August 15, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira issued the following statement on August 15, the anniversary of the end of WWII:

“On the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II, the Japanese Communist Party offers its deepest condolences to all who suffered from the war of aggression and colonial rule perpetrated by militarist Japan, both in Japan and abroad. We will steadfastly uphold the pledge enshrined in the Japanese Constitution “that never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war” and will devote our efforts to building a peaceful world free from war.

Japan now stands at a critical historical juncture: will it allow a reckless rush toward becoming a ‘war-capable nation’ by adversely revising Article 9 of the Constitution or will it continue to maintain the war-renouncing Article 9 and pursue peace?

The Takaichi government, consisting of the Liberal Democratic Party and the ‘Nippon Ishin no Kai’ party, is attempting to revise the three key national security documents by the end of the year to accelerate the process of turning the country into a war-capable nation. This involves massive military expansion in violation of the Constitution and includes strengthening the capability to attack enemy bases; developing the capability to continue to fight in a war based on the assumption that Japan will be involved in a war; more firmly integrating Japan’s Self-Defense Forces under U.S. command and control; and increasing military spending to 3.5% of GDP (24 trillion yen) annually.

Furthermore, the Takaichi government is even seeking to review the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. As the only country in the world to have suffered from atomic bombings, Japan should maintain these principles, never help to intensify the nuclear arms race. What it should do is to ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and take the lead in abolishing nuclear weapons.

The Takaichi government has completely lifted restrictions on arms exports and is actively promoting the sale of Japan-made weapons overseas, referring to this as a ‘virtuous cycle between security and the economy.’ This ‘militarized economy’ is a path where the military prospers while the people perish.

The JCP resolutely opposes the abandonment of Japan’s postwar foundations as a pacifist nation based on the Constitution. We also oppose the move to turn the country back into a war-fighting nation. Our party strongly urges the government to focus its efforts on peacebuilding diplomacy in line with the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, not on war preparations.

The creation of a war-capable Japan is being pushed forward under the guise of strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance. This attempt aims to reinforce a system that enables Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense and join in U.S. wars. The current U.S. regime, led by President Trump, is becoming increasingly isolated from the world due to its repeated lawless acts, such as the attack on Iran. There is nothing more dangerous than building a war-capable Japan under an alliance with such a state.

The Japanese government’s policy of blindly following the United States has failed in Okinawa. Regarding the return of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, ‘the government has consistently claimed that constructing a new U.S. base in Henoko is the only solution.’ However, the U.S. Department of Defense has recently stated that even if the Henoko base is completed, the Futenma base will not be returned unless a long runway is secured elsewhere. It has become clear that the only solution was promoting a lie. Japan should abandon the plan to build the new base in Henoko and demand that the U.S. government unconditionally withdraw from the Futenma base. This is the only solution.

A new movement is emerging among ordinary citizens to confront the Takaichi government’s dangerous policies. This offers hope for Japanese politics. The JCP has consistently upheld antiwar and peace principles for the 104 years since its founding. Building on that legacy, we will continue to stand in solidarity with a wide range of civic movements calling for ‘No war’ and ‘Protect the Constitution’ in order to prevent Japan from becoming a war-capable nation. We will devote all our efforts to realizing a new Japan that fulfills its role as the only nation to have suffered from atomic bombings and that abides by the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution.”

Past related articles:
> PM Takaichi in Hiroshima hints at revising Japan’s 3 non-nuclear principles [August 7, 2026]
> USFJ won’t return Futenma unless Japan offers a ‘long runway’ separate from Henoko [April 25,2026]