More than 10,000 people gathered outside Japan's National Diet in Tokyo on Friday to protest the government's moves toward expanding military capabilities and revising the country's pacifist constitution.
On June 9, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved a draft proposal on revising the country's three key security documents later this year, according to Kyodo News. The proposal, formalized at the party's decision-making General Council, called for securing necessary funding to transform Japan's defense capabilities within five years.
Some other conservative parties in Japan also proposed amendments to Article 9 of the constitution -- the "peace clause" that renounces war and bans "war potential", during constitutional review meetings.
"I was taught when I was young that Article 9 of the constitution is very important for keeping Japan from becoming involved in war. Now the sudden move to revise it makes me feel fearful. So to express my feelings, I came here to protest the revision," said a protester.
The protest also targeted specific policy proposals, including potential changes to restrictions that limit arms exports.
As far as the issues of war and weapons exports are concerned, Japan has followed its own historical path since the end of World War II. But what [Prime Minister Sanae] Takaichi is trying to do now is to reset this period of history back to zero. Unfortunately, some people support this approach, but I do not. I hope Japan will not take that [terrible] step again," said a protester.
"If we continue to strengthen military power, it will only worsen Japan's relations with neighboring countries. The government should not take this approach," said another protester.
Thousands protest against Japan's military expansion, constitutional revision
