Over 10,000 Japanese citizens mark Constitution promulgation anniversary, rally against revision

As Japan on Tuesday marked the 80th anniversary of the promulgation of its pacifist Constitution, more than 10,000 Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet building in Tokyo to protest moves by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to revise the Constitution and expand military capabilities.

The Takaichi administration has recently made a series of moves concerning nuclear policy. After Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi repeatedly said that "no options are ruled out" in discussions about introducing nuclear-powered submarines, Takaichi told parliament this month that the government would seriously consider the possibility of the Self-Defense Forces acquiring such submarines in a "concrete and realistic manner."

"I believe that under the protection of the pacifist Constitution, Japan was not dragged into other countries' wars, and in some respects, the country was truly protected by the Constitution. But now some people want to abandon these restrictions, and Japan is moving step by step towards launching wars. In my view, relevant people are single-mindedly bent on starting a war, and they even incited the Japanese public hostility towards other countries. What kind of politicians would want to push for wars? That is why I come here to protest," said a protester.

Japanese media have reported that the government may revise the wording concerning the Three Non-Nuclear Principles when it updates the country's three key security documents by the end of this year.

"Japan today is heading to wars. I'm trying to do my part in stopping this trend. In particular, some people are trying to abandon the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. This is utterly absurd," said another protester.

"Military moves or wars cannot protect us. Wars are killing people. In the end, the only right path is diplomacy, through talking, communicating, and working hard, so as to find where we can resonate with each other. Revision of the Constitution absolutely must not be allowed, especially the kind of revision that attempts to turn Japan into a war-wielding country. It must not be allowed," said a protester.

Some at the rally said the Takaichi government's continued push for militarization has heightened tensions with neighboring countries.

"Japan's military budget is rising sharply. To maintain friendly relations with neighboring countries, Japan must not revise its Constitution, and the dangerous military buildup must not be allowed to go on," said another protester.

"I oppose the malicious revision of the Constitution, because I do not want Japan to become a country that launches wars again. Whether in military or economic terms, the Takaichi administration is showing extremely dangerous tendencies. The Takaichi administration is sparing no effort in trying to revise the Constitution, and this cannot be allowed to happen. We want to express our opposition by joining rallies like this," said a protester.

Over 10,000 Japanese citizens mark Constitution promulgation anniversary, rally against revision

Thai exporters are leveraging this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE) to seek new opportunities in China as innovation and shifting consumer demand reshape how Thailand's traditional agricultural products are grown, produced and brought to market.

For generations, families in Thailand have made a living from coconut palms, harvesting the fruit by hand and shipping it far beyond the orchards where it is grown.

Natthasak Manusrungsri's family has been exporting aromatic coconuts for more than two decades. But growing demand from China has transformed the scale of their business, driving production, expanding exports and inspiring new ways to bring this familiar fruit to consumers.

"Almost every factory that packs fresh coconuts depends on China as its main market, almost entirely. After Thailand received permission to export coconuts to China, volumes kept rising, driven by trends and by customers becoming more knowledgeable and health-conscious," said Natthasak Manusrungsri, managing director of K-Fresh Co.

But as demand grows, so does the pressure to innovate. Generations of agricultural knowledge are meeting a new generation of ideas.

For Thai producers, China offers enormous opportunities, but competition is intensifying. As consumer preferences change, exporters are shifting their focus beyond simply increasing sales to developing innovative products that offer greater convenience and bring more value to an increasingly competitive industry.

That transformation begins long before the coconuts leave the trees. Across a network of plantations, precision agriculture is helping farmers monitor growing conditions, identify problem areas, and improve yields, while maintaining the quality of Thailand's renowned coconuts.

Inside the factory, innovation takes a different form. Even the simple act of opening a coconut has been redesigned. A patented mechanism allows consumers to open it with a push.

"Innovation matters for both the farm and production, so we can deliver the highest quality to our customers. So, we practice precision agriculture. And in the factory, we focus on innovation to make it easier for consumers to open and enjoy, bringing quality products to consumers around the world and in China," said Manusrungsri.

For the farmers who tend these palms, the rhythm of life remains much as it has for generations. But beyond the orchards, almost everything else is changing.

And at CIIE 2026, Thailand's humble coconut is showing how an age-old harvest can find new value in a world of changing tastes and possibilities.

Thai coconut exporter taps CIIE to promote industry innovation