 3,700 attend rally in defense of Article 9 On September 18, about 3,700 people assembled in Osaka City to listen to three well-known writers who are concerned about the current moves toward adversely revising the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. The three, Inoue Hisashi, Oda Makoto, and Sawachi Hisae, organized the "Article 9 Committee" in June with six other public figures. The assembly hall was crammed with about 1,500 people. Some 2,000 participants who could not enter the hall listened to the speeches through a loudspeaker set up outside. Inoue said that the argument that the Constitution must be revised because it is outdated or was imposed by the U.S. is a "big lie." "Japan's Constitution provides for basic rules for human society and universal values, and Article 9 is derived from the 1928 General Pact for the Renunciation of War coordinated by Japan and other countries", Inoue added. Oda emphasized that war always kills civilians, telling the audience his experience of three air raids in Osaka. He stressed that the cycle of war must be ended. Sawachi reminded the participants that the day was the 73rd anniversary of the "Manchurian Incident". "We as sovereigns have a duty to reject policies infringing on Article 9," she said. (end) |