Why Must Japan Be a "Normal Country": Reconsidering Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution in Inoue Hisashi's Kirikirijin

• Main Author: Kim, Te-Gyung
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2024
• Subjects: Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution; Inoue Hisashi; Kirikirijin; normal country; obscenity
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/kk/vol1/iss45/13; https://archium.ateneo.edu/context/kk/article/1041/viewcontent/Te_Gyung_20Kim.pdf
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Japan has been pursuing the status of a “normal country” by amending Article 9 of its Constitution, and this long-held desire gained momentum in December 2022 when Kishida Fumio’s cabinet introduced the concept of “counterattack capability.” Considering Japan’s political and historical background, its desire to become a “normal country” should be seriously examined and discussed. As one way of this examination, this article posits that Inoue Hisashi’s Kirikirijin serves as a strategic and critical tool, challenging and subverting Japan’s pursuit of becoming a “normal country.” Notably, the fictional town in the novel, Kirikiri, adopts a constitution almost like Japan’s Article 9 when it announces independence. The analysis begins by examining the literary context of the 1970s and 1980s, exploring the concept of “another country within an existing country.” Subsequently, it discusses the significance of the Ping- Pong World Cup in the novel, understanding its role in achieving “global recognition” and drawing parallels with the Peace of Westphalia. Third, this article interprets extreme obscenity, particularly evident in Kirikiri’s national flag and anthem, as an effective scheme to criticize the holiness of a state. Reading Inoue Hisashi’s novel Kirikirijin critically may help find the alternative for Japan not being stuck in the modern systems and values but transcending them.