June 14, 2026

The setup of a Self-Defense Force booth at the four-day Nagoya University Festival (Meidaisai, June 11-14) has been cancelled, Akahata learned on June 13. The Nagoya University Union of Faculty and Staff demanded the cancellation.

According to the union, the SDF planned to exhibit a high mobility vehicle capable of serving as a launch platform for surface-to-air guided missiles and provide to visitors an experience of the SDF-style physical fitness test.

Hearing about the plan, the union issued a statement requesting the festival organizing committee and the university authority not to allow the SDF to run its exhibit booth at the Meidaisai.

In the statement, the union pointed out that the putting-up of a booth at the university’s event constitutes part of the SDF’s public relations activities aimed at masking its true nature as a military organization and instilling a sense of security among visitors, including students, local residents, and children.

The union referred to the Nagoya University Peace Charter which was enacted in 1987 based on a reflection on the past cooperation of the university in Japan’s war of aggression and declares, “We will never, for any reason whatever, pursue academic studies and education which aims at wars.” The union pointed out that allowing the SDF to hold its booth at the Meidaisai tramples on the charter’s spirit.

Furthermore, the union appealed for the need to have a scientific and critical viewpoint in dealing with themes of military aggression and war.