Japanese citizens gathered outside the National Diet on Monday and Tuesday evenings to protest against the aggressive policies of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration.
Calling for an end to attempts by the government to revise Japan's pacifist post-war constitution and expand its military, the demonstrators said Japan should face up to its history of aggression in World War II and avoid repeating past mistakes.
"I absolutely do not want Japan to be dragged into another war, so I do have some concerns about that. That is why I think Japan should, to some extent, not change the principles it has upheld until now. The international situation is difficult, but I want Japan to overcome these difficulties. If Japan moves in the opposite direction, we must raise our voices in opposition," said a protester.
"In World War II, across the entire Asia-Pacific theater, Japan invaded Asian countries and killed large numbers of people, including in China. It was precisely on the basis of reflection on this history that this Constitution was established. I hope that in the future, based on this Constitution, we can further strengthen friendship and solidarity with the people of Asian countries. I believe we absolutely must not revise such a Constitution now," said another protester.
Protesters also condemned recent visits and tributes paid by Takaichi and other Japanese politicians to Yasukuni Shrine, which is dedicated to the spirits of the war dead, including 14 World War II leaders convicted as "Class A" war criminals by an Allied tribunal in 1948, among them the wartime prime minister, Hideki Tojo.
"First of all, if you know how terrible the things done on those days were, then I think visiting Yasukuni Shrine is absolutely impossible. So turning a blind eye to history is where the mistake begins. Now, especially those politicians who don't know that war — they should understand just how tragic the reality of Japan's war of aggression was," said Gotou Masahiko, a Japanese lawyer.
"Those who were involved in the war, or even led and pushed the war forward are now still visited at Yasukuni Shrine where they are enshrined—I really cannot understand it, and I cannot accept such behavior. I think there are still many people who feel anger about this and believe such behavior is unforgivable. I also think this is truly wrong. If we truly reflect on the war and seriously examine the crimes Japan committed against neighboring countries, then Japan should not have taken such an approach in the first place. Instead, it should actively convey this message: we will make earnest efforts to build peace," said Kawana Naoko, head of a civic group in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
Japanese protesters rally against military expansion, constitutional revision
