March 16, 2016
Calling for the abolition of the war legislation, the All-Out Action Committee against war simultaneously conducted signature drives on March 15 in the vicinity of about 100 railroad stations across Tokyo. Many young people, including students, and mothers with small children signed the petition.
The action committee consists of trade unions and various civil groups. One of its main objectives is to collect 20 million signatures by May 3, the 69th Constitution Memorial Day.
At noon, members of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) held the action near Ueno Station. Zenroren President Odagawa Yoshikazu spoke using a microphone, referring to the fact that the national security legislation will come into force on March 29. “Let’s work to support the opposition parties’ cooperation aimed at repealing the war legislation and have the ruling coalition and its supplementary forces end up being in a minority in the upcoming Upper House election,” he said.
That afternoon, students at Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) joined the drive. Playing accordions, they called for visitors to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park to sign the petition.
In response to their call, a female high school student signed her name with her mother. She said, “I’m going to enter TUA in April. I’ve been concerned that Japan is going back to the wartime era, but today I’m encouraged by the university students standing up for peace. I will join them, too.”
“This is something dangerous, isn’t it?” Several junior high school students, who were visiting Tokyo on a school trip from Niigata Prefecture, stopped to sign. A female student aged 14 said, “This legislation had been talked about at my school as well. I hope my signature will help Japan take a course toward peace.”
A Korean woman pushing a stroller carrying her baby said, “I think I should not leave this issue to other people simply because of my nationality. As a person living in Japan, I want to express my opinion through this petition.”
In front of Harajuku Station, members of the Democratic Youth League of Japan staged a signature drive. DYLJ Chair Koyama Minoru noted in his speech that the enforcement of the war legislation will dramatically increase the possibility that members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces dispatched to South Sudan will become involved in combat. “Most SDF personnel sent there are youth like us. Let’s work together to prevent Japan’s youth from killing or being killed,” he stressed.
An 18-year-old male who just graduated from a high school in Sapporo City signed and said, “Japan must not repaint its signboard which presently declares itself to be a war-renouncing nation. Upon looking at each political party’s policy regarding peace, I’ll decide which to vote for in the coming Upper House election.”
On the same day, similar actions took place around the country.
Past related article:
> Truck drivers and owners will jointly work on antiwar signature-collection drive [February 2, 2016]
The action committee consists of trade unions and various civil groups. One of its main objectives is to collect 20 million signatures by May 3, the 69th Constitution Memorial Day.
At noon, members of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) held the action near Ueno Station. Zenroren President Odagawa Yoshikazu spoke using a microphone, referring to the fact that the national security legislation will come into force on March 29. “Let’s work to support the opposition parties’ cooperation aimed at repealing the war legislation and have the ruling coalition and its supplementary forces end up being in a minority in the upcoming Upper House election,” he said.
That afternoon, students at Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) joined the drive. Playing accordions, they called for visitors to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park to sign the petition.
In response to their call, a female high school student signed her name with her mother. She said, “I’m going to enter TUA in April. I’ve been concerned that Japan is going back to the wartime era, but today I’m encouraged by the university students standing up for peace. I will join them, too.”
“This is something dangerous, isn’t it?” Several junior high school students, who were visiting Tokyo on a school trip from Niigata Prefecture, stopped to sign. A female student aged 14 said, “This legislation had been talked about at my school as well. I hope my signature will help Japan take a course toward peace.”
A Korean woman pushing a stroller carrying her baby said, “I think I should not leave this issue to other people simply because of my nationality. As a person living in Japan, I want to express my opinion through this petition.”
In front of Harajuku Station, members of the Democratic Youth League of Japan staged a signature drive. DYLJ Chair Koyama Minoru noted in his speech that the enforcement of the war legislation will dramatically increase the possibility that members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces dispatched to South Sudan will become involved in combat. “Most SDF personnel sent there are youth like us. Let’s work together to prevent Japan’s youth from killing or being killed,” he stressed.
An 18-year-old male who just graduated from a high school in Sapporo City signed and said, “Japan must not repaint its signboard which presently declares itself to be a war-renouncing nation. Upon looking at each political party’s policy regarding peace, I’ll decide which to vote for in the coming Upper House election.”
On the same day, similar actions took place around the country.
Past related article:
> Truck drivers and owners will jointly work on antiwar signature-collection drive [February 2, 2016]
