Japan Press Weekly

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2015 December 9 - 15 [POLITICS]

Activists call for abolition of war legislation on 74th anniversary of start of Asia Pacific War

On December 8, the day marking the 74th anniversary of the start of the Asia Pacific War, members of the Japan Mothers Congress Organizing Committee at various locations across Japan handed out copies of the “red slip”, the call-up-notice used in Japan during WWII, to passersby in protest against war and collected signatures for a petition seeking to repeal the war laws.

In Tokyo, activists of labor unions and civil groups joined this action that was held near Yurakucho and Ochanomizu stations.

In the street campaign at Yurakucho Station, using a microphone, union activists and other speakers in turn called on pedestrians to support the signature collection drive which aims to gather 20 million signatures in the call to abolish the unconstitutional security legislation.

Vice President of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) Nagao Yuri referred to retaliatory strikes on Syria after the Paris terror attacks, and said that increasing military attacks will only strengthen the chain of hatred, not work to end terrorism. Nagao appealed to passersby, saying, “Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is vital to the establishment of peace on earth. Let’s abolish the unconstitutional legislation with the power of 20 million antiwar signatures!”

A couple from Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture signed the petition and said, “We are opposed to the current government attempt to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation. As the only A-bombed country, what Japan should do is to make diplomatic and other peaceful efforts to help solve the many conflicts in the world.”