Protests against Japan’s military expansion gaining momentum

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Protests against Japan’s military expansion gaining momentum

Protests against Japan’s military expansion gaining momentum

The demonstrators held up signs and chanted slogans calling for an end to military expansion and the development program for new long-range missiles. (ANJ/ Pierre Boutier)

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12 Dec 2022 03:12:21 GMT9

Arab News Japan

TOKYO: In front of the official residence of Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio, several hundred demonstrators protested against the increase in Japan’s defense budget on Saturday.

Several politicians came to stand alongside the demonstrators, including the Social Democratic Party’s FUKUSHIMA Mizuho, a politician from Okinawa, as well as activists from around 30 peace organizations.

The demonstrators held up signs and chanted slogans calling for an end to military expansion and the development program for new long-range missiles.

Politicians and activists spoke to Arab News, with one, a Japanese constitutional scholar from Okinawa, saying that because of Japan’s pacifist constitution, he felt it was his duty to try and halt governments moves that could bring about war.

SUGIHARA Koji an activist from the collective Network against Japan Arms Trade (NAJAT) mentioned the new joint fighter aircraft development program between Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom and denounced the conglomerate supported by Western countries.

Faced with growing opposition, Prime Minister Kishida finally considered that the expanded military budget should be borne by companies rather than by direct and indirect taxes on citizens.

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