Lawmakers scuffle as Diet battle heats up over controversial security bills

Good! Now bring it to the streets! Show them once and for all you won't stand idly by.

Just vote on this and move on already! There are other important issues to deal with.

Ah, democracy at work. Yep, the right hook of democracy. Wins every time!

"Japanese democracy" is actually an oxymoron - there's really only been one party in power since the end of WW II (thanks, US govt). If a bill rejected or tabled by the upper house can be returned to and then passed by the lower house in which the legislation "originated", does this not allow the party that controls the lower house a defacto ability to pass legislation at will? Is the role of the upper house merely that of a rubber hanko? All this of course ignores the related issue that unelected bureaucrats, not elected legislators, write all of the legislation, anyway. While it's encouraging that the voice of the people can now be heard in the streets, it's a shame it isn't heard inside the halls of power - except through the walls.

This just shows how ridiculous the idea of democracy in Japan. If the parties differentiate it turns into a brawl because neither side can give a strong argument without loosing their temper. This has been going on in Japan for decades. I remember the full on punch ups in the 90's. It's completely laughable that these morons are running s country.

How can anyone consider that Japan is democratic when only a tiny portion of the population is able to elect a potential Prime Minister into office?

It's completely laughable that these morons are running s country.

Don't forget who elected these "morons" into office. If they are truly such, then what does that say about the folks who elected them?

I know Japanese people elected Abe because he showed some solutions to fix the economy, but the way is doing isn't the right track, he loves Japan I really doubt it he want see his country going a downhill but he should think more rationally. In short term have and collaborate with US military will be good, but in the long term will earn unnecessary enemies. Abe should focus the outcome and consequences of his acts, He should improving the safety of Nuclear Reactor, invest in new technologies Nuclear Fusion could be a good solutions, Solar Panels, Geothermal, Wind Power, Water Power, pump billions of Yen of stock market won't improve the economy that's just a myth if not look the example to Wall Street bailout, End of loopholes to employer and hired more permanent people, some tax break buying houses, car, loans. Apology in behalf of Imperial Japanese Army the atrocities did WWII also build museums, charity institutions, bring hardworking legal immigrants with or without families that will make invest in Japan with some Immigrant Tax Relief to invest, bring brighter people outside to work in Japan Jjapan will get the credit of it) US help Einstein and he sound amazing things and US got the credit.

Yubaru posted . "Don't forget who elected these "morons" into office. If they are truly such, then what does that say about the folks who elected them?" I have been saying the same thing here in the good old USA. These "morons" don't sneak into public office. They are put into office by other "morons". Many voters claim that they did not vote for these fools. Makes one wonder how they got in with so few votes.

Abe and his supporters say the bills are necessary to deal with a changing security environment marked by an increasingly assertive China and unpredictable North Korea.

Both of which will see enactment of the bills the same way that a bull does a red flag

Makes one wonder how they got in with so few votes.

Vote disparity. At its worst, one vote cast in Tottori has 4.77 times more clout than a vote cast in Hokkaido. The Supreme Court has ruled more than once that the unbalance in the strength of a vote represents a 'state of unconstitutionality'. Not that the LDP, in whose favour the disparity leans heavily, cares much for the Constitution when it gets in the way of politics.

In the last general election, the LDP took 61% of the seats with 48% of the vote. Their pals the Komeito took 7% of the seats with 1.5% of the vote (though they do pick up a lot more votes in the block voting). The 2nd-placed DPJ took only 15% of the seats with 22% of the votes. On balance the LDP-Komeito coalition should be struggling to keep a minority government afloat, instead they have a strong majority.

http://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a04401/

At this time ... 4 p.m. Thursday ... a kind of filibuster is going on in the main chamber of the Diet. So far the speakers are ripping into Abe and his policies. If you want to watch this action, it is being aired on NHK, on its BS channel. Not only are Abe and his cronies being belittled, but the U.S., too. The seats usually occupied by Abe and his Cabinet are empty. These people are elsewhere supposedly working on some kind of a draft to get Abe's policies passed by the Diet.

What a fiasco ....

Anyway, it's happening as I write this, so if you are interested, tune in NHK and follow the action.

We'll have peace if I have to beat it into you myself!

Judging from the hoards of people protesting outside of the Diet and the thousands of protesters across the nation, the next election will sway in Minshuto's favor. We can then expect a new bill being passed then.

And the deal has been done.

Regardless of your view on the policy itself, this is a constitutional travesty. If this Article can be "reinterpreted" by the Cabinet and then passing a law without changing the Constitution, then it can happen with any Article.

I assume there will be a court challenge over the constitutionality of this at some point, but I don't hold my breath, given the wishy washy rulings that come out of the Supreme Court in Japan.

Be afraid, Japan, be very afraid....

The seats usually occupied by Abe and his Cabinet are empty. These people are elsewhere supposedly working on some kind of a draft to get Abe's policies passed by the Diet.

They`ll do what his grandad did with the US security treaty - and pass the bills while the opposition are absent. The protests need to continue, so they get more international media coverage. When that happens maybe - just maybe - the US will tell Abe to stand down.

The protests need to continue, so they get more international media coverage. When that happens maybe - just maybe - the US will tell Abe to stand down.

The only thing that will get the US to tell Abe to stand down, seeing as how they (US) want this to pass, is a Tienanmen Square style showdown. Which I highly doubt will occur, but am rather hopeful that the students pull off one way or another.

"This just shows how ridiculous the idea of democracy in Japan. If the parties differentiate it turns into a brawl because neither side can give a strong argument without loosing their temper. This has been going on in Japan for decades. I remember the full on punch ups in the 90's. It's completely laughable that these morons are running s country."

wow

critics worry they would drag Japan into American wars in far-flung parts of the globe.

Abe and his supporters say the bills are necessary to deal with a changing security environment marked by an increasingly assertive China and unpredictable North Korea.

How does draggin the SDF into conflicts around the world help Japan against its problems with its neighhbors? All the more reason to keep them at home.

Yubaru,

How can anyone consider that Japan is democratic when only a tiny portion of the population is able to elect a potential Prime Minister into office?

I feel your frustration as well, but I don't think you'd apply this same litmus test to, say, the U.K. or Canada, both of which employ a parliamentary system, just like Japan. Are these nations any more or less democracies than Japan? Is the U.S. with its Electoral College?

In any case, I really do believe that Abe and his bunch truly believe a military showdown with China is on the immediate horizon. Even if that showdown is one of Abe’s own creation with his highly questionable diplomacy skills.

The Japanese military is one of the best equipped and well-funded in the world, but its personnel have seen and experienced zero combat in 70 years. Abe is seeking to rectify this, even if it means going out and looking for a fight.

Just as I suspect was a major impetus for Bush dragging the U.S. back into another war with Saddam in 2002, I believe Abe goal has always been to find a way, legal or not, to produce combat-seasoned SDF troops. The breakneck speed with which he’s rammed this bills through only convinces me further that he’s got some sort of catastrophic military showdown fantasy playing out in that nationalism-addled head of his.

I’ve never seen reason to change my long held belief that Abe truly is the Devil incarnate.