Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside Japan’s National Diet Building in Tokyo to oppose the government’s efforts to alter the pacifist constitution and expand the military. The rally, attended by about 10,000 people, saw strong opposition voiced against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s security and defense policies.
Protesters displayed placards with messages like “Stop constitutional revision and military expansion” and “Do not destroy Article 9,” while chanting slogans such as “Stop missile deployment” and “Takaichi must resign.” Participants, like Yuki Hoshino, expressed concerns over the lack of public consent for constitutional amendments pushed by the Takaichi government.
Yuki Hoshino mentioned that the gathering aimed to urge the government to reconsider its stance. Another protester, Ryosuke Tanji, emphasized the importance of avoiding war and preventing the recurrence of past tragedies. He stressed that Japan should never allow war to happen again.
Hiroshi Onishi, a professor emeritus at Keio University, criticized the government’s military buildup, stating that it contradicts Japan’s pacifist constitution and should be halted. Recent reports indicated that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party proposed revising key national security documents to enhance air defense systems and combat capabilities, along with deploying advanced submarines for long-range missile capabilities.
