Japan Press Weekly

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2019 April 24 - May 7 [POLITICS]

Massive rally in Tokyo calls for 'No' to revisions of war-renouncing Article 9

On May 3, Constitution Day in Japan, pro-constitution rallies and demonstrations took place at many locations throughout the country. In Tokyo, about 65,000 citizens, public figures, and leaders of opposition parties participated in a huge rally calling for the protection of the war-renouncing Constitution and prevention of passing the Abe government's constitutional amendments.

Several hours before the start of the main event at a public park in Tokyo, people filled the venue, holding colorful flags and placards reading, "No! to revisions of Article 9," and "Oust Abe regime!"

On behalf of the rally organizers, Takada Ken pointed out that it is the citizens' movements that have been rebuffing the Abe government's maneuver to adversely change the pacifist Constitution. He called on the crowd "to help increase cooperation between concerned citizens and opposition parties in order to prevent Prime Minister Abe from having the Diet work on the possibility of constitutional revision and defeat revisionist candidates running in the upcoming Upper House election".

Participation of families with small children stood out at the Tokyo rally. Sakamoto Minako with her 2-year-old daughter said, "I don't want the present government to belittle the role of the Diet and change the Constitution. I want a society where every one of us can live in peace and happiness as stated in the Constitution."

Shii Kazuo of the Japanese Communist Party, Edano Yukio of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Tamaki Yuichiro of the Democratic Party for the People, Mataichi Seiji of the Social Democratic Party, and Iha Yoichi of the Okinawa Whirlwind appeared together on the stage and gave speeches in defense of Article 9. Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny and a group of pro-constitution Lower House members sent their messages of solidarity to the rally.