July 25 & 27, 2015
In opposition to the Abe government-proposed war legislation, about 2,000 mothers raising small children staged a demonstration on July 26 around Shibuya Station in Tokyo.
This action was organized by a group of young mothers opposing the controversial security bills. Six women representing the group held a news conference in Tokyo on July 13 and called for young parents to participate in the demonstration. Within just two weeks, 17,000 people across the country expressed their support for this action and similar organizations were formed in 29 prefectures.
Braving the terrible heat on that day, mothers and fathers with children held a rally in the square in front of the famous statue of the faithful dog Hachi outside the station. Seven mothers spoke before the crowd in turn to show their determination to fight.
After the rally, participants paraded through the downtown area. Holding pink balloons or wearing gerberas, they marched pushing baby carriages. They shouted to passersby, “No War!” and “Let’s protect our children!”
Miyazaki Aya, a 38-year-old woman living in Yachiyo City in Chiba Prefecture, learned about this action on Facebook and took part with two little children. “Actually, I’ve wanted to do something to block the war legislation. Children are watching their parents take action. War cannot resolve anything. I’ll continue to work to hand down to younger generations a peaceful Japan which has been maintained for 70 years after World War II,” she said.
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On the evening of July 24, rallies and demonstrations demanding the resignation of the Abe Cabinet took place outside the Diet building with around 70,000 people participating.
At a gathering held in front of the main gate of the Diet, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo gave a speech in solidarity. Noting that the ruling coalition’s steamrolling of the measures through the Lower House has been sparking public anger, he said, “In order to get the bills scrapped in the Upper House, let’s corner the Abe administration by further strengthening public opposition.”
On July 26, some 25,000 protesters encircled the Diet building, and JCP Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki gave a speech to encourage them. Over the weekend, protest actions took place throughout the nation.
This action was organized by a group of young mothers opposing the controversial security bills. Six women representing the group held a news conference in Tokyo on July 13 and called for young parents to participate in the demonstration. Within just two weeks, 17,000 people across the country expressed their support for this action and similar organizations were formed in 29 prefectures.
Braving the terrible heat on that day, mothers and fathers with children held a rally in the square in front of the famous statue of the faithful dog Hachi outside the station. Seven mothers spoke before the crowd in turn to show their determination to fight.
After the rally, participants paraded through the downtown area. Holding pink balloons or wearing gerberas, they marched pushing baby carriages. They shouted to passersby, “No War!” and “Let’s protect our children!”
Miyazaki Aya, a 38-year-old woman living in Yachiyo City in Chiba Prefecture, learned about this action on Facebook and took part with two little children. “Actually, I’ve wanted to do something to block the war legislation. Children are watching their parents take action. War cannot resolve anything. I’ll continue to work to hand down to younger generations a peaceful Japan which has been maintained for 70 years after World War II,” she said.
*****
On the evening of July 24, rallies and demonstrations demanding the resignation of the Abe Cabinet took place outside the Diet building with around 70,000 people participating.
At a gathering held in front of the main gate of the Diet, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo gave a speech in solidarity. Noting that the ruling coalition’s steamrolling of the measures through the Lower House has been sparking public anger, he said, “In order to get the bills scrapped in the Upper House, let’s corner the Abe administration by further strengthening public opposition.”
On July 26, some 25,000 protesters encircled the Diet building, and JCP Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki gave a speech to encourage them. Over the weekend, protest actions took place throughout the nation.
