Naoi Fukasawa ( Japanese Physicians Forum Against Nuclear War )

Just after the defeat at World War �U, Japan established a new constitution renouncing the use of war as a method of solving international issues and/or disputes.

The Preamble proclaims the following;

　　"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. "

" renunciation of the right of war " is written at Article 9 .

　　"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. "

This Constitution come into operation from May 1947 , for 57 years .

There is, however, for practical reasons, a "Self Defence Force" in Japan .

In May 1999 , the laws were changed to recognize the belligerence of Japan's Self Defence Forces .

Apparently , this law is deviates from the Constitution of Japan and therefore, the Government now plans to ammend the constitution in order to bring it in line with the laws now in place.

Until now, Article 9 has, prevented Japan from going to war. In essence, Article 9 has saved Japanese people from killing the citizens of other countries people, and from being killed by people of other nationalities.

As war veteran Allen Nelson said ,

"Now it is our turn to protect Article 9 . It is not just for us the Japanese people , but for all the human beings who live on earth" .

　　We have brought with us here today, leaflets of Article 9 in the hope that you might read, understandand consider its contents. In turn, we would fully encourage you to send messages to the present Japanese Government, expressing your feelings on the possibility that, this most important document be changed forever.

Thank you very much.