2024-05-02 21:00:00
On the 3rd, the Japanese Constitution celebrated its 77th anniversary. Makoto Ito (65 years old), lawyer knowledgeable regarding the Constitution, explains the importance of article 13, which enshrines respect for the person. Each person is recognized for who they are, and the person next to them is recognized in the same way. This idea is said to lead to world peace. Adults and children, why not think regarding it on Constitution Day? (Listener: Ayane Imagawa)
Constitution of Japan (excerpt)Article 13 All citizens must be respected as individuals. The rights of the people to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness demand the greatest respect in legislation and other national policies, unless doing so would be contrary to the public welfare.
◆There is value in simply being alive
-What is the difference between a constitution and a law?
“The Constitution is the master of law and the most important law.” Many people might think so. In fact, the difference is who follows the rules and why.
Laws are rules created by the country and followed by the people in order to create a society where people can live safely.
The Constitution is a set of rules that protect people who work for the country, such as Diet members and civil servants, from doing whatever they want.
-What does “respect for the person” mean?
This says two things. The first is to respect the individuality of each person. Everyone is different, both in appearance and in their hearts. This means accepting that everyone is different and that being different is wonderful, and thinking regarding how we can all live together. “Even if you are parent and child or friends, it is normal to be different. It is natural that you do not understand each other.” If you start from there, your relationships with people will become more interesting.
The other thing is that people other than you are equally valuable, so you should cherish them. There is value not because you are useful for something, but simply because you are alive. There is not a single child who should never have been born.
◆Rather than lowering your ideals to fit reality
-What do I have to do to make myself think this way?
Don’t just think regarding whether you can make money or whether it’s practical, but also think regarding the welfare, education and human rights that are necessary for a society where everyone can live comfortably. Even if you are in a position where you have no inconvenience at the moment, you never know when you will find yourself in a troubled or uncomfortable position due to a disaster or illness. I want you to become a person who can take into account the feelings of those who are smaller or weaker.
-What is the connection with world peace?
Let us expand the idea of Article 13 from relations between people to relations between countries, and think regarding ways to live together. This is Article 9, which declares the renunciation of war. Even if countries with different cultures, histories and religions do not seem to share the same way of thinking, we have no choice but to get along as neighbors who will always live together on the same planet.
“Article 13 of the Japanese Constitution is a very important article,” says lawyer Makoto Ito.
The basis for this idea is the preamble to the Constitution. They believe that “there are people who love peace in every country”, and even though Japan has a constitution, they go out of their way to say that “people all over the world have the right to live in peace” . ‘
“However, the pacifism that Japan aims for seems very different from the world we live in today, where many wars are fought.
Indeed, today’s world has not yet reached the stage of “achieving peace without resorting to military force”, as written in the preamble and article 9. Rather than lowering our ideals Depending on the world before us, we need to communicate with countries that are in different positions and encourage them to “work together”. What Japan should do is not support one side of the conflict, but say, “Let’s stop fighting.” Just like sport or entrance exams, it is important to strive towards your ideal.
Makoto ItoDirector of Ito Juku, a guidance school for law qualifying exams. Director of the Institute of Constitutional Law. lawyer. Convey the ideals of the Japanese Constitution through lectures and writing activities. His major works on the Constitution include “The Power of the Constitution” and “A Picture Book of Health: You Are a Treasure.”
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