Foreword: A Special Issue on the Japanese Constitution

The staff of the Washington International Law Journal presents the first installment of Volume 26 dedicated to a study of the Japanese Constitution and Article 9. This book adheres to the Journal’s long-standing commitment to the publication of important and innovative discourse on legal developments in Japan and the wider Pacific Rim community. In light of Prime Minister Abe’s reinterpretation of Article 9 in 2014, Japan has faced questions of identity and legality in its military developments. This special issue of Volume 26 features articles that critically explore and analyze Japan’s future as an ally, a military power, and a nation.

We are proud to contribute to the scholarship surrounding these issues.