Special Report LAST UPDATE August 8, 2010
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May 3, 2010 Constitution for Peace
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Participants form the number nine with their bodies in support of Article 9.
Imperial Japan carried out terrible atrocities during World War II and its actions led to the deaths of about 20 million people throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It launched such a fearsome wave of terror that many of its neighbours still fear the rise of militarism in Japan, despite 60 years of recent peace. Japan also suffered greatly during the war, with many civilians dying from bombs dropped by the United States and its allies, including the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. But this does not excuse Japan's actions and allow it to easily forget its own campaign of violence. When Japan surrendered, peace re-emerged like a phoenix from the ashes of war and a new constitution was created for the nation. It became the first, and remains one of the only constitutions in the world that renounces war. This is because of a clause known as Article 9.
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A group of about 40 people read the constitution out to the other participants to commemorate Japan's pledge of peace.
The number nine was everywhere as participants onboard Peace Boat's 69th Global Voyage celebrated Japan's National Constitution Day. Article 9 is a clause that renounces war as a means of settling international disputes, and forbids Japan from maintaining armed forces. It means that Japan is one of the safest and most peaceful nations in the world today. The Program Director of the 69th Voyage, Kobayashi Shingo, says Article 9 has helped the country prosper by reducing Japan's expenditure on military forces. "It makes more sense to spend that money on education and welfare," he says. Participants spent the day painting nines on their faces and creating a huge banner in support of Article 9. There was a sense of pride among the participants as they discussed how Article 9 has helped create peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Participants are reminded of the atrocities of war as they look at pictures of victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
And yet Article 9 is under threat, with some people arguing that Japan needs to change Article 9 to allow Japanese troops to be sent to engage in overseas operations. Article 9 says that Japan will never have land, sea or air forces. However, Japan does have a self-defence force equipped with some of the best technology and weapons purchased from its ally, the United States of America. Critics of Article 9 say that this force should be legalised because it is integral to the defence of Japan. Article 9 is also being threatened by the actions of successive Japanese governments, which have sent naval ships to patrol pirate-riddled areas of ocean near Somalia. This seems contradictory to the notion of having forces for the sole purpose of defending Japan.
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The dance collective Peace 9 performs a routine which symbolically represents their desire to spread peace around the world.
Peace Boat and other NGOs launched the Global Article 9 Campaign to Abolish, calling for Article 9 to be preserved, and for other nations to develop similar pro-peace clauses in their constitutions. Removing or revising Article 9 could mean that Japan would be tempted to send military forces to support the United States in conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan. It could create new tensions between Japan and its neighbours or destabilise the region and lead to an arms race in East Asia. Article 9 should stay because the spirit of peace benefits all humanity.