Growing Japanese opposition to expanding militarism

 

By Makiko Sato (Japan)

Though I didn’t go there, as the venue is rather far, there was a big demonstration event against military buildup in Okinawa and western Japan on April 20, 2025 in Tsuiki, Fukuoka.  

There is going to be a big expansion of the runway in Tusiki SDF base.  

This event is, in my view, ‘revolutionary’, as solidarity appeals were sent from Taiwan and Shanghai! 

Japanese high school students designated as ‘Peace Missionary’, as well as several students from Chosen high school in Fukuoka participated for their messages of traditional Korean dance. (‘Chosen’ usually implies the DPRK-North Korea.) 

Appeals were also read from citizen peace movements in Hiroshima, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa and Oita, in most of which war-readiness are speedily ongoing.

There were more than 1,300 participants including several Diet [Parliament] members of the three main opposition parties. This movement is expected to grow, as more military facilities are being built around Japan, totaling more than 40 missile depots in 13 places.

On June 6th, some representatives of this movement went to the Diet to meet some cabinet members or senior officials. 

Koji Sugihara [a Global Network board member] sat in on June 4th in front of the Diet building, opposing the privatization of the Science Council of Japan. Some in the Council were rejected for their pro-peace Constitution stance. 

There are so many issues and citizen activists in Japan are so busy. We have nuclear power plant issues as well, especially of the nuclear waste matters -- nationwide distribution of the contaminated soil and 
ongoing releasing the contaminated water into the Pacific.

Our country is riddled with several urgent issues of great concern at the same time.  

June 6th negotiation of citizens with the central government agencies in the Diet conference room was such a big one, with nearly 200 in the room, another 300 waiting somewhere.  They were from Okinawa and western Japan areas from Kumamoto to Kyoto. 

About one hundred government officials were there to answer questions from citizens, but they were so evasive, and citizens could not get meaningful answers. 

It has been decided ultra-super-sonic missiles will be deployed in Oita.