The English version of the “Article 9 Association” Bulletin and News in Japanese (No.155 dated
February 13th, 2012) is published by Katsuyuki NARA and Sarah BROCK of the New English Teachers
Association (or Shin-Eiken) (http://www.shin-eiken.com/). The translations are all on our own．
[Updated February 22nd]
(English version No.89)
Exercise caution about constitution crumbling move
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party have
established a Constitution review committee for the specific task of reviewing provisions for
national emergency management. This special review is aiming to set up a new regulations
based on the lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
However, in fact this move is related to the latest Government decision to dispatch
Self-Defense Forces to South Sudan, and to ease drastically regulations about the export of
weapons.
The A9A secretariat plans to hold a study meeting on the 1st or 2nd Saturday in June in
order to examine this new move, assess the degree of danger to the Japanese Constitution,
and study related issues.
*
*
Daily activities of local A9A groups are given below.
*
Kizugawa group in Kyoto
On January 9th, Japan’s Coming-of-Age Day
college student who received the handout said,
celebrating the adulthood of young people who
“I’m worried about increasing crimes and
have turned twenty during the year, the
Futenma Air Station issues in Okinawa. The
Kizugawa group in Kyoto held an event titled
government should withdraw military bases
“Congratulations on Reaching Adulthood!” The
from
group distributed a handout with the message of
Constitution’s peace provisions.”
there,
making
the
most
of
the
Article 9 to the “new adults” during the event. A
Matsushima group in Miyagi
On
January
8th
a
“Defend
Article
9!”
during the campaign. Part of Matsushima Town
signature-collection campaign for a petition took
suffered
place
local
catastrophe --The East Japan Earthquake and
Coming-of-Age celebrations. A9A group members
Tsunami Disaster. 59 new adults signed the
distributed a handout and free packets of tissues
petition.
in
front
of
the
venue
for
terrible
damage
from
the
3.11
Hakone and Odawara groups
Tokyo-Hakone
ascending hills panting. They also held a banner
Round-trip Inter-Collegiate Marathon Relay
with “Relay the tasuki of peace!” and “Defend
Race was held on January 2 and 3. On January
Article 9!” to cheer people along the course.
2nd 20 group members conducted Defend Article
(Note: A tasuki is the rope or strip of cloth used
9 campaign along the route of the race. They
to tie back kimono sleeves and gear up for work
cheered for runners who were running up the
or battle.)
The
Hakone
Ekiden,
Ezu group in Shimane
or
A meeting with the theme “Nuclear power
evacuation, taking her children with her on that
generation and our life” was held on January
very
22nd attended by 90 people. Kusano Mio, a
Fukushima to Chiba, then moved to Osaka,
housewife who has been displaced from Miharu
migrated to Hyogo, and finally settled down in
Town in Fukushima, told about vivid scenes of
Ezu City.
the 3.11 quake and nuclear accidents. Prior to
accidents concern you, too,” and asked them to
government announcement about the accidents,
think, “What if you were with you children in
she foresaw a possible result, and began
Fukushima?”
[END]
fateful
day.
They
evacuated
from
She said to participants, “Nuclear