The English Version of the Article 9 Association Bulletin and News in Japanese (No

English versionof the “Article 9 Association” bulletin and news.

[Updated on July 30th] (English version No.45)

“Live as a human should”

Miyazaki Constitution Seminar

A9A secretariat sponsored the 6th Constitution Seminar under the theme “Live as a human should---- Article 9 & 25” at Miyazaki on July 12th.About 1,600 people took part.

The highlight speech was by Oe Kenzaburo, novelist and Nobel laureate. He stated that“It is only natural for us to regard the Constitution as providing us with a principle for living.”Oe also referred to his recent legal battle with relatives of former Japanese military officers. He said that “We have to argue down people who try to gloss over deaths of residents of Okinawa, who were forced to commit group suicide in 1945. We must not allow them to characterize these suicides as‘noble’deaths of ‘people with the hearts of martyrs’”

Teruoka Itsuko (Professor emeritus,SaitamaUniversity) criticized the present tide of the “competition-oriented society”, which createsan automatic polarity of “winners and losers” and the number 1 priority in every situation is to defeat other people.

Yuasa Makoto, manager of self-reliance support center for the working poor “Moyai,”said, “We have to uphold the motto ‘Live as a human should.’ The Self-Defense Forces are recruiting new ones targeting ‘working poor’ young people, creating a dire situation where they have no choice but to apply for. It is important for us to consider Article 9 and 25 (Guarantee of living) in pair.”

After their lectures many participants asked them questions. An 11-year-old boy asked Oe, ”What should we do to create a competition- and war-free country?” Oe answered, “It is essential for humans to show compassion for neighbors. We need to increase the number of such people with compassion.”

It was notable that many young people, such as 12 school children, and 63 college and professional school students, attended the seminar. One of them excitingly said, ”I have resolved to launch an A9A school group with my friends today!”By occupation, school teachers, local government employees and medical service workers were large in number.

Comments from participants

As many as 111 comments were collected at the venue. Some of them are given below.

It was a fantastic seminar! I didn’t know that our society has been in such a peril. I want to join a local A9A group soon. (31、woman)

I am a mother with a heavy physically- handicapped child. I strongly felt that I would have to survive the hard times taking care of my child. Many thanks to today’s lecturers! (58, housewife)

 In my neighborhood there is a SDF unit. It sounds sad to hear that many young people have to join it for the sake of living. I have learnt Article 9 from various viewpoints today. (20, college student)

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