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Japanese Constitutional Revisionism and Civic Activism

Edited by Helen Hardacre; Timothy S. George; Keigo Komamura and Franziska Seraphim - Contributions by Weitseng Chen; Erik Esselstrom; Timothy S. George; Helen Hardacre; Saburo Horikawa; Sung Ho Kim; Keigo Komamura; Rintaro Kuramochi; Levi McLaughlin; Mari Miura; Koichi Nakano; Franziska Seraphim; Yoshihide Soeya; Makiko Ueda; Christian Winkler and Tatsuhiko Yamamoto

Since the adoption of the 1947 Constitution of Japan, the document has become a contested symbol of contrasting visions of Japan. Japanese Constitutional Revisionism and Civic Activism is a volume which examines the history of Japan’s constitutional debates, key legal decisions and interpretations, the history and variety of activism, and activists’ ties to party politics and to fellow activists overseas.

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  • Author
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  • TOC
  • Reviews
  • Reviews
Lexington Books
Pages: 368 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9
978-1-7936-0904-5 • Hardback • June 2021 • $139.00 • (£107.00)
978-1-7936-0906-9 • Paperback • April 2023 • $42.99 • (£35.00)
Subjects: Political Science / World / Asian, Political Science / Constitutions, Political Science / Civics & Citizenship

Helen Hardacre is Reischauer Institute professor of Japanese religions and society at Harvard University.

Timothy S. George is professor of history at the University of Rhode Island.

Keigo Komamura is vice president and professor of law at Keio University.

Franziska Seraphim is associate professor at Boston College.

Part I: Activism and Constitutional Politics

Chapter 1: Article 9 Meets Civic Activism: Reflection on the Sunagawa Case

Chapter 2: Crisis of Constitutional Democracy and the New Civic Activism in Japan: From SEALDs to Civil Alliance

Chapter 3: Popular Sovereignty, Social Movements, and Money: The Political Process in 1960 and 2014 Surrounding National Security

Chapter 4: Regarding Constitutional Revision Within and Without the National Diet

Chapter 5: Reflections on Part I

Part II: Activists for and Against Constitutional Revision, edited by Helen Hardacre

Chapter 6: New Civic Activism and Constitutional Discussion: Streets, Shrines and Cyberspace

Chapter 7: Reviving Constitutional Democracy: Gender Parity and Women’s Engagement with Politics

Chapter 8: Soka Gakkai’s Impact on Constitutional Revision Attempts

Chapter 9: Nippon Kaigi Working for Constitutional Revision

Chapter 10: Reflections on Part II

Part III: Understanding Japanese Constitutional Revision in Historical and Comparative Perspectives, edited by Franziska Seraphim

Chapter 11: Interactions between Constitutionalism and Authoritarianism in Asian Democracies: A Japan-Taiwan Comparison

Chapter 12: Peace, Land, and Bread: Constitutional Revolution in Postwar Japan and South Korea

Chapter 13: Constitutional Revision Going Astray: Article Nine and Security Policy

Chapter 14: Reflections on Part III

Part IV: Human Rights and Environmental Issues Implicated in Constitutional Revision Debates, edited by Timothy George

Chapter 15: Wartime Roots of Postwar Pacifism: Japanese Anti-War Activism in Occupied China

Chapter 16: The Irony of an Historic Preservation Movement and Its Relevance for Popular Sovereignty in Postwar Japan

Chapter 17: Everything’s Going to be Alright? An Analysis of Rights in Constitutional Amendment Proposals

Chapter 18: Reflections on Part IV

This rich collection of essays puts flesh on the tired bones of Japanese debates about whether to protect or revise the 1947 Constitution. Highlighting civic activism across the postwar period, the authors show the contention to be much more complicated—and politically and socially dynamic—than an either/or proposition. Comparisons with Taiwan and South Korea and attention not only to Article 9 but to human rights and environmental questions give the book an expansive character. This intelligent and informative study is a pleasure to read.


— Carol Gluck, Columbia University


This volume offers a truly comprehensive analysis of civic activism surrounding constitutional revision in Japan, drawing on the diverse expertise of an international team of scholars of law, history, politics, religion, and society. While past research has focused on the goals of established elites, the authors delve into the motivations and strategies of underexamined grassroots actors, including academics, youths, religious organizations, and ideological movements. Importantly, the studied topics extend beyond the lightning rod of Article 9 to encompass debates over human rights, gender equality, and environmentalism, painting a fuller picture of constitutional debates in Japan. By giving equal weight to historical context and contemporary movements, this volume is relevant to any scholar or observer of postwar Japan.


— Kenneth Mori McElwain, University of Tokyo


Because of its globally recognized 'no war' clause, debate over Japan's constitution is often seen only through the lens of its implications for its foreign policy. But the dynamics within Japan surrounding this unique document are far more important. In a timely and revelatory new volume focused on the civic activism surrounding Japan's postwar governing document, the benefactors of this document—Japan's citizens—are given the starring role. This exciting new volume reflects the best of scholarship in both Japan and the United States on this ongoing tension between citizens and state that is at the heart of postwar Japanese democratic practice.


