October 7, 2023

The Article 9 Association on October 5 held a rally in Tokyo with 1,200 people participating. A9A locals and other A9A groups reported on their various activities.

Writer Sawachi Hisae, former President of Hosei University Tanaka Yuko, Sophia University Professor Nakano Koichi (representative of the Civil Alliance), and Musashino City Mayor Matsushita Reiko (Mayors A9A) delivered speeches in solidarity.

Tokyo’s Adachi Ward A9A reported on their activity to send an A9 plate on which the text of Article 9 is engraved in Chinese, Korean, and English to each country, and that they received a reaction from the director of the Museum of Japanese Colonial History in Korea who commented that the spread of the pacifism embodied in Article 9 throughout the world would help to bring about world peace.

The Trading House A9A which comprises workers of trading companies, including Itochu Corp. and Marubeni Corp., reported on their lecture/study meetings and street actions which had been held more than 50 times. They said, “Japan exacted a heavy toll on other countries in WWII, but we can now work globally for peace thanks to the war-renouncing Article 9.”