Shinzo Abe resolves to pass referendum for revising Constitution

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed determination in a New Year's statement on Monday to have legislation for a national referendum passed during the upcoming parliamentary session to pave the way for realizing his political goal of rewriting Japan's pacifist Constitution.

"I will ensure that the flame of reforms will keep on burning," Abe said, promising also to implement concrete measures to overhaul the education system and to carry out his reform plan to transfer surplus road-related tax revenues into general revenues available for a wider range of purposes.