"A Society in Which the Constitution Will (or Might) Change," a public seminar held in the 2017 academic year at the Institute for International Studies, has become a book.
You are encouraged to experience the constitution-themed dialogues held by Professor Takahashi with Mr. Yasuo Hasebe (constitutional scholar), Mr. Morihide Katayama (political scientist), Mr. Kenji Ishikawa (constitutional scholar), Mr. Tatsuya Mori (film director), Ms. Hiroko Kuniya (news presenter), and Professor Emeritus Hara.
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Over 70 years after the end of the war, the long Showa era is over and the Heisei era that followed is soon to end as well. We are now living in an era when, for the first time since the war, the constitution that established the fundamental shape of this country might actually change. Even though no one can say for sure what sort of era awaits, the past is on its way to being "force-quit." That is why and now is the time when we need to think. For the past several years, in addition to my work as a university faculty member and novelist, I've made it my job and one of my responsibilities to speak to society; and what I am constantly aware of is my own ignorance. If we don't study facts and principles thoroughly, we can't speak about things with confidence. But there are times when people think they have to do something and rush to act even when they aren't confident, even when they can't explain the reasons clearly, even knowing that they are anxious and faltering.
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(From the preface by Genichiro Takahashi)
"A Society in Which the Constitution Will (or Might) Change" (compiled by Genichiro Takahashi)
Book: 280 pages
Publisher: Bungeishunju Ltd.
Language: Japanese
Release date: July 26, 2018
*Book information page on the Bungeishunju website