"Even though we now have the half-century-old new Constitution, there is a popular sentiment of support for the old one that lives on in reality in some quarters"

This quote by Kenzaburo Oe speaks to the power of custom and the strength of the past. Although Japan has actually had a brand-new Constitution for fifty years, there is still a strong belief of support for the old one. This sentiment is still alive in some parts of the nation, showing that the past is not quickly forgotten. Oe is recommending that the old Constitution still has a place in the hearts of lots of Japanese people, and that it is not something that can be quickly replaced. This quote speaks with the power of tradition and the value of respecting the past. It likewise reveals that despite the fact that times might change, the values and beliefs of an individuals can remain the very same. Oe's quote is a reminder that the past ought to not be forgotten, which it can still have a place in the present.