Akiyama H. COVID-19 measures and the Japanese Constitution [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2021, 10:230 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.50861.1)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
This article is included in the Coronavirus collection.
Abstract
Since March 2020, the Act on Special Measures for Pandemic Influenza and New Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Response has been a significant statute in dealing with COVID-19 in Japan. The Act mandates requests and orders for business suspension and shortened business hours, as well as stay-at-home requests. Although there have been no penalties as of January 2021, these requests and orders limit freedom of movement and establishment, guaranteed rights under the Japanese Constitution. This article poses the following research question: “Does the Japanese Constitution allow measures against COVID-19 such as requests and orders for business suspension and shortened business hours, and stay-at-home requests?” It also asks: “Are measures with penalties allowed by the Constitution?” This paper introduces constitutional concepts that guarantee or limit individual freedom. Concepts that guarantee individual freedoms include freedom of establishment and movement. These freedoms derive from the constitutional values of freedom to choose one’s occupation and choose and change one’s residence (Art. 22) and the right to own or hold property (Art. 29). Concepts that limit individual freedom include the right to life (Art. 13), welfare rights and public health (Art. 25), and public welfare (Art. 13). Individual freedom that threatens right to life, welfare rights and public health, and public welfare may not be guaranteed. This paper argues that since measures against COVID-19 are considered public welfare, the Constitution allows the limiting of freedom of establishment and movement. Furthermore, from the perspectives of the right to life, welfare rights, and public health, the government is responsible for reducing the risk to life from COVID-19. It also argues that the Constitution permits measures with penalties, while proportionality needs to be considered.
Keywords
新型コロナウイルス感染症, 日本国憲法, 新型インフルエンザ等対策特別措置法, 人権, 営業の自由, 移動の自由, 生命権, 生存権, 公衆衛生, 公共の福祉, COVID-19, the Constitution of Japan, the Act on Special Measures for Pandemic Influenza and New Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Response, human rights, freedom of establishment, freedom of movement, right to life, welfare rights, public health, public welfare
Corresponding author:
Hajime Akiyama
Competing interests:
No competing interests were disclosed.
Grant information:
This research was supported by Research Support Program to Tackle COVID‐19 Related Emergency Problems, University of Tsukuba, and University of Tsukuba Gateway (F1000) Article Submission Support Program, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba. 本稿は筑波⼤学新型コロナウイルス緊急対策に関する研究⽀援プログラムおよび筑波大学ゲートウェイ(F1000)論文投稿支援プログラムの助成を受けたものである。
1 See, Hannah Ritchie, Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, Diana Beltekian, Edouard Mathieu, Joe Hasell, Bobbie Macdonald, Charlie Giattino, and Max Roser, “Policy Responses to the Coronavirus Pandemic,” OurWorldInData.org, accessed on 2 January 2021, https://ourworldindata.org/policy-responses-covid.
2 以下の江藤論文以外に、日本国憲法における「公共の福祉」の概念により、強制力のある COVID-19 対策が可能であるとの議論はあるが (井上達夫「コロナ・ラプソディー― パンデミックが暴く『無責任の体系』」法と哲学 6 号(2020 年) 36-37 頁。Lawrence Repeta, “The Coronavirus and Japan’s Constitution: Article 41 Provides the Government with Sufficient Power to Take Aggressive Action,” The Japan Times, 14 April 2020, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/04/14/commentary/japan-commentary/coronavirus-japans-constitution/ (accessed on 10 January 2021).)、憲法上の関連する概念を包括的に検討したものでない。
79 Max Weber, “Politics as a Vocation,” in The Vocation of Lectures “Science as a Vocation” “Politics as a Vocation,
” ed. David S. Owen and Tracy B. Strong, trans. Rodney Livingstone (Indianapolis and Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, 2004), 33. 原文では本箇所に強調が加えられている。日本語訳は、マックス・ヴェーバー『職業としての政治〔改版〕』 (脇圭平訳、岩波書店、2020 年) 8-9 頁を参考にした。
80 2020 年 5 月の時点で江島は、自粛要請による対策が、政府に強大な権限を与えずとも感染拡大を予防できるか否かを占う試金石になると述べている。 Akiko Ejima, “Japan’s Soft State of Emergency: Social Pressure Instead of Legal Penalty,” in Verfassungsblog on Matters Constitutional, 13 May 2020, https://verfassungsblog.de/japans-soft-state-of-emergency-social-pressure-instead-of-legal-penalty/ (accessed on 10 January 2021). 2021 年 1 月現在では、「コロナ自警団」の事例、休業もしくは営業時間短縮の要請に応じる事業者が不十分である事例から、自粛要請による対策の効果は慎重に判断すべきだろう。
This research was supported by Research Support Program to Tackle COVID‐19 Related Emergency Problems, University of Tsukuba, and University of Tsukuba Gateway (F1000) Article Submission Support Program, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba. 本稿は筑波⼤学新型コロナウイルス緊急対策に関する研究⽀援プログラムおよび筑波大学ゲートウェイ(F1000)論文投稿支援プログラムの助成を受けたものである。
Akiyama H. COVID-19 measures and the Japanese Constitution [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations] F1000Research 2021, 10:230 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.50861.1)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
track
receive updates on this article
Track an article to receive email alerts on any updates to this article.
