Fictional civil war in Japan

[Osprey14]

I am currently working on some science fiction stories and I have stumbled across a problem.

In one of the stories, it involves a future war between Japan and another country after an atrocity is staged by the opposing nation to Japan. The problem here is that Japan's constitution forbid any declaration of war against another nation, only limited self defense.

But I have thought of the possibility of a future civil war rising from such an atrocity? Imagine malitias banding who want to amend the constitution in order to retaliate with war and establishing a new nation called lets just say, New Ainu (Ainu was a former north nation on the Japanese islands), and a civil war broke out between New Ainu and the current Japan. It's a little like the comic book DMZ where a second civil war breaks out between the USA and the Free States of America.

How feesable would such a fictional war be? What would you say happens internally and externally to Japan as in world war three.

[spidergoat]

It doesn't sound very likely. More likely the rightist party would gain control and amend the constitution overnight and no one would object. And they wouldn't change the name of the country.

[Osprey14]

It doesn't sound very likely. More likely the rightist party would gain control and amend the constitution overnight and no one would object. And they wouldn't change the name of the country.

But again, declaration of war by the current Japanese government is forbidden under the constitution under section 9, so to amend the constitution, it's going to take a lot longer than over night for a rightest party to do so.

A reminder though, this is fiction we're talking about, as in far future.

[rpenner]

Recently, the limits of Article 9 have been tested with JSDF forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the face of provocation, the JSDF might well move into action and coordinate with the Executive branch in the hopes that the Legislature will follow suit and authorize the action after the fact. Article 9 puts limits on what types of forces Japan has, but does little to prevent mobilization of forces in a tactical sense. Courts move slower than fighter jets.

Practically, any major offensive by the JSDF would outrage their neighbors, including potentially China, and could leave Japan overextended if the US is not immediately brought in or if Article 9 still stands. Today, it is unthinkable. If however, China had a nuclear civil war, five years from now Article 9 could be toast and the reach of the Japanese armed forces might be "adding stability" to the Asian east coast. I mean it's just plain good manners to keep an eye on Hong Kong and make sure that it isn't overrun by pirates or New Zealanders, right?

"Despite the fading of bitter wartime memories, the general public, according to opinion polls, continued to show strong support for this constitutional provision. .. But since the 1990s, there has been a shift away from a stance that would tolerate no alteration of the article to allowing a revision that would resolve the discord between the JSDF and Article 9." -- Wikipedia

Japanese politics suggest that amending Article 9 is not possible without a great change in the atmosphere.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constit..._and_revisions

[Epictetus]

I am currently working on some science fiction stories and I have stumbled across a problem.

In one of the stories, it involves a future war between Japan and another country after an atrocity is staged by the opposing nation to Japan. The problem here is that Japan's constitution forbid any declaration of war against another nation, only limited self defense.

But I have thought of the possibility of a future civil war rising from such an atrocity? Imagine malitias banding who want to amend the constitution in order to retaliate with war and establishing a new nation called lets just say, New Ainu (Ainu was a former north nation on the Japanese islands), and a civil war broke out between New Ainu and the current Japan. It's a little like the comic book DMZ where a second civil war breaks out between the USA and the Free States of America.

How feesable would such a fictional war be? What would you say happens internally and externally to Japan as in world war three.

If right wing nut bumper-stickers have taught us nothing else, we know from them that If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns

The Ainu are such a small minority and so well absorbed thanks to the fact that they also can afford entertaining electronics that it is not likely they would want to secede. A more likely culprit would be all the foreign immigrants who now live in Japan and will only become more populous with the 'greying' of the Japanese people.And if it's a comic book, the gaijin will be more easily distinguishable from the Japanese. Ainu don't look very different from them. Finally, you ought to use the spell check if you are an aspiring writer.

[Osprey14]

@rpenner: Thanks for the answer. That makes sense to me in a political sense (at least in a fictional perspective) and the challenge to section 9 shows that not all things are completely permanent.

@Epictetus: I'm aware that the Ainu are a minority people and I made up the name 'New Ainu' on the spot. Obviously, I'll need to give a better name when I develop this further. Also, sarcasm doesn't translate very well over the internet.

[spidergoat]

But again, declaration of war by the current Japanese government is forbidden under the constitution under section 9, so to amend the constitution, it's going to take a lot longer than over night for a rightest party to do so.

A reminder though, this is fiction we're talking about, as in far future.

So maybe the constitution isn't an issue in the future. Technically, only congress can declare war in the USA, but that hasn't stopped the president from using the military when they want to.

[Osprey14]

Indeed.

[kx000]

Why is there a civil war in Japan?

[Epictetus]

Why is there a civil war in Japan?

Because no one else will fight them. Too scared! Banzai