Historical Dictionary of United States-Japan ... - Bakumatsu Films

Historical Dictionary of United States-Japan ... - Bakumatsu Films Historical Dictionary of United States-Japan ... - Bakumatsu Films

11.12.2012 Views

JAPANESE CONSTITUTION • 143 Chapter VII. Finance (Articles 83–91) Chapter VIII. Local Self-Government (Articles 92–95) Chapter IX. Amendments (Article 96) Chapter X. Supreme Law (Articles 97–99) Chapter XI. Supplementary Provisions (Articles 100–103) The constitution is founded primarily on popular sovereignty, respect for basic human rights, and pacifism. Additionally, the constitution stipulates that the emperor is a symbol of the state, renunciation of war, the separation of the three branches of government, the Diet as the highest organ of the state power, security of local autonomy, freedom of thought, universal suffrage, social rights, and more. On 4 October 1945, Fumimaro Konoe, a prominent politician who had been prime minister three times, visited General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP), and explained that the so-called feudal forces in Japan centered around the emperor and the Zaibatsu had resisted Japan’s waging war against the Allied Powers, and if SCAP eliminated the emperor and the Zaibatsu, the country would immediately become communist. On hearing this plea, MacArthur informally suggested that Konoe engage in revising the Constitution of the Empire of Japan. Konoe and his associates began to draft a new constitution. However, on 1 November 1945, because Konoe was accused of being responsible for waging the war, SCAP announced that it had nothing to do with the Konoe’s idea of a new constitution. Nonetheless, Konoe continued his study and on 12 November 1945, he announced his ideas. On 24 November, Soichi Sasaki, one of Konoe’s associates, also publicized his own ideas for constitution. Rejecting these ideas, SCAP forcefully interposed their own views. Meanwhile, General MacArthur directed Kiju- ro- Shidehara to revise the Constitution of the Empire of Japan. The Shidehara cabinet established the Constitutional Problems Investigation Committee headed by Minister of State Joji Matsumoto. On 1 February 1946, the Mainichi Newspaper got a scoop of one of many drafts that the committee rejected in the process of its examination. On 3 February, General MacArthur ordered the Government Section (GS) of the General Headquarters (GHQ) of SCAP to draft a new Japanese constitution. In just nine days, the GS drew up a draft constitution and submitted it to the Japanese government on 13 February 1946. Based on this

144 • “JAPANESE SPIRIT, WESTERN LEARNING” draft constitution, the Japanese government made some revisions. The Japanese constitution is the supreme law in Japan and it has never been amended. Article Nine is a groundbreaking clause renouncing war as a sovereign right. The articles states: “(1) 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. (2) 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.” Article Nine deepened the Japanese pacifist sentiment; however, in the post–Cold War era, Article Nine has been a major stumbling bloc for Japan to play a more proactive military role in the international community. This is one of the major reasons why there are so many people who would like to amend the constitution. The Special Committee on the Japanese Constitution was established in September 2005 to examine measures concerning the institutionalized system for referendums for amending the Japanese Constitution and to carry out an extensive as well as comprehensive investigation of the Japanese Constitution. See also ARTICLE NINE; MEIJI CONSTITUTION. “JAPANESE SPIRIT, WESTERN LEARNING.” An exhortation that became prominent in the midst of the modernization drive in Japan during the Meiji Era. While maintaining and emphasizing traditional Japanese values, Japanese were encouraged to learn methods of Western education, science, and technology to strengthen the nation. See also EASTERN ETHICS, WESTERN SCIENCE; IWAKURA MIS- SION; MEIJI ERA; SAKUMA, SHOZAN. JAPANESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA. The first Japanese to attend American schools were Manjiro Nakahama and Joseph Heco (also known as Hikozo Hamada) in the late 1840s and 1850s. In the 1860s and 1870s, more Japanese came to America and studied at colleges, such as Rutgers College in New Jersey, Amherst College in Massachusetts, Hope College in Michigan, and Pacific University in Oregon. The Iwakura Mission brought more than 50 Japanese students to attend American schools and colleges, including the first Japanese female

144 • “JAPANESE SPIRIT, WESTERN LEARNING”<br />

draft constitution, the <strong>Japan</strong>ese government made some revisions.<br />

The <strong>Japan</strong>ese constitution is the supreme law in <strong>Japan</strong> and it has<br />

never been amended.<br />

Article Nine is a groundbreaking clause renouncing war as a sovereign<br />

right. The articles states: “(1) Aspiring sincerely to an international<br />

peace based on justice and order, the <strong>Japan</strong>ese people forever<br />

renounce war as a sovereign right <strong>of</strong> the nation and the threat or use<br />

<strong>of</strong> force as means <strong>of</strong> settling international disputes. (2) In order to accomplish<br />

the aim <strong>of</strong> the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air<br />

forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The<br />

right <strong>of</strong> belligerency <strong>of</strong> the state will not be recognized.” Article Nine<br />

deepened the <strong>Japan</strong>ese pacifist sentiment; however, in the post–Cold<br />

War era, Article Nine has been a major stumbling bloc for <strong>Japan</strong> to<br />

play a more proactive military role in the international community.<br />

This is one <strong>of</strong> the major reasons why there are so many people who<br />

would like to amend the constitution. The Special Committee on the<br />

<strong>Japan</strong>ese Constitution was established in September 2005 to examine<br />

measures concerning the institutionalized system for referendums for<br />

amending the <strong>Japan</strong>ese Constitution and to carry out an extensive as<br />

well as comprehensive investigation <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Japan</strong>ese Constitution.<br />

See also ARTICLE NINE; MEIJI CONSTITUTION.<br />

“JAPANESE SPIRIT, WESTERN LEARNING.” An exhortation that<br />

became prominent in the midst <strong>of</strong> the modernization drive in <strong>Japan</strong><br />

during the Meiji Era. While maintaining and emphasizing traditional<br />

<strong>Japan</strong>ese values, <strong>Japan</strong>ese were encouraged to learn methods <strong>of</strong> Western<br />

education, science, and technology to strengthen the nation. See<br />

also EASTERN ETHICS, WESTERN SCIENCE; IWAKURA MIS-<br />

SION; MEIJI ERA; SAKUMA, SHOZAN.<br />

JAPANESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA. The first <strong>Japan</strong>ese to attend<br />

American schools were Manjiro Nakahama and Joseph Heco (also<br />

known as Hikozo Hamada) in the late 1840s and 1850s. In the 1860s<br />

and 1870s, more <strong>Japan</strong>ese came to America and studied at colleges,<br />

such as Rutgers College in New Jersey, Amherst College in Massachusetts,<br />

Hope College in Michigan, and Pacific University in Oregon.<br />

The Iwakura Mission brought more than 50 <strong>Japan</strong>ese students to attend<br />

American schools and colleges, including the first <strong>Japan</strong>ese female

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!