The Constitution is like air !?
Having lived in peace for so long in Japan, many people may now think of the Japanese Constitution—often called the world's first peace constitution—as something as natural as air. It is taken for granted, something that exists without us having to think about it. Just like air, it is so essential that we often don’t notice its importance, but without it, life would be impossible.
However, today a major debate is unfolding over this Constitution. The clash between those advocating for revision and those defending it has turned what was once taken for granted into a pressing issue, one that feels suffocating—a matter of life and death.
The central focus of this debate is, of course, Article 9 of the Constitution.
This article, which has long served as the foundation of Japan’s peace, renounces war, forbids the maintenance of military forces, and denies the right to wage war. Yet, as the Self-Defense Forces grow too large for its original interpretation to support, there is a real threat that Article 9 may be altered or even abolished.
The thought of peace being lost—of the values enshrined in the Constitution vanishing—fills me with an overwhelming sense of fear.
Just like how we would only realize the importance of air once it is gone, the moment we lose these peaceful provisions, it will be too late to restore them.
The Constitution of Japan
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 and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained.The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
Are we now about to abandon the noble ideals set forth in the preamble of the Constitution?
The Constitution of Japan
We, the Japanese people, acting through our duly elected representatives in the National Diet, determined that we shall secure for ourselves and our posterity the fruits of peaceful cooperation with all nations and the blessings of liberty throughout this land, and resolved that never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government, do proclaim that sovereign power resides with the people and do firmly establish this Constitution.Government is a sacred trust of the people, the authority for which is derived from the people, the powers of which are exercised by the representatives of the people, and the benefits of which are enjoyed by the people.This is a universal principle of mankind upon which this Constitution is founded.We reject and revoke all constitutions, laws, ordinances, and rescripts in conflict herewith.
We, the Japanese people, desire peace for all time and are deeply conscious of the high ideals controlling human relationship, and we have determined to preserve our security and existence, trusting in the justice and faith of the peace-loving peoples of the world.We desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth.We recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want.
We believe that no nation is responsible to itself alone, but that laws of political morality are universal; and that obedience to such laws is incumbent upon all nations who would sustain their own sovereignty and justify their sovereign relationship with other nations.
We, the Japanese people, pledge our national honor to accomplish these high ideals and purposes with all our resources.
Here, there are the ideals of humanity that our predecessors have tirelessly worked for and won through countless sacrifices.
Unfortunately, humanity has yet to fully achieve these ideals. Even in 2025, the world is still filled with violence, war, oppression, and scarcity.
But it is precisely because these ideals are so difficult to realize that they are worth striving for. We, the Japanese people, who have survived the tragedies of war, have an obligation to remember this vow and continue working towards the noble goal of peace.
We must not allow the gap between reality and our ideals to cause us to compromise our aspirations. We must persist in striving to bridge the gap between reality and our ideals.
Japan has many opportunities to play an active role in building peace. For instance, taking a leading role in peacebuilding efforts within the United Nations is an important step. This could include Japan’s participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, as the only country to have experienced nuclear bombings.
Japan can also strengthen non-military contributions to peace through economic aid, education, and other forms of support. These efforts are essential precisely because Japan is a nation that renounces war and military force.
Furthermore, fostering international exchanges at the citizen level is crucial. It helps promote understanding and recognition of diverse values, cultures, and religions, strengthening peace diplomacy from the grassroots level.
We must continue our efforts towards a world without war. This is the mission of the Japanese people, as outlined in our Constitution, which enshrines the noble ideal of renouncing war.
Just as we would realize the importance of air only when it is gone, it would be too late to regret the loss of peace once it disappears.
Here is the Japanese version.