The members of the Reiwa Shinsengumi party delivered an impassioned speech in the Diet: "Who will be on the front lines if we get involved in a war? Is it the Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Takahashi?"

On February 26, during the plenary session of the Japanese Senate, Reiwa Shinsengumi's co-party leader, Okuda, questioned Prime Minister Takahashi.

Okuda, who had just been appointed as the co-party leader, began by saying, "Protecting children is what politics should be about. I was elected to the Diet for the first time in last year's upper house election. I used to be a piano teacher and a mother of three children. It was due to a sense of crisis—If we ordinary mothers don't become members of parliament and leave everything to politicians who are out of touch with the people, then the violent politics that claim to protect children but actually destroy them might come to pass soon. That's why I decided to become a member of parliament."

Okuda continued, "At the budget committee meeting on December 16th last year, I asked the Prime Minister: 'Politicians exist to protect the lives of all children living in this country, right? Please now, here, promise: We will never send children to war, and Japan will never be involved in a war.'

Prime Minister Takahashi responded, "I will fight to protect the precious lives of the children."

Fight? Fight against whom, for whom? I hope the Prime Minister would say, 'I will resolutely protect children and peace.'

It's not weapons that protect children, but rice that can feed them. Compared to weapons, we need more rice."

Okuda further pressed:

"The Prime Minister said 'fight.' But several Liberal Democratic Party members have also said, 'The people must be ready to shed blood.'

If we really get involved in a war, who will be on the front lines? Will it be the Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Takahashi?

Going to the front line means getting covered in blood. If we get involved in a war, who exactly do you plan to make bleed, and have you prepared yourself to let whom bleed? Please answer me.

Are you planning to send young Self-Defense Forces personnel or the children sitting in the gallery, representing the future, to the front line?

Prime Minister Takahashi, we all were born from mothers, and so were you.

A mother gives birth to a child, not to send them to war.

Make Japan strong and prosperous? Stop trying to fool us with such words.

The most important thing is to strengthen the lives of all the people living on the Japanese archipelago."

In response, Prime Minister Takahashi said:

"Protecting the lives and peaceful lives of the people is the mission of the Self-Defense Forces. They have sworn that, in case of an emergency, they will take risks and fulfill their duties with their own actions, in response to the trust of the people. In other words, the Self-Defense Forces take on risks to reduce the risks for the people. It is the responsibility of the government to use every means to reduce these risks, which is what I mean by 'fighting.' The thorough strengthening of our defense capabilities that we have been promoting so far can enhance our deterrence, making adversaries abandon their intentions to attack, reducing the possibility of the situation itself occurring. To protect the precious lives of the children and the lives and peaceful lives of all the people, I will promote the thorough strengthening of our defense capabilities at a faster pace than ever before."

Finally, Kozuka, the president of the House of Representatives, expressed concern (not specifically targeting any particular speech): "Regarding Mr. Okuda's remarks, appropriate measures will be taken by the Speaker if there are any inappropriate words after reviewing the verbatim records."

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858207185513482/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."