A group of Japanese protesters rallied outside the National Diet building in Tokyo on Monday, demonstrating against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her government's policies, including its push for military expansion, adjustments to security policies and efforts to amend the pacifist Constitution.
An extraordinary session of the Diet began on Monday to address key issues, including deliberations on bills to cut the consumption tax, and to reduce the number of seats in the House of Representatives, both likely to be major points of contention between the ruling and opposition camps.
The extraordinary session is expected to run for 69 days through Dec 12.
"The real danger lies not in the trivial bills currently under deliberation in the National Diet, but in what lies behind them, which is that the cabinet (led by Takaichi) is seeking to revise security related laws to expand military capabilities. We must not allow Japan to commit aggression against Asia again," said a protester.
"I believe the Japanese public does not want the government to purchase so many weapons, such as the continuous deployment of missiles in Kyushu and Okinawa. There is simply no such demand among the Japanese people. So, I expect the government to halt this action that prioritizes military buildup," said another protester.
"All I feel now is fear. I long for peace and hope that Japan can remain peaceful," said a protester.
Some protesters said Takaichi is actively pushing for war and they expect her to step down.
"I expect the Takaichi administration to step down as soon as possible. I hope this extraordinary Diet session will mark the end of her time in office. The administration plans to revise the three key security documents by the end of this year and I learned that this could be achieved solely via a cabinet decision, completely bypassing deliberations in the National Diet," said a protester.
"Actually, I'm from Nara. As someone from Nara, I’m really ashamed that Takaichi became the prime minister, because she gives me the impression that she is actively pushing for war. So, for the sake of the lives of Japanese people and people across the world, I expect her to step down right now," said a protester from Nara prefecture, which is also the home of the prime minister.
Protesters rally against Takaichi administration's push for military expansion
