NOT IN OUR NAME: Massive Protests Across Japan to Protect the Peace Constitution 🕊️
Tonight, the streets of Tokyo ignited. 24,000 people gathered in front of the National Diet to protest against war and the dangerous proposed amendments to Japan’s Peace Constitution.
But it wasn't just Tokyo. Solidarity protests broke out in cities all across the country. The marches were filled with handmade placards and the glow of "Oshi" penlights—a vibrant protest culture inspired by the candlelight vigils in neighboring South Korea. On YouTube, the movement reached even further, with over 60,000 people tuning in to the livestream.
What is happening?
The current Takaichi administration is pushing to amend Article 9 of the Constitution. Their goal is to align with U.S. military interventions and allow the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to be deployed in aggressive wars.
The LDP’s (Liberal Democratic Party) draft for the new constitution is even more chilling: it includes the removal of the prohibition of torture and a denial of basic human rights.
The "Shock Doctrine" Strategy
Many believe that Takaichi is weaponizing a "Shock Doctrine" strategy—exploiting national or global crises to force through these radical, unpopular changes while the public is distracted or in a state of shock. It is a calculated attempt to dismantle our democracy under the guise of "national security."
The "Silent Majority" is Speaking Up
While the LDP won the recent election and Takaichi’s approval ratings are high, her administration’s agenda is not the consensus of the Japanese citizen. Anti-government protests are now happening almost every week. We are making it clear: our will is to oppose aggressive war and defend the Peace Constitution that has kept us safe for decades.
80 years ago, we made a mistake that cost millions of lives. We will never commit that mistake again.
See the Protest for Yourself
If you want to see the scale of the movement, please search for the Japanese hashtag #平和憲法を守る0325 on X (Twitter) or Bluesky.
Because there is no open square in front of the National Diet Building, it can be difficult to capture the full crowd in a single shot. However, thousands of participants are uploading their own photos and videos from the ground to show the world that we are here.
