Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Wednesday to protest against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push for increased defense spending and constitutional revision.
Local media reports revealed that Japan's defense-related budget for fiscal year 2027 could reach approximately 10 trillion yen (about 63 billion U.S dollars). This has triggered growing public concern over the government's military expansion policies.
Demonstrators voiced strong opposition to what they see as a dangerous trajectory toward militarization, calling for greater investment in domestic welfare and disaster relief.
"I hate all policies that may lead to war. If money is spent on these things, it feels like we are racing straight toward war. I hope to stop all this. Japan is already prone to various calamities like heavy rains, earthquakes. Instead of spending the money on these disasters, it is spent on military buildup and military-related fields. I truly hope this should no longer be the case," said a rally participant.
"This is really outrageous. This budget should have been used for social security. Not just social security — the money should also be used for people who are genuinely living in difficulties. It indeed is outrageous," said another protester.
Beyond defense spending, participants also voiced opposition to the Takaichi administration's active efforts to revise the Constitution, particularly Article 9, which renounces war.
"In the final analysis, we simply oppose war and want to sustain Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. Japan was once an aggressor. It is precisely on the basis of reflecting upon this history that Article 9 of the present Constitution was formulated. That person — Sanae Takaichi — has in the past used all kinds of word games to deny the history of Japan's war of aggression. She has made such statements. So my impression is that someone who should never have become the prime minister has assumed the office. Therefore, my thinking is that she could step down as soon as possible," said a third protester.
"She is full of lies. She is a prime minister who is unwilling to talk with us. She deceives us citizens. My original thinking was that there should be no war. I have two grandsons, and I absolutely do not want them to go to the battlefield. That is why I have come to this protest," said another protester.
Japanese against Takaichi's military expansion
