Japan does have a proper military, article 9 in their constitution just assures they can only use their military in self defense.
There's a political movement now to amend article 9 which might or might not eventually pass referendum (hard to say when so much of current Japanese youth are clueless about their nation's history).
In any case amending article 9 because of a perceived China threat is highly ironic. Only tangible threat is North Korea but China keeps them in check.