Do Weapons Protect You, or Destroy You?

Behind the Scene | 武器は身を守るのか、滅ぼすのか

Do Weapons Protect You, or Destroy You?

Foreign student (hereinafter FS): I heard that article nine of the Japanese constitution prohibits war. What does it say exactly? Teacher (hereinafter T): Article nine is written as follows: “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.” And, it continues as follows: “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.” FS: But, in fact Japan has an army. T: That’s not an army, but a self-defense force. For several years after the constitution was enacted, the possession of a self-defense force was regarded as unconstitutional, but later the interpretation became that having a force to defend the country did not contravene the constitution. FS: Is it possible to change the interpretation of the constitution? T: This constitution was made by the USA, which was victorious over Japan after a war that demanded great sacrifices. Made with the intention of not allowing Japan to rearm, it was nevertheless the ultimate pacifist constitution. Later the Korean War broke out and the Cold War between the East and West began. The USA wanted Japan to be a Western military base to stand against the East, and the US-Japan security pact was concluded. In response to the rise of the Chinese military in recent years, the Japanese government has begun to say that even collective defense with the USA is allowed under the present constitution. FS: Does strengthening the military really work as a deterrent? This is essentially the same as keeping a gun. The American constitution allows individuals to possess a gun in order to protect themselves. FS: It is difficult to reduce guns and weapons once they are already widespread. T: But one man was able to implement restrictions. This was TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi who unified Japan for the first time. At that time most soldiers were farmers. In order to improve agricultural production and prevent riots from breaking out, Hideyoshi planned to separate soldiers from farmers, and in 1588 gave “the sword hunt order” to collect up swords from farmers. FS: I can imagine that the farmers strongly resisted the removal of the weapons they needed to protect themselves with. T: At that time the great statue of Buddha in Nara had been lost in a fire. So, Hideyoshi explained to the farmers that he needed their cooperation to build a great Buddha in Kyoto, which would be larger than Nara’s statue. Since the religion of the farmers was mainly Buddhism, they believed that they would gain a divine blessing if their swords were used for the construction of a Buddha and voluntarily cooperated. Before this, Hideyoshi pressured Koyasan, which was a large religious force at the time, to cooperate. As Koyasan complied, he made it known throughout the nation that Koyasan had voluntarily cooperated. In this way Hideyoshi’s strategy was successful, and as a result it created the foundations for public order.

留学生りゅうがくせい
ryuugakusei
foreign student
以下いかりゅう):
ika ryuu
hereinafter FS
日本国にほんこく憲法けんぽう
nihonnkoku kennpou
(the) Japanese constitution
no
of
9きゅうじょう
kyuujyou de
article nine
戦争せんそう
sennsou wo
war
禁止きんししている
kinnshi shiteiru
prohibits
to
that
きました。
kikimashita.
(I) heard
どんな
donnna
what
内容ないようですか。
naiyou desuka.
does (it) say exactly?
先生せんせい
sennsei
teacher
以下いかせん):
ika, senn
hereinafter T
9きゅうじょうには
kyuujyou niha
article nine
こう
kou
as follows
かれています。
kakarete imasu.
is written
日本国にほんこく民は、
nihonnkokuminn ha,
(the) Japanese people
正義せいぎ
seigi
justice
to
and
秩序ちつじょ
chitsujyo wo
order
基調きちょうとする
kichouto suru
based on
国際こくさい平和へいわ
kokusai heiwa wo
(an) international peace
誠実せいじつ
seijitsu ni
sincerely
希求ききゅうし、
kikyuu shi,
aspiring to
国権こっけん発動はつどうたる
kokkenn no hatsudou taru
as (a) sovereign right of (the) nation
戦争せんそう
sennsou
war
と、
to,
and
武力ぶりょく
buryoku
force
による
ni yoru
of
威嚇いかく
ikaku
(the) threat
また
mata ha
or
武力ぶりょく
buryoku
[force]
no
[of]
行使こうしは、
koushi ha,
use
国際こくさい紛争ふんそう
kokusai funnsou wo
international disputes
解決かいけつする
kaiketsu suru
settling
手段しゅだん
shudann
means (of)
としては、
to shite ha,
as
永久えいきゅう
eikyuu ni
forever
これを
kore wo
[it]
放棄ほうきする。
houki suru.
renounce
さらに、
sarani,
and
つぎぶん
tsugi no bunn ga
as follows <the following sentence>
つづききます。
tsuzuki masu.
