Abe may not be able to revise Constitution next year

On May 3, Japan observed the 71st anniversary of its Constitution that went into effect in 1947. Despite strong opposition from people at home and abroad, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is eager to amend the Constitution that, in his words, was imposed by the United States on Japan after the end of World War II.

An opinion poll conducted by Kyodo News in Japan last month showed 61 percent of the respondents were opposed to any constitutional revisions while Abe is in office, compared with 38 percent in favor.

On May 3 last year, Abe gave a call for specifying the Self-Defense Forces in the Constitution, arguing that the lack of reference to Japanese armed forces in the Constitution leaves room for them to be seen as "unconstitutional".