Japan Press Weekly

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2016 April 27 - May 10 [POLITICS]

4 opposition leaders take part in Constitution Day rally along with 50,000 people

On May 3, Constitution Memorial Day, about 50,000 people rallied at a seaside park in Tokyo to foil the Abe government’s plot to undermine Japan’s pacifist Constitution. The leaders of the four opposition parties were all present together for the first time.

Following last year’s rally, this event was hosted by an organizing committee which consists of a wide range of civic groups endorsing the Constitution.

At the rally, Takada Ken gave a speech on behalf of the organizers. He noted that the results of April’s Lower House by-election in Hokkaido show that a joint struggle with citizens and opposition parties united was able to drive the ruling coalition to the brink of defeat. “Let’s work to field joint opposition candidates in all single-seat constituencies in the upcoming Upper House election and beat the ruling parties and their supporting forces which are attempting to revise the war-renouncing Constitution,” he said.

When Fukuyama Shingo of “Anti-War Committee of 1000” reported that the number of signatures calling for the abolition of the unconstitutional national security legislation has topped 12 million, cheers and applause broke out.

The heads of the four opposition parties – the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and People’s Life parties – delivered addresses in solidarity. On the stage, the four raised their joined hands, clearly indicating their intent to work together.

Okada Katsuya, representative of the largest opposition Democratic Party, said, “PM Abe’s prime target is the war-renouncing Article 9, the heart of the Constitution. He is aiming to destroy the article in order to enable Japan to exercise the collective self-defense right without any restriction. We must thwart his plan at any cost.”

Shii Kazuo, chair of the second-largest opposition Japanese Communist Party, stressed, “What needs to be changed is not the Constitution but the present government neglecting the supreme law. Let’s work together to bring down the Abe government and create a new government which will make the best use of the peace Constitution.”

After the rally, participants paraded through the areas near the venue, holding placards of various colors and messages.

Past related article:
> A9A denounces PM Abe for trying to destroy war-renouncing Constitution [February 9, 2016]