(it) continues
前項ぜんこう
zennkou
(the) preceding paragraph
no
of
目的もくてき
mokuteki wo
(the) aim
たっする
tassuru
accomplish
ため、
tame,
in order to
陸海空軍りくかいくうぐん
riku kai kuu gunn
land sea (and) air forces
その
sonota no
(as well as) other
戦力せんりょくは、
sennryoku ha,
war potential
これを
kore wo
[this]
保持ほじしない。
hoji shinai.
will never be maintained
くに
kuni
(the) state
no
of
交戦権こうせんけんは、
kousennkenn ha,
(the) right of belligerency
これをみとめない。
kore wo mitome nai.
will not be recognized
りゅう
ryuu
F
でも、
demo,
but
実際じっさいには
jissai niha
in fact
日本にほんには
nihonn niha
Japan
軍隊ぐんたい
gunntai ga
(an) army
ありますよね。
arimasu yo ne.
has
せん
senn
T
あれは
are ha
that
軍隊ぐんたい
gunntai
(an) army
ではなく
deha naku
not but
自衛隊じえいたい
jieitai
(a) self-defense force
です。
desu.
is
憲法けんぽう
kennpou ga
(the) constitution
制定せいていされた
seitei sareta
was enacted
数年すうねんかん
suunenn kann ha
for several years (after)
自衛隊じえいたい
jieitai wo
(a) self-defense force
つことは
motsu koto ha
(the) possession (of)
違憲いけん
ikenn
unconstitutional
to
as
されていました
sarete imashita
was regarded
が、
ga,
but
のち
nochi ni
later
くに
kuni wo
(the) country
まもるための
mamoru tame no
to defend
戦力せんりょく
sennryoku ha
(having a) force
違憲いけんではない
ikenn deha nai
did not contravene (the) constitution
との
tono
that
解釈かいしゃく
kaishaku ni
(the) interpretation
なりました。
narimashita.
became
りゅう
ryuu
FS
憲法けんぽう
kennpou
(the) constitution
no
of
解釈かいしゃく
kaishaku wo
(the) interpretation
えることが
kaeru koto ga
to change
できる
dekiru
possible
のですか。
no desu ka.
is it ?
せん
senn
T
この憲法けんぽうは、
kono kennpou ha,
this constitution
おおきな
ookina
great
犠牲ぎせい
gisei wo
sacrifices
はらって
haratte
(that) demanded
日本にほん
nihonn
Japan
ni
over
勝利しょうりした
shouri shita
(which) was victorious
アメリカあめりか
amerika
the USA
によって
ni yotte
by
戦後せんご
senngo ni
after (a) war
つくられました。
tsukurare mashita.
was made
これは
kore ha
it
究極きゅうきょく
kyuukyoku no
ultimate
平和へいわ憲法けんぽう
heiwa kennpou
(the) pacifist constitution
です
desu
was
が、
ga,
nevertheless
日本にほん
nihonn ni
Japan
再軍備さいぐんび
saigunnbi wo
to rearm
させないという
sasenai toiu
not allowing
意図いと
ito ga
(the) intention (of)
ありました。
arimashita.
made (with)
のち
nochi ni
later
朝鮮ちょうせん戦争せんそう
chousenn sennsou ga
(the) Korean War
こり、
okori,
broke out and
東西とうざい冷戦れいせん
touzai reisenn ga
(between the) East and West (the) Cold War
はじまりました。
hajimari mashita.
