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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Popular majority against constitutional revision called for on 59th year of promulgation

A symposium was held in Tokyo on November 3, the 59th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution, to call for the war-renouncing Article 9 to be made known to the world. About 230 people attended the event held by the Liaison Council of Various Circles for the Prevention of Adverse Revisions of the Constitution to mark its 40th founding anniversary.

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ueda Koichiro as a panelist pointed out that Japan's Self-Defense Forces are what the United States imposed on Japan to complement the U.S. forces and that the Liberal Democratic Party wants to dismantle Article 9's ban on exercising the right of collective self-defense because it is the biggest obstacle to the SDF's military operations abroad. He said if this aim of theirs is made known to the public, it is possible to form a popular majority opposing constitutional revision.

Constitutional scholar Ozawa Ryuichi spoke about constitutional revision plans of the LDP and the Democratic Party of Japan. He said that the two may differ in appearances and wording, but they are the same in aiming at enabling Japan to fight wars abroad.

Zoo-ecologist Nakamura Masako spoke from a scientific point of view on the importance of maintaining the value of the Constitution renouncing war and upholding the equal rights of men and women.

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On the same day in Yokohama Port in Kanagawa Prefecture, about 120 citizens aboard five boats carried out an on-sea demonstration, calling for the Constitution to be defended. They also opposed the plans to strengthen the functions of U.S. bases in the prefecture and deployment of a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. -- Akahata editorial, November 4, 2005