<P> Fundamental Rights primarily protect individuals from any arbitrary State actions, but some rights are enforceable against private individuals too . For instance, the constitution abolishes untouchability and prohibits begar . These provisions act as a check both on State action and actions of private individuals . Fundamental Rights are not absolute and are subject to reasonable restrictions as necessary for the protection of national interest . In the Kesavananda Bharati vs. state of Kerala case, the Supreme Court ruled that all provisions of the constitution, including Fundamental Rights can be amended . However, the Parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the constitution like secularism, democracy, federalism, separation of powers . Often called the "Basic structure doctrine", this decision is widely regarded as an important part of Indian history . In the 1978 Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India case, the Supreme Court extended the doctrine's importance as superior to any parliamentary legislation. According to the verdict, no act of parliament can be considered a law if it violated the basic structure of the constitution . This landmark guarantee of Fundamental Rights was regarded as a unique example of judicial independence in preserving the sanctity of Fundamental Rights . The Fundamental Rights can only be altered by a constitutional amendment, hence their inclusion is a check not only on the executive branch, but also on the Parliament and state legislatures . The imposition of a state of emergency may lead to a temporary suspension of the rights conferred by Article 19 (including freedoms of speech, assembly and movement, etc .) to preserve national security and public order . The President can, by order, suspend the constitutional written remedies as well . </P> <P> Since 1947, Japan, a country with a constitutional monarchy and known for its socially "conservative society where change is gradual," has a constitution with a seemingly strong bill of rights at its core (Chapter III . Rights and Duties of the People). In many ways, it resembles the U.S. Constitution prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and that is because it came into life during the Allied occupation of Japan . This constitution may have felt like a foreign imposition to the governing elites, but not to the ordinary people "who lacked faith in their discredited leaders and supported meaningful change ." In the abstract, the constitution strives to secure fundamental individual liberties and rights, which are covered pointedly in articles 10 to 40 . Most salient of the human dignity articles is article 25, section 1, which guarantees that all "people shall have the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living ." </P> <P> Despite, the adoption of this liberal constitution, often referred as the "Postwar Constitution" (戦後 憲法, Sengo - Kenpō) or the "Peace Constitution" (平和 憲法, Heiwa - Kenpō), the Japanese governing elites have struggled to usher in an inclusive, open and Pluralist society . Even after the end of World War II and the departure of the Allied government of occupation in 1952, Japan has been the target of international criticism for failing to admit to war crimes, institutional religious discrimination and maintaining a weak freedom of the press, the treatment of children, minorities, foreigners, and women, its punitive criminal justice system, and more recently, the systematic bias against LGBT people . </P> <P> The first Japanese attempt to a bill of rights was in the 19th century Meiji constitution (1890), which took both the Prussian (1850) and British constitutions as basic models . However, it had but a meager influence in the practice of the rule of law as well as in people's daily living . So, the short and deliberately gradual history of struggles for personal rights and protection against government / society's impositions has yet to transform Japan into a champion of universal and individual freedom . According to constitutional scholar, Shigenori Matsui, </P>

How are the constitutions guarantees of personal freedom