Large numbers of Japanese citizens gathered in Tokyo to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s attempt to revise the country’s pacifist Constitution.
Nearly 1,000 people attended the demonstration in front of the prime minister’s official residence on Friday evening, holding placards reading “Oppose war, defend the Constitution,” and “No war, no Takaichi.”
Protesters chanted slogans such as “No constitutional revision” and “Protect peace,” voicing strong dissatisfaction with the government’s direction.
Chiharu Tomiyama, one of the demonstrators, expressed concerns about Takaichi’s advocacy for constitutional revision even before assuming office, emphasizing the need to halt her renewed efforts.
Another protester, identified as Koyama, criticized the government for escalating defense spending while ordinary citizens face worsening living conditions, warning against Japan’s potential shift towards militarization under the Takaichi administration.
Many young people participated in the protest, with a woman in her 20s highlighting her fear that altering Japan’s pacifist Constitution could jeopardize peace, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Article 9.
Japan’s Constitution, established in 1947, includes Article 9, renouncing war as a sovereign right and the use of force for international dispute resolution, earning it the label of the pacifist Constitution.
Following her appointment as prime minister, Takaichi reiterated her commitment to constitutional revision, causing apprehension across various segments of Japanese society.
