Japan Press Weekly

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2016 February 17 - 23 [POLITICS]

Late teens in nationwide concerted action call for end to war laws

Calling for an end to the security-related legislation dubbed the “war laws”, high school students on February 21 staged demonstrations at many locations across Japan, including Sendai, Osaka, and Fukuoka. The nationwide concerted action took place in response to the call by the antiwar teenagers’ group “T-ns Sowl”.

In Tokyo, about 5,000 high school students and citizens paraded through Shibuya, a popular district with young people. They chanted in rhythm to the music from the leading pickup truck, “Opposition parties, unite!” and “Go and vote!”

A student in her sophomore year in high school made a speech from the back of the truck, saying, “I remember every single day the fear and anger I felt when the war laws were enacted. I will keep raising my voice and never waste my right to cast my ballot. I’ll continue leaning about politics as a sovereign member of this country. This is the only way democracy can take root.”

A 15-year-old junior high school student, who came from Saitama accompanied by his father, said, “Me, too. Even after I enter high school, I continue voicing opposition to the security legislation because it violates Article 9.”

Welcoming the decision the five opposition parties made on electoral cooperation, a college student from Tokyo’s Machida City said, “What we do from now on is the most important thing. I want to support their joint effort wholeheartedly.”

In similar actions taken in Sendai and Osaka, lawmakers of the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, and the Social Democratic Party participated.

Past related article:
> High school students call for joining in demos to repeal war legislation [January 23, 2016]