I think your failure in understanding Japanese and American defense apperture is credit to this lack in strategic visage. First of all, since 1978 since the time of Masayoshi, the United States ever has been begging Japan to change its omnidirectionality foreign and defense policy, even asking Japan to change its article 9 article so that Japan can re-arm and handle its own share. Japan, at first was very resistant, believing in comprehensive security --- with idea of having a Japan-USA-China Entente. In fact, naturally, Japan preferred a Japanese-Chinese-American Defense Pact.
Be that as it may, history proved otherwise. Since the threat of Soviet Expansionism was the imeptus for Japanese alignment with the United States.
So the argument of America not allowing Japan to re-arm is just simply untrue and baseless. The United States has no say in Japanese national policy , as it has been Japanese will that dictated terms regarding defense paradigms. Now, if Japan chooses to ammend article 9 from the constitution, then there will be no limitations in our defense plans.
In fact, China is to be thanked for all of this. Your country's rise and defense clout is used as impetus, as context for Japanese legislative processes to remove article 9 and to draft a new constitution, actually.
Thank You China.
Precisely, and fortunately for us, we will be voting on this new constitution (devoid of an article 9 , lol) as early as 2017.
And may i add that the LDP-Komeito have complete 2/3rds majority dominance now in both the House of Councillors and House of Representatives. lol.
The Rising Sun: Japan Prepares for 2017 Creation of New Constitutional Amendments