Ashida began his brief preface with a plain but moving statement: “The old Japan has been cast in the shadows, a new Japan has been born.” People would now respect each other on the basis of their human qualities. They would practice democracy. Relations with other countries would be conducted in the spirit of peace. The constitution’s bold declaration that “we will not do war any more” expressed a high ideal for humankind and was the only way for Japan to be reborn.
