{"id":2582301,"date":"2026-03-21T05:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T09:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/takaichi-wants-a-military-but-senior-official-warns-against-revising-constitution\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T05:31:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T09:31:30","slug":"takaichi-wants-a-military-but-senior-official-warns-against-revising-constitution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/takaichi-wants-a-military-but-senior-official-warns-against-revising-constitution\/","title":{"rendered":"Takaichi wants a military, but senior official warns against revising constitution"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftakaichi-wants-a-military-but-senior-official-warns-against-revising-constitution%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2582301&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The piece reports on japan\u2019s debate over constitutional revision and military modernization led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. She has won a landslide victory with a platform to transform the self-defense Force into a formal military, but a senior official warns that changing Article 9 could open a Pandora\u2019s box of wider constitutional reforms demanded by opposition parties. Amending the constitution would require a three-step process: a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Diet and a national referendum.While the Liberal Democratic party holds a two-thirds majority in the lower house, it remains a minority in the upper house, making the second step uncertain. Experts caution that revising the constitution could unleash a host of other political conflicts, including issues from education and surroundings to voting rights and same-sex marriage, and they note worries about the rural-urban voting disparities that could accompany any change. Some analysts say the most plausible path is a pragmatic revision that formally recognizes the SDF\u2019s existence and legitimacy rather than restoring a traditional army, a move that would be carefully balanced against regional sensitivities and domestic politics. China has criticized Takaichi\u2019s push, while the United States has signaled support for Japan\u2019s security posture; Takaichi\u2019s meeting with President Trump reportedly left a positive impression, with the president praising her as a \u201cpowerful woman.\u201d the article frames the issue as a cautious, incremental approach to strengthening Japan\u2019s defense within the constraints of its postwar constitutional framework.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Takaichi wants a military, but senior Japanese official warns revising constitution could open &lsquo;Pandora&rsquo;s box&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2533871\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4491484\/japan-takaichi-golden-dome-white-house-visit\/\">Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi&rsquo;s<\/a> party won a landslide election last month with a platform that included transforming the Japanese Self-Defense Force into a formal military. But meddling with the constitution could give opposition parties an unwelcome opportunity to demand their own adjustments.<\/p>\n<p>A senior Japanese official told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that moving to change Article 9 of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/japan\/\">Japanese Constitution<\/a>, which states that Japanese &ldquo;land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained,&rdquo; would be like opening &ldquo;Pandora&rsquo;s Box&rdquo; for debate on other constitutional changes demanded by opposition parties.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499483\/iran-missile-launch-diego-garcia\/\">Iran launches two missiles at Diego Garcia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-launches-two-missiles-at-diego-garcia-exposing-greater-range\/\" title=\"Iran launches two missiles at Diego Garcia, exposing greater range\">exposing greater range<\/a> than previously thought<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499430\/trump-other-countries-responsible-hormuz-security\/\">Trump says other countries will have to be responsible for Strait of Hormuz security<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499179\/iran-threatens-uk-bases-us-use-strike\/\">Iran threatens UK bases after London allows US use for strikes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Just focusing on revision of the [Japanese Self-Defense Force] is not realistic from a political perspective, because the opposition parties are always insisting on the necessity of revisions in other areas,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-attempted-to-abduct-at-least-3-american-journalists-in-2019-and-2020\/\" title=\"Iran Attempted To Abduct at Least 3 American Journalists in 2019 and 2020\">senior official told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gestures as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his speech during their visit to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington at the U.S. Navy&rsquo;s Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, on Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo\/Eugene Hoshiko, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Japanese Constitution, drafted by American legal scholars and thrust upon the country in the aftermath of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/world-war-ii\/\">World War II<\/a>, has not been revised since its adoption in 1947. It was this document that signed away Japan&rsquo;s right to declare war and restricted its military to the meager Self-Defense Force, which is tightly restricted in activities like overseas security operations or developing &ldquo;offensive weapons.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Takaichi has picked up the mantle of her political <em>senpai<\/em>, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/shinzo-abe\">late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe<\/a>, in fighting for a Japan more capable of flexing its power against regional rivals such as North Korea and China. She has already met President Donald Trump&rsquo;s demands for 2% of GDP funding defense and intends to go further of her own volition.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chosun.com\/english\/world-en\/2026\/03\/14\/HRYSDVYFLRB4ZITD5VCTBAFQKU\/\">Takaichi told <\/a>the graduating class of the National Defense Academy in Yokosuka City on Feb. 14. &ldquo;We must not turn away from the harsh realities Japan faces.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But the prime minister knows that, ultimately, Japan&rsquo;s current constitution is preventing the islands from reaching their full military potential.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We intend to tenaciously work to create an environment in which an amendment proposal can be initiated as soon as possible and lead to a national referendum,&rdquo; she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/16364985\">promised<\/a> the Japanese public following her victory last month.