What is 'Respect for Individuals'? The Core Concept of the Constitution

Introduction

The Constitution of Japan contains the phrase
**'Respect for Individuals'**.

However, have you ever wondered,

'What does respect for individuals actually mean?'
In fact, this concept is said to be the core of the Constitution's approach to human rights.

This time, we will look at
**'Respect for Individuals'** as written in Article 13 of the Constitution.

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What you will learn today

・'Respect for Individuals' as written in the Constitution
・What the phrase means
・Why it is an important concept

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What the Constitution says

Article 13 of the Constitution of Japan states the following:
All of the people shall be respected as individuals.

In other words, it is the idea that people are:
・Not tools for the state

・Not merely treated as parts of a group

But are treated as important beings, each and every one of them.

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What does 'respected as individuals' mean?

The term 'individual' here means

a person who is unique.

People have different:

・Ways of thinking

・Ways of living
・Values
The Constitution aims for a society that values each and every person with such differences.

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Summary

Article 13 of the Constitution states that

all people shall be respected as individuals.

In other words, it is the idea that people are

not tools for the state or society, but are each and every one an important being.

This concept serves as the foundation for human rights in the Constitution.
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Next time

Next time, we will look at

'What is Equality Under the Law?'

and how to think about discrimination, as written in Article 14 of the Constitution.
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Source

e-Gov Law Search
Constitution of Japan, Article 13
https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=321CONSTITUTION