Japanese Youth Protest Wave Against Constitutional Amendment: Opposing Abandonment of Peace Constitution's Article 9, Worried About Being Drawn into Overseas Wars

UK Media: A wave of youth protests has swept Japan, opposing the government's plan to amend the peace constitution—originally drafted by the United States and in effect for 80 years—particularly Article 9, which renounces the right to war.

The trigger was the U.S. urging Japan to dispatch its Maritime Self-Defense Force to participate in a conflict involving Iran. After Prime Minister Sata Asako’s Liberal Democratic Party secured a two-thirds supermajority in the February election, the push for constitutional revision intensified, and this week, the ban on exporting lethal weapons was lifted.

Protest numbers surged from 3,600 in February to 36,000 on April 19. The 30-year-old demographic accounted for the largest share, with women making up 60%. Participants waved light swords and slogans like "No Bombs for Cats," calling on the government to "stop pandering to America," expressing fears that constitutional changes could draw Japan into overseas wars. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sata Asako views Article 9 as a symbol of defeat and aims through constitutional revision to transform Japan into a "normal state."

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863222886461508/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.