Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution Referendum is a referendum that was expected to take place in 2020. In May 2017, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set a 2020 deadline for revising Article 9, which would legitimize the Japan Self-Defense Forces in the Japanese constitution. Abe and his Cabinet resigned in September 2020, due to Abe's health problems. Under his successor Yoshihide Suga, parliament revised referendum law in June 2021 to make it easier to vote by allowing temporary voting station. The move was considered as a step toward the possibility of the constitutional referendum taking place. Prime Minister Kishida renewed calls for the referendum in May 2023. In February after her landslide victory in the 2026 Japan election, Prime Minister Takaichi called for a debate on revising the constitution.

Public opinion Constitutional Amendment Date Firm Sample size Yes No Undecided Lead 3 - 4 May 2026Asahi Shimbun44%7%5%2 - 3 May 2026JNN40%15%5%3 - 5 April 2026NHK20%38%TiedMay 2025Asahi Shimbun35%12%18%4 - 6 April 2025NHK17%39%Tied4 - 5 May 2024JNN35%16%14%May 2024Asahi Shimbun39%8%14%5 - 7 April 2024NHK36%19%41%5%May 2023Asahi Shimbun37%11%15%29 - 30 April 2023JNN35%17%13%7 - 9 April 2023NHK35%19%42%7%May 2022Asahi Shimbun37%7%19%15 - 17 April 2022NHK35%19%42%7%23 - 25 April 2021NHK33%20%42%9% 13 May 2021 Asahi Shimbun 44% 1%18 April 2021Mainichi Shimbun31%17%May 2020Asahi Shimbun43%11%3%3 - 5 April 2020NHK32%24%41%9%May 2019Asahi Shimbun38%15%9%May 2018Asahi Shimbun44%7%5% Article 9 Date Firm Sample size Yes No Undecided Lead 3 -4 May 2026Asahi Shimbun30%7%33%3 - 5 April 2026NHK31%31%2%May 2025Asahi Shimbun35%9%21%4 - 6 April 2025NHK28%33%1%May 2024Asahi Shimbun32%7%29%5 - 7 April 2024NHK31%29%35%4%May 2023Asahi Shimbun37%8%18%7 - 9 April 2023NHK32%30%34%2%May 2022Asahi Shimbun33%8%26%15 - 17 April 2022NHK31%30%34%3% 1 March – 11 April 2022 Kyodo News 48% 2%May 2021Asahi Shimbun30%9%31%23 - 25 April 2021NHK28%32%36%4%May 2020Asahi Shimbun27%8%38%3 - 5 April 2020NHK26%32%5%May 2019Asahi Shimbun28%8%36%May 2018Asahi Shimbun32%5%31% 2017 Kyodo News 47% 2% May 2017 Asahi Shimbun 29% 34% 2017 NHK 25% 32% See also Legislation for Peace and Security SEALDs

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