Japan's military may be coming around on the idea that the best defense is a good offense. Since the end of World War II, Article 9 of the country's constitution has strictly limited the capabilities of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces , prohibiting belligerency and military aggression. Tokyo, however, has been slowly broadening the scope of its military ambitions over the past two decades, taking steps down a path toward complete normalization . The process has not been seamless . Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for example, has had to adjust his ambitious timeline in the face of popular opposition. But beyond the political challenges, larger hurdles loom. Tiptoeing Toward Rearmament Tokyo has been revisiting the constitution to expand what the military can and cannot do.