Japan Heads to Iraq, Haunted by Taboo Bred in Another War

For the first time since the Second World War, Japan faces the possibility of entering a conflict where Japanese soldiers may kill or be killed. The nation has come a long way since World War II when kamikaze attacks were considered normal and honorable. As a result of Japan's Article 9 of its Constitution, which prohibits the use of force to solve disputes, the country is thought to abhor aggression. But some worry that entering Iraq will bring back the "ultranationalism" that led to the devastation of WWII. Others simply worry about how casualities will affect families and the nation. Nevertheless, Japan's entry into Iraq may mark an end to its post-war era of pacifism. - YaleGlobal