State of Emergency
Proposed New Articles 98 (2) (3) (4) provide
additional details, including:
-- the Diet could vote to cancel the Declaration
-- the Declaration would be effective for up to 100
days; the Diet would have to authorize extension
Proposed Article 99 describes the effects of such
Declarations
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17. State of Emergency
Article 99 (Effects of Declaration of a State of Emergency)
(1) When a declaration of state of emergency has been issued, as provided by law
the Cabinet may enact cabinet orders having the same effect as laws, and the
Prime Minister may make such disbursements and dispositions as are fiscally
necessary and may issue such directives as are necessary to the chief executive
officers of local government bodies.
(2) Cabinet orders and dispositions made under the preceding paragraph must be
subsequently approved by the Diet, as [may be] provided for by law.
(3) When a declaration of a state of emergency has been issued, all persons must
comply with the directives of national or other public institutions made in
connection with measures taken to protect the lives, persons or property of the
people. Even in such cases, Articles 14, 18, 19, 21 and other provisions relating to
fundamental rights shall be respected to the greatest extent.
(4) When a declaration of a state of emergency has been issued, as [may be]
provided by law, the House of Representatives shall not be dissolved while such
declaration remains in effect and special dispensations may be established with
respect to the terms of office of the members of both chambers and election
dates.
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18. State of Emergency
（緊急事態の宣言の効果）
第九十九条 緊急事態の宣言が発せられたときは、法律の定めるところにより、内閣は法律
と同一の効力を有する政令を制定することができるほか、内閣総理大臣は財政上必要な支
出その他の処分を行い、地方自治体の長に対して必要な指示をすることができる。
２ 前項の政令の制定及び処分については、法律の定めるところにより、事後に国会の承認
を得なければならない。
３ 緊急事態の宣言が発せられた場合には、何人も、法律の定めるところにより、当該宣言
に係る事態において国民の生命、身体及び財産を守るために行われる措置に関して発せら
れる国その他公の機関の指示に従わなければならない。この場合においても、第十四条、
第十八条、第十九条、第二十一条その他の基本的人権に関する規定は、最大限に尊重され
なければならない。
４ 緊急事態の宣言が発せられた場合においては、法律の定めるところにより、その宣言が
効力を有する期間、衆議院は解散されないものとし、両議院の議員の任期及びその選挙期
日の特例を設けることができる。
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19. Japan Civil Liberties Union
• To be drafted.
• www.jclu.org
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20. Sources
English version of Japan’s present Constitution:
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/constitution_and_govern
ment_of_japan/constitution_e.html
Japanese text of the present Constitution: http://law.e-
gov.go.jp/htmldata/S21/S21KE000.html
A complete text of the LDP revision proposals together with
brief commentaries: 日本国憲法改正草案Q&A
“Draft Reform to Japan’s Constitution, Q & A”:
http://www.jimin.jp/activity/colum/116667.html
(This document is the source of all Japanese language text
in this presentation.)
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