TOPIC: 1st Grade ( Practice 30 )

 

 

 

POINTS:

[ essay 1]

 

In recent years, there has been ongoing debate about whether or not the Japanese constitution should be changed. Although some people are strongly against revising the current constitution, other people think it should be amended to meet today's needs. Personally, I believe that changing the constitution can do more good than harm. Let me explain why.

 

First of all, the current Japanese constitution is too obsolete to meet today's situations. The world has dramatically changed since the constitution was first implemented. However, it hasn't been revised for more than 50 years, and some of the articles are not suitable for today's society. Therefore, it is necessary to revise the constitution to meet the current demands.

 

Second, more attention should be given to international relations. Today, more and more countries work together to solve the global issues, such as regional disputes or civil wars, and Japan is also required to contribute by dispatching its Self-Defense Forces. According to the Constitution, Japan never takes part in military activities. Therefore, when the SDF are sent to war-torn countries, their operations are limited.

 

In summary, the Constitution in Japan should be changed. We can't ignore what's going on in the world. Japan needs to take a more active role in maintaining world peace by using the SDF in a clearly defined but limited way.

 

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[ essay 2 ]

 

Some people say that the Constitution of Japan is too obsolete to meet today's international demand, but I strongly believe it should stay the same.

 

First, Article 9 of the Constitution acts as a deterrent to waging wars or any military activities. It may be true that it prevents SDF from participating in the UN peace keeping operations, but Japan has set a good example with the Constitution stipulating the country as a whole has abandoned any military activities. No other country in the world has so peace-oriented constitution as Japan does.

 

Second, it is very hard to reach a public consensus on whether we should revise the constitution and how. It would cause a lot of conflicts and also take a lot of procedures to get to the conclusion. Given the current situation, it is too unrealistic and unnecessary to try to amend the constitution.

 

Third, the neighboring countries would be concerned if Japan showed the intention of amending the Constitution. Knowing the historical facts during World War Two, other countries, including Korea, would not be glad to see any sign of Japan seeking the powerful military forces again. As a result, the amendment of the Constitution might cause harsh criticism from the world.

 

For these reasons, I believe Japan should keep the current constitution as it is now. It will help our country to stay in peace and keep harmony with other countries in the world.

 

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[ essay 3 ]

 

Nowadays, there is a growing awareness that the Constitution of Japan should be changed to meet today's environment. Personally, I believe the Constitution shouldn't be amended. Let me explain why.

 

First of all, the Constitution of Japan itself is a great constitution and doesn't need to be revised. It includes the renouncement of any military activities, the declaration of democracy, and guarantee of human rights. It doesn't leave anything to be desired.

 

Second, even if the constitution was taken into consideration to be revised, it would be impossible to gain public consensus. According to the constitution, the amendment of the constitution is required to gain agreement from more than two-third of Japanese citizens. Therefore, efforts to revise the Constitution wouldn't be rewarded.

 

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[ essay 4 ]

 

Whether or not to change the Constitution has come into the spotlight with the issue of sending the SDF overseas. I believe we need to amend the Constitution, more specifically Article 9, to clarify the role of the SDF.

 

Firstly, the so-called "Peace Constitution" has undoubtedly served our nation well for over 50 years, but it seems out of date already and doesn't appear to be meeting global demand. Many other countries are calling for Japan to participate more fully in international peacekeeping efforts. Therefore, it's become impossible for Japan to sit on the sidelines. Simply providing money has drawn a lot of criticism.

 

Opponents of changing the Constitution may argue that the consensus will not be reached, but that's due more to the lack of serious debate than it is to actual disapproval. I think people will come to understand that we can amend the Constitution without angering our Asian neighbors. Doing so does not automatically mean increasing militarism.

 

In conclusion, the Constitution should be revised. We cannot ignore what's going on in the world today. Japan needs to take a more active role in maintaining world peace by using the SDF in a clearly defined but limited way.