改憲

• Reading: かいけん
• Romaji: kaiken
• Kanji breakdown: 改 (kai) — revise, reform; 憲 (ken) — constitution, law
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.ken/

Meaning

Constitutional amendment; revision of the constitution. The act of changing the existing constitution.

A noun formed from 改 (revise) + 憲 (constitution), functioning as a する verb. In Japan, 改憲 refers almost exclusively to revising the postwar Constitution, particularly Article 9 (war-renouncing clause). It is one of the most contested political topics, debated since the 1950s. Contrasts with 護憲 (constitution preservation) — the two terms define opposing camps in Japanese constitutional politics.

Examples

1. 改憲を悲願とする与党は、衆参両院で三分の二の議席確保を目指している。 The ruling party, for which constitutional revision is a long-cherished goal, is aiming to secure two-thirds of seats in both houses of parliament.
2. 護憲派と改憲派の議論は、憲法記念日ごとに活発になる。 The debate between the constitution-preservation and constitution-revision camps becomes more active around Constitution Day each year.
3. 改憲論議の中でも、第九条の扱いは最も鋭く対立する論点だ。 Even within constitutional revision debates, the handling of Article 9 is the most sharply contested point of contention.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, law, constitutional debate, journalism

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 改 (kai, revise/reform) and 憲 (ken, constitution). 憲 in Japanese political vocabulary was established with the Meiji Constitution of 1889. The modern 改憲 debate intensified after the 1947 postwar Constitution took effect.

Cultural Context

Era: Post-WWII–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal