Cabinet OKs security bills, but voters wary, confused

"A survey by public broadcaster NHK aired this week showed that 49% didn’t understand the proposed changes very well or at all. Fifty percent did not approve of Japan’s expanded military role in the new U.S.-Japan defense guidelines."

49% are frankly to stupid to participate in a public poll. As for the 50% who disapprove, how many a) voted for the LDP and other candidates who support these moves or b) didn't bother to vote. Have fun dying in wars waged on behalf of the huge multinational corporations that profit from war.

Human meat, tossed to the dogs of waaaaaaaaaaaaaar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being led down the road to perdition by the chump-in-chief Abe and his war-mongering cohorts.

"A survey by public broadcaster NHK aired this week showed that 49% didn’t understand the proposed changes very well or at all. Fifty percent did not approve of Japan’s expanded military role in the new U.S.-Japan defense guidelines."

Uh-oh! What happened to ReformedBasher's 'majority that approved'? Even amongst the 50% that approve of changes to the constitution, the majority of THOSE only want changes to how the parliamentary system operates, not article 9. But leave it to the scumbag Abe to say, "YOU voted for this! I'm going to change it!" and then deciding to hold a press conference AFTER it's passed!

Japan is becoming just like China. The whole idea of it being a democracy and doing things for the people is just a farce. Get ready for Japanese to start dying overseas, people. According to Abe, you asked for it.

If China is doing so good, then Japan should be more like China.

Well, all this sabre rattling help detracts from Japan's fundamental problems.

You reep what you sow.

Keeping tabs on what goes on in government doesnt start and stop at the voting booth.

or militarily aiding a friendly country under attack.

This part is something that Japan should have had the right to do from the beginning. Up until now if an ally had come under attack the JSDF by law could not have come to their assistance and technically speaking now Japan could come to the defense of SK in the case of an attack by NK seeing as how the US are allied with SK and if the US Forces needed assistance Japan could help out.

OK. Let Japan have a military and kick the US military out. OR let other militaries in, like have a British Naval base in Yokohama instead of the US. And then let Japan have bases in other countries. Give them Pearl Harbor. Enough of this one-sided US imperialism. Everyone has a base everywhere and then we're "good to go, soldier." WAR WORLD 24/7 Let's do it. Come on , you pussies!

but voters wary, confused

Not outraged? What is there to be confused about? It's clear as crystal that this was what would happen once Abe (and the LDP) regained power. First the secrets protection law - now the amendment to the consitution. Shinzo Abe is leading Japan down the road to perdition - to the sound of deafening silence

And now for the economic reforms?

This was Abe's agenda from the beginning and all the PR about Abenomics was just to get him elected because he sure as hell wasn't going to elected on changing Article 9.

I hope this is his 'Kishi moment circa 1960', but I don't hold out much hope. The Japan of the 21st Century, compared to Japan of 1960, is populated by more sheeple lulled to indifference with 'talentos' stuffing their mouths; circus and cakes, circus and cake.

However the Japanese, once in a while, always surprise you and maybe this will be a step too far for the general populace and the anti-Ampo demonstrations might be repeated in 2015.

Here's hoping. Let America fight its own wars, I wish my country had and 700 British young men would still be alive.

China called on Tokyo to learn the lessons of history, while South Korea urged Japan to stick to the constitution's spirit.

But, Abe almost apologized to America, so that makes it OK. The voters are right to be weary.

Ideally, a move like this would make sense. But given Japan's historical amnesia, and Shinzo Abe (and the LDP) ruling the nation - it makes for a dangerous combination. Let's hope the Japanese people come to their senses before it's too late.

It's not a bug, it's just one more way JT dicks with people who visit here, that along with their "moderators".

Voters wary, confused. C'mon. What don't they get? The issue has been exposed for a while.

Do voters need something right out of a textbook to make it clear? Or are they worried that their views might not conform with others and might break the so-called social harmony japanese enjoy.

To he'll with the war guilt and Article Nine. You can't change the past and Japan has been behaving for the past seven decades. America's empire is in decline, so they can't depend on us forever. They already have the second-most-powerful navy, so this really isn't that big of a step.

The security bills violate the Japanese Constitution, plain and simple. The LDP is using a gross misinterpretation of Constitution to justify the legality of the security bills instead of changing the Constitution which is much more difficult. A previous poster mentioned a 2/3 majority vote of the upper and lower houses and majority approval of the voting public by referendum would be required. If that is indeed true, it is easy to understand why Abe is taking the current approach.

"A survey by public broadcaster NHK aired this week showed that 49% didn’t understand the proposed changes very well or at all."

