Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan said she intends to push constitutional amendment talks forward in stages. She plans to move first on the creation of an emergency-clauses provision and on eliminating merged districts in House of Councilors races, which are relatively easier to sell to the opposition and the public. The strategy is seen as prioritizing items more likely to pass in real-world politics over the core of the so-called "Abe-style amendment," explicitly stipulating the Self-Defense Forces in the Constitution.
On the 3rd, marking the 79th anniversary of the enforcement of Japan's Constitution, Takaichi, in her capacity as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, told the right-leaning Sankei Shimbun in an interview, "There is no hierarchy among the four amendment items in terms of importance, but if we proceed with discussions one by one realistically, eliminating merged districts and the emergency-clauses provision are urgent." She added, "I do not hold the complacent notion that all themes must be advanced at the same pace."
During the Shinzo Abe administration in 2018, the Liberal Democratic Party organized "four major amendment tasks": explicitly stipulating the Self-Defense Forces in the Constitution, creating an emergency-clauses provision, eliminating merged districts, and enhancing education. Among these, the core was explicitly stipulating the Self-Defense Forces in the Constitution, but given the heavy political burden, it appears to have been nudged down the priority list.
Eliminating merged districts was singled out as particularly urgent. Japan introduced "merged districts" that combine less-populous rural areas for House of Councilors elections, but critics have consistently said this weakens regional representation. Takaichi said, "With the House of Councilors election approaching the year after next, eliminating merged districts is a very urgent, practical matter," suggesting the possibility of introducing an amendment bill and holding a national referendum before the election.
She also said, "If you add the parties that are forward-leaning on amendment, even in the House of Councilors they exceed two-thirds (of the seats)," indicating that an amendment proposal is possible under the current seat distribution. In reality, however, the pro-amendment camp falls short of a majority in the House of Councilors, prompting interpretations that her remarks reflect political calculus.
On creating an emergency-clauses provision, she cited responses to large-scale disasters or terrorism. Takaichi emphasized, "The state needs to respond swiftly to crises that could occur at any time." But if the provision is introduced, it could allow extensions of the House of Representatives' term, raising concerns that the role of the House of Councilors—which is designed to substitute functions when the lower house is dissolved—could be weakened. In fact, there is considerable caution within the Liberal Democratic Party, particularly among members of the House of Councilors.