Japanese protesters gathered outside the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Monday to show opposition to the government's plan to build a U.S. military facility in Henoko, Okinawa, and to demand an end to constitutional revision and deeper military ties with Washington.
For many at the rally, the issue is no longer just about a single base. It's about a government that continues to pour money into military projects as demanded by the U.S., while ordinary people struggle with rising costs and neglected social needs.
"It's unreasonable to use Japanese taxpayers' money to build a U.S. military base. Instead of focusing on defense, priority should be given to disaster prevention. Taxpayer money ought to be invested in disaster preparedness. But the Takaichi administration has not done so. On the contrary, it keeps buying weapons as demanded by the United States, spending our tax money on arms while our lives haven't improved at all, and prices just keep going up," said a protester.
"The Japanese government has long claimed that the only way to return the Futenma base is to complete the construction of the Henoko base. But that fundamental logic no longer holds. That's exactly why people are angry," said another protester.
Protesters accused the government of stoking regional tensions in order to pave the way for constitutional revision. They urged authorities to abandon policies that tighten military ties with the U.S. and to steer clear of any course that could lead the country back to war.
The current Japanese government under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has stepped up efforts to accelerate constitutional revision, a move that could mark a significant turning point in Japan's postwar trajectory, triggering widespread concern and criticism among the public.
Japanese protesters oppose Henoko base, constitutional revision