I would say this is optimistic. But assuming that half don't understand: the majority of these voted for Abe and the LDP on a manifesto of amending article 9 of the constitution. A nation of sheep, then. To add insult to injury we have to listen to China telling Japan to learn from history. If China really did want to learn from history, then how about following its own advice and starting with its own political system. A system proven time and time again to be a complete failure on every level. Respect our intelligence and our human rights and we may have a shred of sympathy when you come to fail.

Puppet people. Lord forbid scores of young japanese go out and protest, like their democratic counterparts did in Hong Kong. The major difference is that those young Hong Kongers care enough to actually go out and demonstrate.

Young Japanese really have no clue about what their gov is doing. Worse, looks like they don't care. Shame. For being as "educated" as they are said to be. @letsberealistic, docile and submissivy is correct.

Is Japanese ok to have their soldiers go in to harms way (fathers, brothers, lovers) and die? Has anyone asked the families of the soldiers current and pass? Would people still support the bill when bodies return from oversea?

Japan should NEVER go to war again! The Americans are behind this nonsense. Article #9 is the keystone of Japans peace. Getting involved in other countries wars is along the path of destruction. We should of learned our lesson after the Pacific war. Abe and his chicken hawks will the the destruction to all we know and love about Japan.

How can 'they' now claim to 'not understand?' WTF, so they voted in what they didn't comprehend and now cry, 'What?' Every News outlet has run day after day of explanation and detail, in Japanese, with diagrams and those rubbish models they make --NHK-- to visually demonstrate what, how, why, and 'if', the 'grey' areas, the 'reality' the scenarios. How can they NOT understand?

The Americans are behind this nonsense. Article #9 is the keystone of Japans peace.

Then it is fair to say Japan's freeloading is the "other" keystone of Japans peace.

America ain't perfect. But it certainly aint up to any nonsense you're claiming. Do you vote? Are you trying to change Japan? Or just "let it ride" everything is fine here mentality? If you are JAPANESE and if you don't VOTE, you simply cannot complain period.

Japan still has the world's second-most-powerful navy (26 destroyers, 7 light aircraft carriers). The PLAN would lose hands-down. Abe is doing what is practical.

" Debate in parliament will likely be fiery, but the bills are expected to pass given the ruling bloc’s majority in parliament."

"they don't want to debate something before they complete its establishment. They want to debate it after its in place, and then ridicule those who dare even criticize it" Alex Jones 2015

A survey by public broadcaster NHK aired this week showed that 49% didn’t understand the proposed changes very well or at all. Fifty percent did not approve of Japan’s expanded military role in the new U.S.-Japan defense guidelines.

After debate in Diett somehow pass, National referendum. Ar least 50% +1 has to be aye. votes. are these 49 % honestly saying they don't understand ? Majority of them could be scared to tell their honest opinion. You can not tell all of Japanese are ignorant of life under military governed until 70 years ago.

China is making aggressive moves, and smaller weaker countries are getting stepped on

Actually, China has already made the aggressive moves with Vietnam in 1974. They have crossed border and invaded Vietnam. They have influenced and supported Khamar Rouge in 1960s. In my living memory, US has never settled with China for bullying smaller and weaker countries. The reason was China has WMD unlike Irag. When Irag bullied Kuwait, US has showed rapid fire action for punishment. Both US and China are bully boys. Both are poisonous as Cobras. They are root cause of Geo Political tensions.

The more likely Japan joins US military adventures, more Japanese citizens will be decapitated by terrorists. Middle East is the breeding ground for murderers of Japanese civilians. The best thing in life is peace and prosperity like Switzerland which even not bother to join the UN.

Japan should NEVER go to war again! The Americans are behind this nonsense. Article #9 is the keystone of Japans peace. Getting involved in other countries wars is along the path of destruction. We should of learned our lesson after the Pacific war. Abe and his chicken hawks will the the destruction to all we know and love about Japan.

A Yuri Otani: here is something we agree on

@YuriOtaniMAY. 15, 2015 - 12:21AM JST Japan should NEVER go to war again!

Excellent ! I completely agree with you. I am sure many silent voters will agree with your opinions.We don't want our youngsters drafted to foreign war zones. Beside that, there is not enough youngsters in Japan.

Japan should NEVER go to war again!

Of course nobody wants Japan to go to war. Their just enhancing the bilateral alliance. You don't hear the US complaining. No, in fact they encourage japan to do this. Japan has freeloaded off security enough. Time to proactively enhance it's policies. Doesn't mean they're planning to actually go to war. Or kill Chinese or Koreans like last time.

If majority of Japan don't want the upgrade, then everyone needs to shut-up about relocating the bases.

Japan has freeloaded off security enough

It's not freeloading when the Americans want to be here, and the Japanese are paying for them to be here.

The 4-star clowns in DC should pull the circus back. Taper them off to HA & other US islands in the pacific.

Japan's money cannot save them anymore than American GI's stationed here.