Japan Press Weekly

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2013 October 2 - 8 [PEACE]

Majority of Nishiyodogawa residents sign petition in defense of Article 9

More than half of the 97,000 residents of Nishiyodogawa ward in Osaka City have signed a petition in protest against a revision of Article 9 of the Constitution.

The Nishiyodogawa joint center against constitutional revision, consisting of various local unions and civic groups, has been conducting a signature collection campaign since its foundation in April 2006. It collected 49,150 signatures by the end of September through various activities including door-to-door visits.

A 31-year-old woman who took part in one of these actions last month said that while she was making house-to-house calls, a resident said to her, “I’ve already signed the petition,” and another said, “I will sign and bring it to a joint center’s member I know.” She was deeply impressed by the pro-Constitution movement having a firm foothold in this area, she added.

Yamamoto Takahiro, 35, who has served as the secretary general of the joint center since April, said, “More young people in workplaces and communities are getting involved in peace movements. We will collect more signatures opposing PM Abe’s intent to revise the Constitution.”