Japan Press Weekly

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2026 April 22 - 28 [POLITICS]

Protest held against export of lethal weapons

An emergency protest took place in front of the Prime Minister’s Office on April 21, protesting against the Takaichi Cabinet’s decision to permit the export of lethal weapons.

During the protest, Nishimura Miyuki of the Japan Peace Committee referred to media reports that Japan’s Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles had discussed cooperating in the development and production of weapons to replenish U.S. weapon stockpiles which have been depleted driven by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Nishimura stated, “I am outraged that Japan’s arms exports are likely to help to arm the United States in the war of aggression against Iran.” She demanded that Japan reinstate the ban on arms exports.

A member of a civic group protesting against the deployment of long-range missiles at a Ground Self-Defense Force base near Mount Fuji pointed out that such deployments, along with the construction of ammunition depots, are spreading across Japan. He stressed the need for concerned citizens to strengthen their efforts to stop the government attempt to turn Japan into a war-capable country.

Past related articles:
> Patriot missiles manufactured in Japan exported to US to indirectly support US attacks on Iran [April 15, 2026]
> Local residents: Don’t fire long-range missiles from Fuji! [March 15, 2026]