began
アメリカあめりか
amerika ha
the USA
日本にほん
nihonn wo
Japan
東側ひがしがわ
higashigawa
the East
たいする
ni taisuru
against
西側にしがわ
nishigawa no
(a) Western military
とりで
toride ni
base to stand
したいとのぞみ、
shitai to nozomi,
wanted to be and
日米にちべい安保あんぽ条約じょうやく
nichibei annpo jyouyaku ga
the US-Japan security pact
むすばれます。
musubare masu.
was concluded
近年きんねん
kinnnenn no
in recent years
中国ちゅうごくぐん
chuugoku gunn
(the) Chinese military
no
of
台頭たいとうで、
taitou de
in response to (the) rise
日本にほん政府せいふ
nihonn seifu ha
(the) Japanese government
アメリカあめりか
amerika
the USA
との
tono
with
集団的しゅうだんてき自衛権じえいけん
shuudannteki jieikenn
collective defense
mo
even
現在げんざい
gennzai no
present
憲法けんぽう
kennpou no
(the) constitution
もと
moto de
under
ゆるされている
yurusarete iru
is allowed
to
that
いだしました。
iidashimashita.
has begun to say
りゅう
ryuu
FS
軍備ぐんび
gunnbi wo
(the) military
強化きょうかすることが
kyouka suru koto ga
strengthening
本当ほんとう
honntou ni
really
抑止力よくしりょく
yokushiryoku
(a) deterrent
として
to shite
as
機能きのうするのでしょうか。
kinou suruno deshou ka.
does work ?
その
sono
this
本質ほんしつ
honnshitsu ha
essentially
じゅう
jyuu no
(a) gun
保持ほじ
hoji
keeping
おな
to onaji
the same as
といえるでしょう。
to ieru deshou.
is <you can say>
アメリカあめりか憲法けんぽう
amerika no kennpou ha
(the) American constitution
自分じぶん
jibunn wo
themselves
まも
mamoru
protect
ために、
tame ni,
in order to
個人こじん
kojinn no
individuals
じゅう所有しょゆう
jyuu shoyuu wo
to possess (a) gun
みとめています。
mitomete imasu.
allows
りゅう
ryuu
FS
一度いちど
ichido
once
ひろまった
hiormatta
(they are already) widespread
じゅう
jyuu
guns
ya
and
兵器へいき
heiki wo
weapons
らすことは
herasu koto ha
to reduce
むずかしい
muzukashii
difficult
ですね。
desu ne.
it is
せん
senn
T
しかし
shikashi
but
その規制きせい
sono kisei wo
restrictions
実行じっこうした
jikkou shita
was able to implement
人物じんぶつ
jinnbutsu ga
one man
います。
imasu.
[there is]
日本にほん
nihonn wo
Japan
はじめて
hajimete
for the first time
統一とういつした
touitsu shita
(who) unified
豊臣とよとみ秀吉ひでよし
toyotomi hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
です。
desu.
(this) was
当時とうじ
touji
at that time
ほとんどの
hotonndo no
most
へい
hei ha
soldiers
農民のうみん
nouminn
farmers
でした。
deshita.
were
農業のうぎょう生産せいさん
nougyou no seisann
agricultural production
をあげる
wo ageru
improve
ため、
tame,
in order to
また
mata
and
一揆いっき
ikki wo
riots
事前じぜんふせ
jizenn ni fusegu
prevent from breaking out
ために
tame ni
[in order to]
農民のうみん
nouminn
farmers
to
from
兵士へいし
heishi wo
soldiers
分離ぶんりしようと、
bunnri shiyou to,
planned to separate and
秀吉ひでよし
hideyoshi ha
Hideyoshi
1588せんごひゃくはちじゅうはちねん
senngohyaku hachijyuu hachi nenn
fifteen eighty-eight [year]
ni
in
農民のうみん
nouminn
farmers
から
kara
from
かたな
katanta wo
swords
げる
toriageru
to collect up
刀狩かたながりれい
katanagari rei wo
(the) sword hunt order
したのです。
dashita no desu.
