Numerous Japanese residents gathered in entrance of the National Diet Building in Tokyo to protest towards a sequence of army and safety insurance policies and payments just lately promoted by the federal government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Tokyo, Japan, July 10, 2026. /CMG
Numerous Japanese residents gathered in entrance of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Friday night to protest a sequence of harmful insurance policies and payments just lately promoted by the federal government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
According to the rally’s organizers, about 27,000 individuals attended the protest in individual, whereas roughly 110,000 others participated on-line.
Protesters fashioned traces stretching a number of kilometers alongside the sidewalks surrounding the Diet constructing, chanting slogans reminiscent of “Stop Takaichi’s reckless actions” and “Japan must forever renounce use of force.”
They additionally collectively learn aloud Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution in opposition to Takaichi’s push for a sequence of insurance policies broadly considered as growing the chance of battle and in defiance of widespread public opposition.
Noriko Kanamori, one of many demonstrators, stated that the Takaichi administration’s current initiatives amounted to getting ready for battle. She criticized the prime minister for dismissing public issues by simply saying that “Japan is not at war,” calling the response infuriating.
Kanamori additionally argued that whereas many individuals in Japan are struggling amid the continued world oil disaster, the federal government, reasonably than actively addressing the state of affairs, has channeled its efforts into organising our bodies reminiscent of a “national intelligence council.”
Another protester, Hosoi, stated the present authorities is making choices unilaterally with out taking the general public’s views under consideration.
“Everything they are doing is gradually pushing Japan toward war,” he advised reporters.
Since the House of Representatives election in February, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has taken benefit of its majority within the decrease home to push by means of laws, together with the act to ascertain the “national intelligence council,” regardless of protests from opposition events and throughout society.
The LDP additionally referred to as for increased protection spending to pave the best way for additional enhancement of Japan’s protection capabilities in its proposal to revise the nation’s three key safety paperwork later this yr.
These developments have continued to gasoline public concern in Japan over the nation’s accelerating army buildup.
Source: CGTN