TOKYO: A crowd of around 25,000 people gathered in Ariake Park in Tokyo on Wednesday – Constitution Memorial Day – to urge the protection of Japan’s pacifist status and particularly Article 9 of the Constitution, which prohibits Japan from going to war.

May 3 was the 76th anniversary of the Japanese Constitution, which was introduced after World War II.

The demonstrators fear that Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio is planning to change Article 9 of the Constitution, which, they say, has protected Japan from becoming involved in armed conflicts.

According to his opponents, Kishida is planning to hold a referendum on changing the Constitution next year.

Since becoming prime minister, Kishida has changed his approach from when he was foreign minister and now believes that Japan must have the capability to attack enemy base overseas.

The Liberal Democratic Party has been arguing for companies to be allowed to export arms within the framework of the Official Security Assistance to Protect the Asia Pacific region (OSA). This would have the effect of amending the Constitution.

Not everyone is opposed to such moves. During the demonstration, nationalists try to disrupt the pacifists and pointed out that North Korea missiles are a threat to Japan.

In a context where tensions between the United States, Taiwan and China are increasing and Japan is at the same time boosting its military budget, pacifists have become vocal in denouncing the “arms race” and are calling on the government to stick to diplomatic efforts to maintain peace.