Japanese protesters call for historical reflection as Takaichi administration expands security agenda

Growing concerns over Japan's expanding military capabilities and changes to its security policies have prompted public protests, with demonstrators warning against a potential return of militaristic thinking.

On August 6, the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, citizens held rallies in Hiroshima and Osaka to oppose a series of moves by the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, including the relaxation of restrictions on lethal weapons exports and the establishment of a new national intelligence bureau.

Protesters urged the Takaichi government to confront its wartime history and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

In Hiroshima, protester Yasuyuki Yagi said the tragedy of the atomic bombing should be viewed in the broader historical context of Japan's wartime aggression in Asia. "The historical roots of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima lie in Japan's earlier aggression against China, the Korean Peninsula and Southeast Asia," he said.

Toshiko Yamamoto, another protester, said Japan should not focus only on its own suffering while overlooking the damage it inflicted on other countries.

"We cannot simply remain fixated on a victim mentality," Toshiko Yamamoto, a protester, said. "As a country that was once an aggressor, Japan must never allow such aggression to happen again. We must never repeat the same mistakes."

Mayuri Matsuo, who traveled from Kyoto to attend the rally, said the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should encourage Japan to pursue peace.

"As the only country in the world to have suffered atomic bombings, Japan should promote the ideals of peace," she said, adding that recent developments suggest the country is moving in "the exact opposite direction."

Protesters argued that Japan, given its wartime history and experience as the only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, should maintain a commitment to peaceful development and build trust with the international community through concrete actions.

Instead, they criticized the Takaichi administration for accelerating defense expansion and opening discussions on nuclear-related policies, saying such moves have raised concerns over a possible shift toward remilitarization.

In November last year, Japanese media reported that the government was considering reviewing Japan's long-standing principle of not allowing nuclear weapons to be brought into the country as part of an update to three key national security documents.

In December, a security adviser to Takaichi reportedly said Japan should consider possessing nuclear weapons. In July, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also called for discussions on nuclear policy without restrictions or taboos. The remarks and policy moves have triggered debate in Japan and drawn concern from neighboring countries.

On July 31, the Japanese government officially established the National Intelligence Bureau, aimed at improving the country's intelligence-gathering capabilities.

At a protest in Osaka, one participant told China Media Group (CMG) that the new intelligence body could raise concerns because of its historical resemblance to Japan's prewar Special Higher Police, known as the "Tokkō," which was used to suppress political opposition.

"I worry whether the National Intelligence Bureau could become something like the former Tokkō. It makes me concerned that Japan may still be considering a path toward war," the protester said.

Another participant told CMG that recent developments under the Takaichi administration had caused growing anxiety that Japan could move toward militarism.

"I began reviewing historical materials about Japan's wartime aggression. The more I learned, the more I felt that such history must never be repeated," the protester said.

The participant added that tensions between Japan and some Asian countries remain closely linked to unresolved historical issues, which motivated her to take part in peace-related activities.

(With input from Xinhua)