INTERVIEW - Japan Buddhism-based party wants to drop pacifism

By Isabel Reynolds

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan should drop the pacifist Article 9 of its constitution and prepare to defend itself against North Korea and China, the leader of a new Buddhist-based political party said in an interview on Tuesday.

The Happiness Realization Party, formed by a religious group that says it has 10 million members and previously supported the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), could sway the results of an election that must be held by October.

"First, it is important above all to change Article 9 of the constitution," party leader Kyoko Okawa said in an interview on Tuesday in a room decorated with statues at the religion's Tokyo headquarters.

"We must make clear our right to defend ourselves."

Frustration with what he saw as government inaction following North Korea's nuclear test and rocket launch led Okawa's husband, Ryuho, the founder of the Happy Science religion, to set up the new party last month.

"North Korea fired a missile and carried out a nuclear test," But the government was so embroiled in its battle with the Democratic Party it didn't re-think national defence," Kyoko Okawa said.

The party says the religion's members will be urged to join and vote for its candidates, possibly giving the main opposition Democrats an advantage in constituencies where it is neck and neck with the LDP, analysts say.

"This could be quite a big deal," said political analyst Minoru Morita.