And all this without revising the pacifist constitution to which most Japanese had grown attached.

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The move, noteworthy for a country with a pacifist constitution, is aimed at shooting down any debris from the launch that might fall into Japanese territory.

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Following World War II, lawmakers forged a pacifist constitution.

BBC: Japan profile

It does, after all, have a pacifist constitution.

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There is much that Japan can be proud of since 1945 -- rapid recovery from war devastation, adopting a pacifist Constitution, the economic miracle, achieving the best living standards in the region, creating a robust democracy in a relatively egalitarian society, and promoting regional economic development through massive aid and technical cooperation.

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