Thousands rally in Tokyo against Takaichi government's push to revise pacifist constitution
Tokyo, May 20
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of Japan's National Diet Building in Tokyo to protest the government's attempts to undermine the country's pacifist constitution through constitutional revision and military expansion policies.
According to the organisers, about 10,000 people attended the rally, voicing strong opposition to the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and its recent security and defence initiatives.
Protesters held placards reading "Stop constitutional revision and military expansion" and "Do not destroy Article 9," while chanting slogans such as "Stop missile deployment" and "Takaichi must resign."
Yuki Hoshino, a participant at the rally, told Xinhua that the people do not want constitutional amendments, and that the Takaichi government is pushing the agenda without sufficient public consent.
"So many people have gathered here (to protest), hoping that (the government) will change its mind," Hoshino said.
Another protester, Ryosuke Tanji, said Japan must never again repeat the tragedies of war.
"Absolutely no war should be allowed to happen," he said.
"Japan committed terrible acts in the past, and perhaps many Japanese are gradually forgetting that history. But the more I learn about it, the more strongly I feel that such things must never happen again."
Hiroshi Onishi, professor emeritus at Keio University, told Xinhua at the rally that the government's recent military buildup contradicts the pacifist principles enshrined in Japan's constitution and should be stopped.
Japanese media reported on Monday that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party had drafted proposals to revise the country's three key national security documents. The proposals reportedly call for strengthening Japan's air defense systems and sustained combat capabilities, as well as the early deployment of submarines powered by advanced propulsion systems and designed to carry long-range missiles to bolster Japan's so-called "counterstrike capabilities."
Japan's current constitution, which took effect in 1947, contains the famous Article 9, under which the country renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes. The article also stipulates that Japan will not maintain war potential, leading the constitution to be widely known as the "pacifist constitution," Xinhua news agency reported.
Takaichi and other rightwing forces in Japan have long advocated revising Article 9. The prime minister has repeatedly expressed her support for constitutional revision this year, sparking growing concern and opposition among the Japanese public and various sectors of society.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I respect Japan's sovereignty, I worry that this push for revision is dangerous. The Takaichi government seems to be learning from the wrong playbooks. In India, we have debates about national security versus democratic values, but this feels more like a government trying to bypass public opinion. Hope saner minds prevail in Tokyo. 🙏
Interesting to see such strong public opposition in Japan. In the US, the conversation about our constitution is more polarized. I admire the Japanese public's commitment to peace—10,000 people is no small turnout. Let's hope the government listens to its citizens rather than pushing through these changes without consent.
This is exactly why democracies need strong civil society and independent media. India has its own struggles with constitutional values, but seeing Japanese citizens stand up for Article 9 gives me hope. The professor from Keio University is absolutely right—military buildup contradicts the spirit of peace that Japan has upheld since 1947. History must not be forgotten. 🕊️
Calling for a leader to resign is serious anywhere, even in Japan's often polite political culture. The counterstrike capability and missile deployment plans sound like Japan is preparing for something. With an aging population and current economic issues, is this really the priority? This might be the beginning of a bigger shift in East Asian security dynamics.
The line "Japan committed terrible acts in the past, and perhaps many Japanese are gradually forgetting that history" really struck me. India remembers our own history of colonialism and partition. Some things should
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.