The Abe administration has long been moving away from a strict interpretation of Japan's pacifist constitution, and easing restraints on its military. The new state secrecy law makes it easier to suppress popular opposition, as virtually any matter of national importance could be deemed a state secret, such as the Japanese government's mishandling of the Fukushima nuclear leaks. Abe needs enhanced ability to curb popular resistance to his rush to remilitarize Japan.

The new state secrecy law has been severely condemned by its critics. A Japanese Senator wrote: "The path that Japan is taking is the recreation of a fascist state. I strongly believe that this secrecy bill represents a planned coup d'état by a group of politicians and bureaucrats…."

A group of 31 academics issued a statement condemning the secrecy law as "the largest ever threat to democracy in postwar Japan." Those who signed it include two Nobel Prize winners: Toshihide Maskawa, winner of the 2008 physics prize; and Hideki Shirakawa, winner of the 2000 chemistry prize. The statement was endorsed by further 3,150 academics, who condemned the ruling block of behaving in a way reminiscent of the prewar government - a single piercing remark. Abe is indeed trying to revive Japanese militarism.

Shinzo Abe's earlier power grab took place on June 7, when he approved legislation to create an American-style National Security Council (NSC). The NSC will give the cabinet a more central role in matters concerning national security and crisis management.

It enhances the role of the prime minister and the Cabinet Office in national security policy-making by establishing a subcommittee to consider issues of national security and defense. The sub-committee consists of four members: the prime minister, the chief cabinet secretary, the minister of foreign affairs, and the minister of defense.

The new NSC will replace the existing Security Council, which currently has nine ministers. By reducing membership, Abe intends to concentrate power in his own hands, in the name of prompt decision-making.

His other objective is to make the NSC the "headquarters" for intelligence on national security and crisis management, to centralize a traditionally decentralized intelligence system.

The new state secrecy law and the new NSC serve as two wheels moving Shinzo Abe's war chariot forward full speed ahead towards Japan's remilitarization.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

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