let's go to professor daniel ailedridge. he's joining us from tokyo. the bill has passed the lower house. if it is going to pass the upper house, what will it allow japan to do here? >> until now almost all deployment has been defensive. they are stationed on the border of israel. this bill will allow japanese troops in japan or outside japan to actually engage in combat for the first time and it can come to the aid of a country like america, for example, that was under attack. this bill will change the way that japanese troops can be sent abroad. >> why is this such a long-held ambition for prime minister abe? >> i believe abe sees this as a way to raise japan's profile to spread its wings. for a long time it's hoped that japan would become a present player on the stage rather than writing checks to other countries. during the gulf war they didn't send any real troops, but rather sent money. abe envisions this as a way for japan to become a more normal nation. >> so then why is this so much the opposition to these changes from the public? >> the end o