<\/p>\n<p>Changing the constitution requires a three-step process. First, there would need to be a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Japanese Diet. Following that, a two-thirds vote in the upper chamber, the House of Councillors, is required. Finally, the issue would be put to a national referendum, with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-clears-another-senate-vote\/\" title=\"Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Clears Another Senate Vote\">simple majority required<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The landslide victory of Takaichi&rsquo;s Liberal Democratic Party last month in the lower chamber elections seems to indicate that the first and third steps are well within reach. The Liberal Democrats enjoy a firm two-thirds majority in the House, and the public has given them an overwhelming popular mandate.<\/p>\n<p>It is the second step in the process &mdash; two-thirds support in the House of Councillors &mdash; that would be a major logistical hurdle. The Liberal Democrats are still a minority in that chamber, outnumbered by the combined force of the socially progressive Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think revision of the constitution is an easy thing, even for Ms. Takaichi,&rdquo; the senior official told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>But even if Takaichi managed to find a workaround, her allies fear that Japan&rsquo;s first-ever constitutional amendment would open the floodgates to a deluge of proposed changes that could upheave the country&rsquo;s delicate status quo.<\/p>\n<p>The senior official offered voter parity as one example, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/10\/28\/world\/asia\/japan-election-rural-urban.html\">well-documented trend<\/a> of rural towns and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >prefectures accumulating disproportionate voting power compared<\/a> to metropolises like Tokyo and Osaka due to population decline.<\/p>\n<p>This development, which benefits the Liberal Democrats greatly by maintaining the political strength of conservative-leaning rural communities, has been <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asiapacific.ca\/publication\/vote-value-disparity-japans-upper-house-triggers-debate-pits\">repeatedly challenged<\/a> in court on constitutional grounds.<\/p>\n<p>Other groups have sought to utilize the constitution as an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/articles\/japans-debate-over-lgbtq-rights-courts\">avenue for legalizing same-sex marriage<\/a> in Japan, citing its provisions for equality under the law and &ldquo;individual dignity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The senior official told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that there are many more special interest considerations that could be raised if constitutional amendments become a reality, from rights in education to legal framework about environmental policy.<\/p>\n<p>Another consideration is the optics of military reform. Japanese officials are quick to object to terms like &ldquo;remilitarization,&rdquo; believing that the terminology is too close to rhetoric coming from Beijing and Pyongyang that seeks to portray Japan as going down the militaristic road that led to World War II.<\/p>\n<p>China has been Takaichi&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4452468\/china-panics-takaichi-remilitarize-japan\/\">most belligerent critic<\/a> since the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-war-netanyahu-vows-hamas-members-are-dead-men-walking-as-he-pledges-ground-invasion-soon\/\" title=\"Netanyahu promises imminent ground invasion, warns Hamas members face certain death.\">prime minister reiterated<\/a> last year Japan&rsquo;s position that an invasion of Taiwan could pose an existential threat to the country and therefore justify deployment of the Self-Defense Force.<\/p>\n<p>Chinese diplomats have called Takaichi a &ldquo;witch,&rdquo; and one stationed in Osaka was even forced to leave the country after he threatened to cut her head off over the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4474733\/china-campaign-japan-ai-warfare-blacklists-grievances\/\">challenge to Beijing&rsquo;s self-proclaimed ownership<\/a> of Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p>All these considerations have led to speculation on how Takaichi can expand Japan&rsquo;s defensive capabilities and build legitimacy for the Self-Defense Forces without expending political capital on something as monumental as reestablishing a formal military.<\/p>\n<p>Kristi Govella, Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that although Takaichi has &ldquo;said a lot of things in her career&rdquo; that are &ldquo;quite provocative&rdquo; to opposition parties, she will ultimately act pragmatically on the military question.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Takaichi has been quite moderate since she came to office about what goal she is actually pursuing with her political capital,&rdquo; said Govella. &ldquo;She is talking about, for example, constitutional revision, but my expectation would be that if it comes to it and they push for it, the revision will be that the Constitution recognizes the existence and legitimacy of the Self-Defense Forces &mdash; not that it will be a return to Japan having a traditional army.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4495518\/trump-japan-iran-strikes-pearl-harbor\/\">TRUMP JOKES HE DIDN&rsquo;T TELL JAPAN ABOUT IRAN STRIKES BECAUSE OF PEARL HARBOR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, Tokyo is focused on maintaining its relationship with the United States to ensure its continued international security.<\/p>\n<p>Officials said there would be a positive atmosphere on the plane ride back to Tokyo following <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4495518\/trump-japan-iran-strikes-pearl-harbor\/\">Takaichi&rsquo;s meeting with Trump<\/a> at the White House on Thursday.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Japan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Despite fears that Trump would aggressively demand <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">that Takaichi deploy&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4471692\/japan-deploy-missiles-island-near-taiwan-five-years\/\">Self-Defense Force personnel<\/a>&nbsp;to open the Strait of Hormuz, the president seemed to understand the constitutional constraints<\/span> the prime minister faces and did not complain.<\/p>\n<p>Takaichi made vague promises to &ldquo;reach out to many of the partners in the international community to reach our objectives together,&rdquo; which seemed to satisfy the president, who called her a &ldquo;powerful woman.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Takaichi seeks military reform; warns of Pandora&#8217;s box<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2582302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25360072945883.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[76271,5045,4461,4505,5894],"class_list":["post-2582301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-constitutional-amendment-2","tag-government","tag-japan","tag-military","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25360072945883.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582301"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2582305,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582301\/revisions\/2582305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2582302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}