Can Democratic Party change itself?

"If self defence force (Japanese military) is attacked, Netherland would protect it. This is not good. The defect of Japanese constitution must be rewritten," Maehara, the new representative of Democratic party announced 9/16, criticizing the current Japanese constitution.

Who has ever imagined this kind of opinion is uttered by the biggest opposition party?
Imagine the situation back to 20 years ago when the biggest opposition party, social party strongly protested the exestence of Japanese military.

At that time, very naive opinions prevailed throughout Japan, "No war, No military". You may remember in 1990 Japan didn't send military to IRAQ at all.
However, the situation around North Korea or invasions of submarines by China totally changed Japanese common sense.

However, the current biggest opposition party, Democratic party partly consists of the residue of Social party, who think of his opinion unacceptable. The ratio is almost 50/50.

Anyway, the previous head of the party was defeated by Koizumi, and it's clear that a new regime shift is happening inside the opposition party, Democratic party.