— Sheila A. Smith, Council on Foreign Relations


Japanese Constitutional Revisionism and Civic Activism

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
Summary
Summary
  • Since the adoption of the 1947 Constitution of Japan, the document has become a contested symbol of contrasting visions of Japan. Japanese Constitutional Revisionism and Civic Activism is a volume which examines the history of Japan’s constitutional debates, key legal decisions and interpretations, the history and variety of activism, and activists’ ties to party politics and to fellow activists overseas.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 368 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9
    978-1-7936-0904-5 • Hardback • June 2021 • $139.00 • (£107.00)
    978-1-7936-0906-9 • Paperback • April 2023 • $42.99 • (£35.00)
    Subjects: Political Science / World / Asian, Political Science / Constitutions, Political Science / Civics & Citizenship
Author
Author
  • Helen Hardacre is Reischauer Institute professor of Japanese religions and society at Harvard University.

    Timothy S. George is professor of history at the University of Rhode Island.

    Keigo Komamura is vice president and professor of law at Keio University.

    Franziska Seraphim is associate professor at Boston College.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Part I: Activism and Constitutional Politics

    Chapter 1: Article 9 Meets Civic Activism: Reflection on the Sunagawa Case

    Chapter 2: Crisis of Constitutional Democracy and the New Civic Activism in Japan: From SEALDs to Civil Alliance

    Chapter 3: Popular Sovereignty, Social Movements, and Money: The Political Process in 1960 and 2014 Surrounding National Security

    Chapter 4: Regarding Constitutional Revision Within and Without the National Diet

    Chapter 5: Reflections on Part I

    Part II: Activists for and Against Constitutional Revision, edited by Helen Hardacre

    Chapter 6: New Civic Activism and Constitutional Discussion: Streets, Shrines and Cyberspace

    Chapter 7: Reviving Constitutional Democracy: Gender Parity and Women’s Engagement with Politics

    Chapter 8: Soka Gakkai’s Impact on Constitutional Revision Attempts

    Chapter 9: Nippon Kaigi Working for Constitutional Revision

    Chapter 10: Reflections on Part II

    Part III: Understanding Japanese Constitutional Revision in Historical and Comparative Perspectives, edited by Franziska Seraphim

    Chapter 11: Interactions between Constitutionalism and Authoritarianism in Asian Democracies: A Japan-Taiwan Comparison

    Chapter 12: Peace, Land, and Bread: Constitutional Revolution in Postwar Japan and South Korea

    Chapter 13: Constitutional Revision Going Astray: Article Nine and Security Policy

    Chapter 14: Reflections on Part III

    Part IV: Human Rights and Environmental Issues Implicated in Constitutional Revision Debates, edited by Timothy George

    Chapter 15: Wartime Roots of Postwar Pacifism: Japanese Anti-War Activism in Occupied China

    Chapter 16: The Irony of an Historic Preservation Movement and Its Relevance for Popular Sovereignty in Postwar Japan

    Chapter 17: Everything’s Going to be Alright? An Analysis of Rights in Constitutional Amendment Proposals

    Chapter 18: Reflections on Part IV

Reviews
Reviews
  • This rich collection of essays puts flesh on the tired bones of Japanese debates about whether to protect or revise the 1947 Constitution. Highlighting civic activism across the postwar period, the authors show the contention to be much more complicated—and politically and socially dynamic—than an either/or proposition. Comparisons with Taiwan and South Korea and attention not only to Article 9 but to human rights and environmental questions give the book an expansive character. This intelligent and informative study is a pleasure to read.


    — Carol Gluck, Columbia University


    This volume offers a truly comprehensive analysis of civic activism surrounding constitutional revision in Japan, drawing on the diverse expertise of an international team of scholars of law, history, politics, religion, and society. While past research has focused on the goals of established elites, the authors delve into the motivations and strategies of underexamined grassroots actors, including academics, youths, religious organizations, and ideological movements. Importantly, the studied topics extend beyond the lightning rod of Article 9 to encompass debates over human rights, gender equality, and environmentalism, painting a fuller picture of constitutional debates in Japan. By giving equal weight to historical context and contemporary movements, this volume is relevant to any scholar or observer of postwar Japan.


    — Kenneth Mori McElwain, University of Tokyo


    Because of its globally recognized 'no war' clause, debate over Japan's constitution is often seen only through the lens of its implications for its foreign policy. But the dynamics within Japan surrounding this unique document are far more important. In a timely and revelatory new volume focused on the civic activism surrounding Japan's postwar governing document, the benefactors of this document—Japan's citizens—are given the starring role. This exciting new volume reflects the best of scholarship in both Japan and the United States on this ongoing tension between citizens and state that is at the heart of postwar Japanese democratic practice.


    — Sheila A. Smith, Council on Foreign Relations


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