Japan Press Weekly

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2015 April 29 - May 12 [POLITICS]

30,000 citizens speak out against gov’t move to destroy pacifist Constitution

As the Abe government is further accelerating its move to destroy the pacifist Constitution, on May 3, Japan marked the 68th anniversary of the enforcement of the Constitution. On that day, a rally calling for the protection of the Constitution took place in Yokohama City with more than 30,000 people taking part.

This gathering was organized by two major civic groups advocating the defense of the Constitution. The two organizations had so far held their rallies separately.

At the rally, Nobel Prize-winning author Oe Kenzaburo delivered a speech on behalf of the organizing committee. He condemned Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s address recently made in a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress for pledging to develop security legislation in order to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. Oe stressed the need for Japanese people to voice their determined opposition to the proposed war legislation.

Constitutional scholar Higuchi Yoichi noted that lawmakers who do not even understand the meaning of constitutionalism are trying to change the Constitution. Referring to the fact that after World War II civil movements have repeatedly blocked any move to undermine the peace Constitution, he called for greater cooperation to protect the supreme law.

Shiraga Yuriko, a member of a group representing young lawyers, said that the fight to safeguard the Constitution will lead to giving children hope for a peaceful future.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo pointed out that the true aim of the war legislation is to enable Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to enter any wars the United States launches around the globe. He called on the audience to join hands and stand up to defend Japan’s peace and the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution. Representatives of three other opposition parties (the Democratic, Social Democratic, and People’s Life parties) also delivered speeches in solidarity.

A 41-year-old mother accompanying two daughters, participating from Saitama’s Niiza City near Tokyo, said, “I want to leave my children a world without war. That’s my most important hope.”

Past related article:
> What motivates Abe to change Constitution? [January 20-23, 2015]