May 14 - The House of Councillors passes rules for revising the pacifist Constitution of Japan.

"Furthermore, there is a sense that Japan will move faster toward the right and, because of his control over the Parliament, will be able to revise its pacifist Constitution."

The Japanese Parliament passed a bill on Monday calling for a national referendum on amendments to the country's pacifist Constitution.

Whereas the occupation had been begun and the pacifist Constitution written by Rooseveltian New-Dealers, it was taken over by McCarthy-era conservatives.

Shortly after becoming editor in chief in 1991, Mr. Watanabe set up a committee to revise the American-imposed pacifist Constitution.

Japanese troops, who have been limited to noncombat duties because of Japan's pacifist Constitution, have depended on other nations for their security.

When Japan's government decided to send troops to southern Iraq, it reasoned that the deployment did not violate its pacifist Constitution precisely because the destination was a noncombat zone.

In return, Japan agreed today to stretch the limits of its pacifist Constitution with a joint declaration offering broadened support to United States military operations.

The Koizumi government passed a special law over the summer allowing the deployment of its Self-Defense Forces to Iraq despite the country's pacifist Constitution.

"After the war, America emasculated the Japanese under the Constitution it imposed," Mr. Nambu said of the pacifist Constitution.