Thousands Protest Japan’s Military Expansion

A group of Japanese people gathered on Thursday in front of the House of Representatives members’ office building in Tokyo to protest against the government’s record-high defense budget for the new fiscal year and its push to lift the ban on lethal weapon exports.

TOKYO — A large crowd of Japanese people gathered outside the parliament building in Tokyo on Wednesday evening to protest government moves that undermine the country’s pacifist constitution, including the deployment of long-range missiles and attempts to ease restrictions on lethal arms exports.

The rally, held in front of the National Diet Building, was organized by Japanese civic groups standing against constitutional revision. Organizers said about 30,000 people attended the demonstration.

Protesters held placards reading “Protect Article 9”, “No War”, and “Takaichi Government Step Down Now”, while chanting slogans such as “No to constitutional revision” and “No to war”, calling for safeguarding Japan’s pacifist constitution.

One protester, identified as Fujimoto, said the government’s deployment of long-range missiles and its plan to lift restrictions on lethal arms exports run counter to the pacifist principles enshrined in the constitution. She said missiles are weapons designed to attack and questioned whether their deployment could be justified as self-defense.

‘Never waging war again’ Fujimoto said Japan, a country that suffered atomic bombings, should have the vow of “never waging war again” engraved in its history, and that exporting weapons that could fuel conflicts is unacceptable.

Another protester, surnamed Kin, said the deployment of long-range missiles, among other government moves, violates the pacifist constitution. He said the government has increasingly acted in disregard of the constitution.

China has expressed grave concern over Japan’s plan to ease restrictions on arms exports, saying that the move reflects a broader shift toward a more offensive and expansionist security stance, and it has urged the international community to remain highly vigilant and firmly reject any attempt to revive militarism in Japan.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks on Tuesday at a regular news briefing in Beijing, following reports that Japan is considering a revision of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology this month.

Under the current Three Principles and their implementation guidelines, which were adopted in April 2014, exports of defense equipment from Japan to other countries are limited to five categories mainly related to logistical purposes, such as rescue and transportation. The revision will, in principle, pave the way for lethal weapons exports, create exceptions for arms exports to countries involved in conflict, and replace prior reporting to parliament with post facto notification.

Senior figures from several Japanese opposition parties joined thousands of citizens outside the bustling Ikebukuro station in Tokyo on Sunday evening to protest the government’s dangerous push to ease restrictions on arms exports and advance sweeping military expansion, voicing concern about the country’s future path.

A group of Japanese people gathered on Thursday in front of the House of Representatives members’ office building in Tokyo to protest against the government’s record-high defense budget for the new fiscal year and its push to lift the ban on lethal weapon exports.

Protesters chanted slogans such as “firmly oppose revising the constitution for the worse” and “do not amend the constitution to prepare for war.”

One protester said, “What Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is doing toward war is constitutional amendment for the worse. She’s pushing for military expansion, public security, and legislation. There are the three pillars that she’s trying to advance.”

The protester added, “Japan invaded China 80 years ago and it has shown no remorse or offered no apology for it. Those currently in power today are also this type of people. We believe that those actions are completely over the line. We act with a sense of remorse and apology, but Takaichi is different, she acts just the opposition way.”

Another protester stated, “What they call defense is nothing but a lie. As a matter of fact, they are just producing more and more offensive weapons. It’s really for an aggressive war.”

A further protester said, “The government is pressing ahead with the deployment of long-range missiles, which is unacceptable. This is clearly a violation of the constitution. If left unchecked, Japan will repeat the mistakes of its imperial past. We must stop it. We want to seize this opportunity to dismantle Japan’s imperialist tendencies and turn the country into one that can stand together with the people of Asia.”