Happy National Foundation Day

Today, February 11, celebrates the founding of the nation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Although discredited now, largely due to the embarrassments of WWII, the day was re-established in 1966, as a day for patriotism and citizenship.

A much larger and more favoured occassion is Constitution Memorial Day on May 3, which glorifies 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.

第九条　日本国民は、正義と秩序を基調とする国際平和を誠実に希求し、国権の発動たる戦争と、武力による威嚇又は武力の行使は、国際紛争を解決する手段としては、永久にこれを放棄する。

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.

二　前項の目的を達するため、陸海空軍その他の戦力は、これを保持しない。国の交戦権は、これを認めない。