"I hope that the LDP constitutional revision proposal will be presented to the commissions on the constitution of both chambers of the Diet before the end of an upcoming extraordinary Diet session," Abe, also president of the party, said during a speech in Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan.

It is the first time that Abe has shown his willingness to see the LDP proposal submitted to the extraordinary Diet session, which is likely to open in autumn. He has already expressed his readiness to revise Article 9 of the constitution and put the amended national charter into force in 2020.

Based on the instructions of Abe, the LDP plans to produce its constitutional revision proposal within this year. But the party has stopped short of stating that it would be submitted to the Diet commissions by year-end. (Jiji Press)