Constitutional revision research project

September 24 - The LDP Constitutional Research Group determines to begin consideration of plans for constitutional revision.

May 3 - Kishi Nobusuke, in a meeting of the Congress of Citizens for the Enactment of an Autonomous Constitution, announces that "The constitution is the root of all evil" (shoaku no kongen wa kenpō 諸悪の根源は憲法). It is resolved to enact an autonomous constitution.

October 20 -The Japanese government determines to issue its first Defense White Paper (Bōei Hakusho 防衛白書).

November 25 - Mishima Yukio and members of the "Shield Society" (Tate no Kai 楯の会) storm the Ichigaya headquarters of the SDF, demanding constitutional revision and a coup d'état by the SDF. The attempt ends in their suicide.

April 24 - Yamanaka Sadanori, Director-General of the Office of the Prime Minister says, in a session of the Budget Council of the House of Councilors, that the constitution was imposed upon Japan. (He retracts this statement on the same day.)

June 16 - The LDP Constitutional Research Group, headed by its president, Inaba Osamu, approves a schematic draft of constitutional revision centering on the stipulations for the maintenance of Japan's self-defence capabilities.

September 29 - Normalization of Sino-Japan relations.

July 17 - Ishihara Shintarō and other LDP young hawks form the Seirankai 青嵐会 championing the enactment of an autonomous constitution.

September 7 - The Sapporo District Court, in the Naganuma Incident (Naganuma jiken 長沼事件), rules that the existence of the SDF is unconstitutional. (On 10.1, the LDP issues a statement criticizing this first trial ruling of the case.)

March 14 - PM Tanaka Kakuei 田中角栄, at a session of the Budget Council of the House of Representatives, announces that "Because almost thirty years have passed since the end of the war, the time has come to officially enact by law the Hinomaru 日の丸 and the Kimigayo 君が世 as the national flag and the national anthem." (A similar announcement is made on 3.28 at a general session of the House of Representatives.)

April 12 - The LDP, during a session of the cabinet and the House of Representatives, forces a ratification of the Yasukuni Shrine Bill (Yasukuni Jinja Hōan 靖国神社法案) that is later rejected due to termination of the session.

May 3 - Minister of Justice Inaba attends the General Meeting of the Society of Citizens for the Enactment of an Autonomous Constitution (Jishu Kenpō Seitei Kokumin Kaigi 自主憲法制定国民会議) as an incumbent cabinet minister. (On 5.7, in a session of the Budget Council of the House of Councilors, he announces that "There are many defects within the present constitution (Genkō kenpō ni wa kekkan ga ōi 現行憲法には欠陥が多い)." On the 12th, in response to this, the Union for Defense of the Constitution (Goken Rengō 護憲連合) calls for Inaba's dismissal.

May 14 - The government, using Inaba's announcement as an opportunity, issues a unified statement that the cabinet is not considering constitutional revision and that cabinet ministers will henceforth not be attending meetings that promote constitutional revision.

May 21 - PM Miki Takeo 三木武夫, at a session of the House of Representatives, makes clear his basic position that he will not take up the leadership of movements promoting constitutional revision.

August 15 - PM Miki visits the Yasukuni Shrine as incumbent Prime Minister for the first time after World War II.

April 22 - The dissolution of the Constitutional Problems Research Group (Kenpō Mondai Kenkyūkai 憲法問題研究会) is announced.

May 3 - The Constitution Ceremony (Kenpō kinen shikiten 憲法記念式典) sponsored by the government is held after 24 years at the Constitutional Government Commemoration Hall (Kensei kinen kan 憲政記念館). It is no longer held after this year.

October 29 - The government decides on the "Outline of the Defense Project" (Bōei keikaku no taikō 防衛計画の大綱).