Since Sanae Takaichi was elected Japanese prime minister last October, the Takaichi administration has been relentlessly advancing its remilitarization agenda through a sweeping military buildup. Tens of thousands of Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Wednesday evening to protest a series of government moves, including its push toward military expansion.

A CGTN stringer in Tokyo spoke with residents about Japan's newly established National Intelligence Bureau. Interviewees voiced clear opposition, warning that broader intelligence gathering could come at the expense of personal privacy and even human rights. With Japan's relations with other countries already strained, a member of the public said, the move could further heighten tensions and create new risks. Another worried that a risky information landscape, fueled by online leaks, could get even worse.