 Article 9 Association founded in Osaka In an effort to build cooperation in defense of the war-renouncing Article 9, Osaka-based public figures established "the Article 9 Association, Osaka" on April 25. The fourteen initiators include journalist Otani Akihiro, "rakugo" performer and living national treasure Katsura Beicho, and Kiyoshi Fumihiko, Shinshu-Otani Sect Buddhist priest. At a press conference held on the same day, Otani said, "The Constitution defines the nation's role and citizens' way of living. It is wrong to change it claiming that it is impossible to realize what it says or that it does not fit the world situation." "The Article 9 Association, Osaka" is aimed at increasing support in Osaka Prefecture for the appeal of the Article 9 Association, which was founded last June by nine public figures, including writer Inoue Hisashi and Nobel Prize writer Oe Kenzaburo. It plans to send and exchange information regarding more than 100 Article 9 Associations based on localities and occupations in Osaka, hold a big assembly, and publish advocacy advertisements. (Akahata, April 26, 2005) |