Japan: The Constitution at 80

The Japanese Postwar Constitution, promulgated during the US Occupation of Japan, was once understood to have been written entirely by a US committee. Scholarship in the past 35 years has complicated that narrative, revealing a complex negotiation with significant input from Japanese stakeholders. Since 1947, the constitution has been a source of ongoing discourse, with the possibility of constitutional revision always on the horizon. Now, at the 80th anniversary of the 1947 "Peace" Constitution, debate and pressure for revision have taken on new momentum under current Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi.

What's the story of this constitution that was widely predicted to fail? How does the 1947 constitution offer windows into Japan's post-1945 history, national identity, economic development, war memory and responsibility, and global relations? What's at stake as the constitution turns 80?

• • Starts:
  • October 31, 2026
• • Ends:
  • December 6, 2026
• • Learning Format:
  • Online
• • Type of Course:
  • Seminars & Short Courses
• • Audience:
  • Middle and High School Educators
• • Offered to:
  • All States
• • Registration and Info:

  • In this free 3-unit special-topics course for Middle and High School educators, each week features a required recorded or live webinar with a specialist, a modest reading assignment, and an asynchronous discussion forum.