But for newlywed Junko Michibita, 36 and her husband Kenji Uno, 41, such vicious matters couldn't seem further away from their minds, as they sip their green tea on a bench in Tokyo's famous Yoyogi Park, enjoying the first signs of humidity as the mercury hovers in the mid-twenties, yet a soothing breeze and a thin layer of cloud offers a perfect natural air-conditioner.
"To be honest I just want to enjoy today and forget all the problems in the world, including the ones facing Japan," she said, adding that the shifting security stance of Japan, coupled with rising instances of war and terrorism overseas had been making her increasingly nervous. More so as she is planning to start a family, as she explained, and simply could not imagine any of her yet to be born children ever having to wear a military uniform and be forced to fight in a war Japan has become embroiled in," Michibata, sporting a simple pastel blue summer dress and white loafers, told Xinhua.
Uno, however, was more outspoken on the issue. Swigging down the last remains of his green tea, he said, "We have a chance to stop this and we will. Abe has a political agenda that has become clearer and clearer. It has nothing to do with the economy. The economy is in the same dreadful state it was in when he became prime minister again," said Uno, an architect for a German firm with a regional office in Toranomon, in Tokyo's upscale Minato Ward.
"He has said he wants to change the Constitution and he has engineered a situation to do so by trying to convince people that the security situation around Japan is changing, and now the current laws and the new role of the Self-Defense Forces are contradictory, with the Constitution not reflecting the current state of affairs, according to Abe," said Uno.
Uno, who said that perhaps unlike some of his Japanese friends, conversations about politics were commonplace in his office as he worked with people from all over the world, particularly from Europe and especially from Germany. He believed that Japan is being slightly hoodwinked by the United States, who has its own agenda in Asia, but needs Japan for its manpower, technology, and, most importantly, its geographical location.
"Make no mistake, Abe wants Japan to have a regular military, for him it's a matter of personal pride and conviction and the U.S. have no trouble exploiting his ego. It may seem like a win-win situation for both countries, but what is the actually point?" asked Uno.
"We're not at war and there has and likely won't ever be any direct threat to Japan as the last 70 years have proved," he said. People are nervous about Democratic People's Republic of Korea's provocations, Uno added, "but we can deal with that along with other countries concerned, and anyway this situation is nothing new."
Meiji Shine just next to the park is another lure for those from all walks of life and offers a tranquil oasis away from the hullaballoo of non-stop Tokyo.
Eiji Yukimura, a 70-something retiree is with his wife and his two grandchildren aged four and seven who seem less than enamored at having to hang out at a shrine and would probably rather be at Disneyland, but, nevertheless are behaving rather well.
"Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the results of war. This can never happen again. Both cities were wiped out by atomic bombs and this must be the first and last time that this ever happens. For this reason and for the future of peace in Japan and the world, I urge the prime minister (Abe) to abandon his plans to change the Constitution," Yukimura said, his face palpably emotional; his eyes imparting something akin to a mixture of deep sorrow and despair.
"This day is a day for us Japanese to remember the value of pacifism and how Japan stands as an example to the world of how an advanced nation has and can live peacefully. When I'm gone I want my grandchildren to inherit a country that is better than the one I love and left. Not a country that is going backwards because of one megalomaniac," exclaimed Yukimura, his tone now distinctly more zealous.
"Abe does not represent the true feeling of the Japanese people. We cherish peace, we have for many decades. We are a friendly nation and have no ill-feelings towards anyone. It's the government that is messing things up," said Yukimura, his escalating passion drawing the attention of the odd passerby at this otherwise serene setting.
"We deserve a government that will guarantee the future peace and safety of our children and grandchildren. There's nothing wrong with the Constitution, only with the one man who wants to change it, so that he can be remembered in the history books. This is not the mark of a truly great leader. This is the mark of a egotist," the elderly man said while whisking a giggling four-year old up into his arms and held him close despite the all-out efforts of the little lad to wriggle free.
"Come on then, let's go to the park," the grandfather said, while striding away, a cool breeze slightly teasing the senior's good head of silvery-grey hair.