gave
りゅう
ryuu
FS
mi wo
themselves
まも
mamoru
(they needed) to protect (with)
武器ぶき
buki ga
(the) weapons
げられることに、
toriagerareru koto ni,
(the) removal (of)
農民のうみん
nouminn ha
(the) farmers
すごく
sugoku
strongly
抵抗ていこうした
teikou shita
resisted
でしょうね。
deshou ne.
(I) can imagine (that)
せん
senn
T
当時とうじ
touji,
at that time
奈良なら
nara
Nara
no
in
大仏だいぶつ
daibutsu ha
(the) great statue of Buddha
火事かじ
kaji
(a) fire
de
in
うしなわれていました。
ushinawarete imashita.
had been lost
そこで
sokode
so
秀吉ひでよしは、
hideyoshi ha,
Hideyoshi
奈良なら
nara no
Nara’s
大仏だいぶつ
daibutsu
statue <great Buddha>
より
yori
than
おおきな
ookina
(which) would be larger
大仏だいぶつ
diabutsu wo
(a) great Buddha
京都きょうと
kyouto
Kyoto
ni
in
つく
tsukuru
to build
ので
node
[as]
協力きょうりょくしてほしい
kyouryoku shite hoshii
(he) needed (their) cooperation
to
that
農民のうみん
nouminn
(the) farmers
ni
to
説明せつめいしました。
setsumei shimashita.
explained
農民のうみん
nouminn
(the) farmers
no
of
信仰しんこう
shinnkou ga
(the) religion
おもに
omoni
mainly
仏教ぶっきょう
bukkyou
Buddhism
だった
datta
was
ため、
tame,
since
かたな
katana ga
(their) swords
仏像ぶつぞう建設けんせつ
butsuzou kennsetsu
(the) construction of (a) Buddha
ni
for
使つかわれるのなら
tsukawareru no nara
were used if
利益りやく
goriyaku ga
(a) divine blessing
ある
aru
(they) would gain
to
that
しんじ、
shinnji,
believed and
農民のうみん
nouminn ha
they <farmers>
自主的じしゅてき
jishuteki ni
voluntarily
協力きょうりょくしました。
kyouryoku shimashita.
cooperated
それに
soreni
this
先立さきだち、
sakidachi,
before
秀吉ひでよし
hideyoshi ha
Hideyoshi
当時とうじ
touji no
at the time
一大宗教いちだいしゅうきょう勢力せいりょく
ichidai shuukyou seiryoku
a large religious force
であった
deatta
(which) was
高野山こうやさん
kouyasann ni
Koyasan
協力きょうりょくするよう
kyouryoku suru you
to cooperate
圧力あつりょくをかけました。
atsuryoku wo kake mashita.
pressured
高野山こうやさん
kouyasann ga
Koyasan
おうじる
oujiru
complied
と、
to,
as
高野山こうやさん
kouyasann ga
Koysan
自主的じしゅてき
jishuteki ni
voluntarily
協力きょうりょくした
kyouryoku shita
had cooperated
to
that
全国ぜんこく
zennkoku ni
throughout (the) nation
宣伝せんでんしました。
senndenn shimashita.
(he) made (it) known
こうして
koushite
in this way
秀吉ひでよし
hideyoshi no
Hideyoshi’s
策略さくりゃく
sakuryaku ha
strategy
成功せいこうし、
seikou shi,
was successful and
結果的けっかてき
kekkateki ni
as a result
秩序ちつじょある社会しゃかい
chitsujyo aru shakai
public order
no
for
いしずえ
ishizue wo
(the) foundations
きずいたのです。
kizuita no desu.
(it) created

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