A large crowd of Japanese citizens held a protest rally in front of the National Diet in Tokyo on Monday evening, voicing opposition to the government's moves toward military expansion and constitutional revision.
Protesters said they do not want to see Japan become a country that wages war again, and called on the government to uphold the pacifist constitution and prioritize diplomatic communication.
"War must never happen again. I don't want Japan to become a country that starts a war. Rather than worrying about Japan being attacked, I am more concerned about Japan becoming a country that attacks others. I don't want Japanese people to become killers," said one protester.
"People with a conscience are reminding us that we must never forget past history. I think this is crucial," said another protester.
"I would rather the government put its energy into diplomacy than spending money on military force -- working hard on diplomacy and building friendly relations with other Asian countries. I also hope the government can allocate more funds to its citizens and improving people's livelihoods," said a protester.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government has recently accelerated its military buildup, significantly increased defense spending, eased restrictions on exports of lethal weapons, advanced plans to deploy medium- and long-range missiles, and expanded offensive military capabilities.
The government also plans to revise Japan's three key national security documents by the end of the year while stepping up efforts to amend the Constitution. These moves have continued to fuel concerns among peace groups and members of the public in Japan.
Japanese citizens rally against military expansion, constitutional revision
Japanese citizens rally against military expansion, constitutional revision
