Documents with Commentaries

1-17 Study in Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Constitution Reform

 These are documents related to the study of the problem of constitutional reform that was carried out in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the beginning of October 1945. As the Potsdam Declaration and Initial Policy for Japan were based on demands for reform of the Japanese political system including the Emperor system, the First Division of the Bureau of Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the first efforts at reforming the political system "independently and promptly" which included reforms to the Constitution, as it was considered prudent to anticipate the demands for reform put forth by the Allied Powers. Also within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Keiichi Tatsuke, Director of the Second Division and acting Director of the First Division in the Bureau of Treaties, created the "Tentative Proposal on the Problem of Revision of the Constitution" and argued that "revision should be done autonomously." We can also see in the "General Proposal for Constitutional Reform,"probably created by the Bureau of Treaties, the beginning of policies to maintain the Emperor's status along with "direct connection between the Emperor and his subjects " and "democratic government based on the popular will for the welfare of the people" as a way to maintain the Emperor system.

Actual Title of Source Jishuteki Sokketsuteki Shisakuno Kinkyu Juritsuni Kansuru Ken (Shian) Sei Ichi Niju Ju Kyu
Date October 9, 1945
Document Number Diplomatic Records A' 1.0.0.1 "Regarding Acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration (Volume 3)"<GAI-1, Reel No. A'-0113>
Repository (reproduction) National Diet Library
Repository Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Note Microfilm
Actual Title of Source Teikoku Kenpo Kaisei Mondai Shian (Niju, Ju, Ju-ichi Tatsuke)
Date October 11, 1945
Document Number Diplomatic Records A'3.0.0.3 "Regarding the Constitution of Japan"<GAI-1, Reel No. A'-0093>
Repository (reproduction) National Diet Library
Repository Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Note Microfilm
Actual Title of Source Kenpo Kaisei Taikoan, Sho Niju, Ju, Ju-ichi
Date October 11, 1945
Document Number Diplomatic Records A'3.0.0.2-2 "Certain Examination Materials Regarding the Reform of the Constitution of Imperial Japan (Volume 2)"<GAI-1, Reel No. A'-0092>
Repository (reproduction) National Diet Library
Repository Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Note Microfilm
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