Japanese revising their constitution?

Asia worried by changes in Japanese Constitution

How legitimate are their fears?

Many analysts see constitutional change as a step toward a more assertive Japan that could rattle Asian neighbors still harboring bitter memories of Japanese imperialism during the past century.

"Although Japan doesn't have the intent of becoming a military power, revising the Constitution could be seen by neighboring countries as a move toward militarism," said Hiro Katsumata, a defense analyst at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

During Monday's vote, about 500 protesters - including Buddhist monks and students - rallied outside the parliament, accusing Abe of aiming to change the constitution to allow Japan to go to war.

Understandable. The Japanese literally and figuratively raped their neighboring countries in the past--why would anyone want to let them have any power ever again?

Then again, back then, their neighboring countries had little military power and were far less developed than they are right now. Take South Korea, for example--its military force is formidable enough. At least, much more so than it was however many years ago. South Korea is most definitely capable of defending itself from Japanese attacks and second occupation.

Besides...

Geographically, Japan is at a disadvantage. It's an island with very limited resources, and it's puny, to name a couple of drawbacks.

I don't think we have much to worry about...at least, not for the time being.