March 19, 2023

Shouting in chorus, “No to Japan’s possession of enemy base strike capabilities!”, “No to a war-fighting Japan!”, 150 young people marched in demonstration through Tokyo’s famous shopping district of Shinjuku on March 18.

This action was called for by the organizing committee consisting of various youth groups, including the Democratic Youth League of Japan (DYLJ) and the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) youth section, with the aim of increasing public support for their opposition to the Kishida government’s move to impose higher taxes on the general public to finance the planned huge military buildup.

Holding a placard reading, “No to tax hikes for military buildup!”, a 22-year-old college student said, “I think government policies using a large amount of tax money for a military buildup rather than for education, social services, and people’s livelihoods are wrong.” The student added, “When thinking Japan may turn into a war-fighting nation, I get depressed. However, in today’s action, I met with many people feeling the same way about the government policies and received positive energy from them.”

A 31-year-old female protester who came from Kanagawa Prefecture said, “I hope Japan, as the nation having the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, will make efforts to pursue peace diplomacy and not to strengthen its military capability.”

DYLJ Vice Chair Nakayama Ayumi expressed her determination to work hard to attract more young people to the movement opposing the government move to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation.

On this day in Kyoto, a similar action took place.