Exercising the collective self-defense right has triggered concerns both at home and overseas, as Japan, under hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration, is running fast on a right-leaning trail featured by denial of wartime atrocities and thirst for military glory.

The Japanese public, still haunted by war past, is concerned that the right to collective self-defense would open the door for Japan to join battles on foreign soil.

According to the latest survey conducted through June 27 to 29 by Japan's Nikkei News, half of Japanese oppose dropping the ban on exercising collective self-defense as the right may drag Japan into war. Only 29 percent of the respondents support the move.

Other countries in the region are worried that Abe is manipulating the right as a stepping stone toward Japan's military rebuilding, which would further complicates regional relations.