Abe must not rush through constitutional revision

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced he would contest the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election scheduled for Sept 20, sparking speculation that he is eyeing a third consecutive term as prime minister because the LDP leadership election is seen as an advance contest for Japan's top political post.

For both Japan and Abe, this election is of great significance. If Abe contests the LDP election, as he announced during a visit to a fishing facility in Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Kyushu on Sunday, and is re-elected LDP leader, it could pave the way for Japan to have its longest-serving prime minister.

Japan will see a series of major events in the next few years, such as the general election in the country, the G20 Summit in Osaka in 2019, and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Japan's constitutional referendum, too, is likely to be held in a couple of years. And any leader who presides over these significant events is sure to have his or her political legacy inscribed in Japan's history. So, for Abe, winning the LDP presidential election is important both politically and historically.