UCA News
Contribute
william_grim
William Grimm, a native of New York City, is a missioner and presbyter who since 1973 has served in Japan, Hong Kong and Cambodia.
Japan's government hopes to militarize. So what?
Published: August 04, 2016 09:12 AM
Japan's government hopes to militarize. So what?

Each year from August 6 to 15, the Catholic Church in Japan marks "Ten Days for Peace" with prayer services, seminars and other activities. The dates mark the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the surrender of Japan in World War II. The custom began after Pope John Paul II issued an appeal for peace in Hiroshima early in 1981, and so this is the 35th such period.

In his message marking this year's Ten Days, Archbishop Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, president of the Japanese bishops' conference, talks about violence in the world and then turns to Japan. He begins with situations within society, and then touches on attempts by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to weaken, modify or abandon Article 9 of Japan's Constitution that renounces war and military power.

"Within our country, we cannot be indifferent to murders that occur on a daily basis, or to discrimination based on nationality, culture or gender, to domestic violence, hate speech, or sexual or power harassment. Appropriate steps are required to be taken constantly. And we must not fail to be wary of security-related laws and the movement to change the Constitution which will inevitably involve the Japanese people in the cycle of violence."

The issue revolves around Article 9 of Japan's Constitution which states, "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."

That article, as well as the rest of Japan's Constitution, was largely the work of American authorities during the military occupation of Japan following World War II. In fact, one criticism from those who wish to revoke or revise Article 9, and even the entire Constitution, is that it was imposed upon the country by an outside military force.

Ironically, even before the occupation ended in 1952, changing US interests connected with the Korean and Cold Wars caused the Americans to encourage the weakening of Article 9, encouragement that continues, especially in light of Chinese and North Korean saber rattling in Asia that could potentially be a threat to Japan. The United States has treaty commitments to defend Japan, and the Americans want Japan to take a more active role in lessening the burden of those commitments.

There is also some question as to how willing the United States might be to commit its people to fight and die for Japan in the event of aggression against the island nation or its interests if the Japanese are unwilling to take a more active role in their own defense.

In fact, in 2015, Japan's military expenditures amounted to $40.9 billion, making the country the eighth-biggest military spender in the world, between France and Germany. So, even without any of the revisions envisioned by the Japanese government, the country is already a major military power.

Recent elections have given Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the votes in parliament that he needs to initiate a national referendum on revisions to the Constitution. How worrisome should that be to Japan's neighbors or citizens?

Not very.

For one thing, polls consistently show that an overwhelming majority of Japanese oppose any changes to Article 9. So, while Abe and his ilk might be able to pass intermediate laws governing the use of what military ability Japan already has, it is unlikely that the constitutional foundation for major change will ever be available to them.

Even Japan's military expenditures need not cause alarm. Much of the high figure is due to the cost of materiel in Japan, exacerbated by the recent fall in the value of the yen in currency markets. And it is only about one-fifth of what the country that really and rightfully provokes anxiety in Asia, China, spends.

But the main reason there is no cause for Japan's neighbors to worry about a resurrected Japanese militarism lies in a situation that has been evident for decades. Simply put, Japan is running out of people.

Already, more than one-quarter of the population is over the age of 65. Projections are already being made for the not-too-distant future when 10 percent of the population will be centenarians. This is not simply a sign of the longevity of the Japanese people.

It is also a factor of the decline in the national birth rate, and hence in the number of Japanese people. Japan has already begun to shrink, and will lose one-third of its population over the next half-century. A shrinking tax base will be unable to support both elder care and military adventurism. In addition, it is hard to imagine Japan as a major military power when young people, specifically young males, are comparatively rare, and especially when those youths tend to be apolitical.

Japan's "pacifism" is hollow and has been almost from the start. That pacifism is an aspiration with not much reality to it, just as are any attempts at militarization. Both are fictions, and buying into one or the other will make little real difference either to Japan or the rest of the world.

Father William Grimm, MM, is publisher of ucanews.com and is based in Tokyo.

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia