About 36,000 Japanese rally against Tokyo's remilitarization push

About 36,000 people gathered in Japanese capital Tokyo on Sunday to protest against the government's push to revise the country's pacifist constitution, expand military capabilities and ease restrictions on arms exports.

The large-scale rally took place outside the National Diet building, where demonstrators voiced strong opposition to policies promoted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration, including the deployment of long-range missiles, efforts to lift the ban on exporting lethal weapons and moves to amend Article 9 of Japan's postwar constitution.

Protesters held placards and chanted slogans, such as "oppose the war" and "defend the constitution," expressing concern that the current policy direction could steer Japan away from its longstanding pacifist stance.

"The government's policies are largely harmful to the public and simply unreasonable," a rally participant told China Media Group. "The prime minister's responsibility should be to protect people's right to live in peace."

Similar demonstrations have also taken place across other parts of Japan, indicating growing public opposition to the government's security and defense agenda.

The rallies come amid a series of recent moves by Tokyo to accelerate constitutional revision and strengthen military cooperation. 

Japan signed a deal with Australia on April 18 to supply warships, marking one of its most significant military export agreements since ending a military export ban in 2014.

Participants at the rally expressed deep concern over the potential consequences of these policies. 

One elderly woman said that Japan had worked hard to establish its pacifist constitution and principles restricting arms exports, adding that she opposed using taxpayer money to export lethal weapons abroad.

A younger protester warned that increasing defense spending and continued military expansion could ultimately lead Japan toward conflict, saying he joined the rally in hopes of preventing such an outcome.

Another participant emphasized the historical significance of Japan's pacifist constitution, stating that it was created to ensure that the tragedies of war would never be repeated and it should be carefully preserved by future generations.