Share
Open Peer Review
Current Reviewer Status:
?
Key to Reviewer Statuses
VIEWHIDE
ApprovedThe paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
Approved with reservations
A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approvedFundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
Sogabe M. Reviewer Report For: COVID-19 measures and the Japanese Constitution [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2021, 10:230 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.53950.r83082)
Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
Reviewer Expertise: 憲法
I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.
Sogabe M. Reviewer Report For: COVID-19 measures and the Japanese Constitution [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2021, 10:230 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.53950.r83082)
Yamamoto H. Reviewer Report For: COVID-19 measures and the Japanese Constitution [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2021, 10:230 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.53950.r82364)
本論文の主張の核心は、憲法の枠組をCovid-19対策で展開されてきた諸措置との関係で捉え直すと、<個人の人権 vs 公共の福祉>という二元的対立図式を、憲法上の「個人の自由を保障する概念」と「個人の自由を制限しうる概念」の二つのカテゴリーに再編し、具体的には、個人の人権として位置づけられうる生命権や生存権を、「個人の自由を保障する概念」としてだけではなく、人権制限の契機として作動しうる概念としても位置づけ直すべきだ、とするところにある。こうして具体的には、例えば、Covid-19対策のための諸措置は、生命権保障の手段として位置づけ直されることになる。
Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
Reviewer Expertise: 憲法学
I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.
Yamamoto H. Reviewer Report For: COVID-19 measures and the Japanese Constitution [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2021, 10:230 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.53950.r82364)
Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article:
Approved - the paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
Approved with reservations -
A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approved - fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
Adjust parameters to alter display
View on desktop for interactive features
Includes Interactive Elements
View on desktop for interactive features
Competing Interests Policy
Provide sufficient details of any financial or non-financial competing interests to enable users to assess whether your comments might lead a reasonable person to question your impartiality. Consider the following examples, but note that this is not an exhaustive list:
Examples of 'Non-Financial Competing Interests'
Within the past 4 years, you have held joint grants, published or collaborated with any of the authors of the selected paper.
You have a close personal relationship (e.g. parent, spouse, sibling, or domestic partner) with any of the authors.
You are a close professional associate of any of the authors (e.g. scientific mentor, recent student).
You work at the same institute as any of the authors.
You hope/expect to benefit (e.g. favour or employment) as a result of your submission.
You are an Editor for the journal in which the article is published.
Examples of 'Financial Competing Interests'
You expect to receive, or in the past 4 years have received, any of the following from any commercial organisation that may gain financially from your submission: a salary, fees, funding, reimbursements.
You expect to receive, or in the past 4 years have received, shared grant support or other funding with any of the authors.
You hold, or are currently applying for, any patents or significant stocks/shares relating to the subject matter of the paper you are commenting on.
Stay Updated
Sign up for content alerts and receive a weekly or monthly email with all newly published articles
Comments on this article Comments (0)