Japan Press Weekly

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2026 April 15 - 21 [PEACE]

36K citizens rally in front of Diet to protect Constitution

Holding placards that read, “No War!” and “Protect the Constitution!”, 36,000 concerned citizens assembled near the Diet on April 19 to strongly oppose Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s ambition to initiate constitutional amendment in a year’s time.

This action was called for by the All-out Action Committee and a nationwide network of civil groups opposing constitutional revision.

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko and Socialist Democratic Party leader Fukushima Mizuho delivered speeches in solidarity.

Tamura said, “The overwhelming majority of the public support Article 9 of the Constitution. Nevertheless, PM Takaichi and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are agitating for constitutional revision. This is totally unacceptable according to their constitutional duty to uphold the Constitution.”

Tamura pointed out that the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have raised concern that the world may shift to one ruled by force, and that the war-renouncing Article 9 has the power to establish an international order of peace.

She expressed her determination to work hard together with concerned citizens to expand grassroots movements calling for protecting and utilizing Article 9 while opposing any attempts to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation.

On this day, similar actions took place at more than 160 locations across Japan.