Tokyo Shoseki Most popular ninth-grade text

Ikuhosha Conservative textbook

SUBJECT

“In August, 1945, Japan surrendered, accepting the Potsdam Declaration, and World War II ended. Then Japan started to create a peaceful and democratic government, shedding militarism. The government created a draft constitution based on what G.H.Q. (General Headquarters of the Allied powers) drafted.”

“The Allied powers that defeated Japan in WWII thought that Japan’s political system under the Constitution of Imperial Japan was the main cause of the war … General MacArthur, the supreme commander for the Allied powers, requested amendments to Japan’s Constitution, and the Japanese government drafted a revision based on the Constitution of Imperial Japan. However, G.H.Q. declined it and instead drafted another one by themselves in a week, before strongly pressing the Japanese government to take it on. “The Japanese government translated and adjusted the draft that was originally written in English …”

Establishment of Japan’s Constitution

“Japan caused grievous damages to other countries during World War II, and received massive losses itself. Then the Japanese Constitution made pacifism its basic principle, renouncing war and making efforts for everlasting peace in the world. Article 9 stipulates renunciation of war, not to maintain war potential, and not to recognize the right of belligerency of the state.”

“Japan, after its defeat in World War II, was disarmed and militarily occupied by the Allied powers. The Allied powers strongly requested Japan’s disarmament and that it should be reflected in the Japanese Constitution as well. “Therefore, Japan as a nation decided to renounce war as means of settling international disputes, not to maintain war potential, not to recognize the right of belligerency of the state. This pacifism was accepted by people partly because postwar Japan started from immense damages from World War II.”

Pacifism

“The emperor represents the state of Japan, remaining neutral, fair and selfless, without directly getting involved in politics, and is the embodiment of Japan’s long-lasting traditions as well as the consolidation of unification of the people.”

“Under the Constitution of Japan, the emperor is not a sovereign but the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people (Article 1). The emperor doesn’t have discretion on politics but engages only in the state acts stipulated in the Constitution. All the state acts the emperor conducts should be advised and approved by the cabinet.”