Constitutional ability to wage war is one of Abe's most cherished goals.

Shinzo Abe is within reach of a parliamentary supermajority that would let him realise his dream of revising Japan's pacifist constitution.

With elections to Japan's upper house taking place on Sunday, opinion polls suggest the prime minister and his coalition allies are closing in on the two-thirds majority needed to put constitutional amendments to a national referendum.

Changing the postwar constitution — and ditching the war-renouncing Article 9 — is the most cherished goal of Japanese conservatives. It could transform Japan as a nation by once again permitting it to use military force.