Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Demonstrators took to the street in Tokyo on April 28, calling on NATO and its allies and Russia to keep their hands off Ukraine. 

Russian hints of a Third World War have alarmed the Japanese, whose only desire is to preserve the pacifist character of the Japanese constitution. The protestors also oppose Japan allying with the Americans and coordinating with NATO. 

They raised slogans such as, “Give peace back to Ukraine.” “We oppose the war,” “Japan’s government, stop participating in the war,” and “Don’t send weapons” “Russia! NATO! Withdraw from Ukraine.” They denounced the Japan-US summit meeting and the Quad meeting between Japan, the US, Australia and India.” 

The protestors condemned the nuclear technology sharing program and the increase of 2 percent in the military budget of Japan. They denounced the provision of aid by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to Ukraine and the program that allows the Japanese military to train cadres of the Myanmar army, which has violently repressed its people since the military coup some years ago.

During a meeting in March this year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the new NATO Secretary-General that Japan would strengthen ties and its proactive cooperation with the countries of the NATO alliance.