[Preamble]
The Constitution of Japan is a pacifist constitution that stipulates renunciation of war in its preamble and notably Article 9. Article 9 in particular has been playing an important role since the end of WWII in preventing the Japanese government from waging war.
We have organized an executive committee for “Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution for Nobel Peace Prize” and started a petition drive as an effort to share, protect, utilize, and promote its virtue, to The Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Since the Nobel Peace Prize is intended to be awarded to an organization or person, the Constitution is not eligible.
Thus, we think it is possible that Japanese citizens as an organization, who have continued maintaining the pacifist constitution stipulating thorough renunciation of war, would be awarded it.
The Japanese citizens may not have reached the stage to actively utilize their constitution. We, however, maintained the constitution which actively renounces war and force for nearly 70 years, throughout the pressure of the entire world to realize things with a weapon, to desire for the happiness and peace for people in the world due to the remorse of the war. We might say that their contribution to the world peace and stability may have been immeasurably large.
Needless to say that not every Japanese citizen supports the current constitution.
We, however, haven’t revised the constitution at this moment. This is due to the fact that many people in Japan talked about the sorrow and the folly of the war with a remorse and desire for peace after the war, and this desire for peace has been inherited and still deeply exists among them.
We also believe that it is meaningful to share a value “It is laudable to desire for world peace and not to engage in wars, and we protect and share this belief!” toward winning the prize.
At this moment of crisis of the constitutional revision, we hope you understand and help us with our effort to protect, utilize, and promote our pacifist constitution for the world peace.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Executive Committee for “The Nobel Peace Prize for Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution”
Co-Representatives: Yoshiaki Ishigaki, Masayuki Ochiai, Yasuyo Takeuchi, and Tsuneo Hoshino
Updated 2014-06-29
[Petition]
The Japanese Constitution is a pacifist constitution that stipulates renunciation of war in its preamble and notably Article 9. Article 9 in particular has been playing an important role since the end of WWII in preventing the Japanese government from waging war. Article 9 has become the hope of those who aspire for peace in Japan and the world. However, the Japanese Constitution is currently under the threat of being revised.
To spread a peace constitution in all the countries of the world, we request that the Nobel Peace Prize be given to the Japanese citizens who have continued maintaining this pacifist constitution, Article 9 in particular, up until present.
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THE CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN
Promulgated on November 3, 1946
Came into effect on May 3, 1947
We, the Japanese people, acting through our duly elected representatives in the National Diet, determined that we shall secure for ourselves and our posterity the fruits of peaceful cooperation with all nations and the blessings of liberty throughout this land, and resolved that never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government, do proclaim that sovereign power resides with the people and do firmly establish this Constitution. Government is a sacred trust of the people, the authority for which is derived from the people, the powers of which are exercised by the representatives of the people, and the benefits of which are enjoyed by the people. This is a universal principle of mankind upon which this Constitution is founded. We reject and revoke all constitutions, laws, ordinances, and rescripts in conflict herewith.
We, the Japanese people, desire peace for all time and are deeply conscious of the high ideals controlling human relationship, and we have determined to preserve our security and existence, trusting in the justice and faith of the peace-loving peoples of the world. We desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth. We recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want.
We believe that no nation is responsible to itself alone, but that laws of political morality are universal; and that obedience to such laws is incumbent upon all nations who would sustain their own sovereignty and justify their sovereign relationship with other nations.
We, the Japanese people, pledge our national honor to accomplish these high ideals and purposes with all our resources.
CHAPTER II
RENUNCIATION OF WAR
Article 9.
Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
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THE CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN
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