50,000 Protest in Tokyo Against Japan’s Military Expansion and Constitutional Changes
Tens of thousands of Japanese citizens took to the streets of Tokyo in a large-scale march to express their opposition to increased military spending and proposed constitutional amendments. Organizers reported that approximately 50,000 people participated in the peaceful gathering, described as one of the largest anti-war rallies in recent years.
Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “No to war,” “No to changing the constitution,” and “Protect Article 9,” protesting what they called the growing militarization trend in East Asia. The central focus of the protests was Article 9 of Japan’s constitution, which prohibits the country from engaging in war as a means of settling international disputes and bars maintaining an aggressive military force.
The current government, led by Sanae Takaichi, has increased Tokyo’s military budget in recent months, aligning more closely with the United States and following the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration. This approach has elicited reactions both within Japan and from abroad.
Countries including Russia and China have expressed concerns over Japan’s rising defense expenditures and military activities in the region. These developments come as Japan marks the seventy-ninth anniversary of the post-World War II constitution, a document renowned for its emphasis on pacifism, often referred to as the “Peace Constitution.”
