Thousands Protest Japanese PM Takaichi's Military Expansion Plans

Thousands of protestors gathered outside Japan’s parliament in Tokyo on Sunday to oppose Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plans to revise the country’s pacifist constitution and expand its military capabilities.

The 25,000 who reportedly attended called for Takaichi’s resignation and decried her plan to increase defense spending, relax restrictions on exporting weapons, and enact legislation they say could weaken civil liberties.

The rally followed similar earlier protests in the Japanese capital, reportedly attended by 50,000 people in May, 26,000 on June 19, and 27,000 on July 10, according to organizers.

The demonstrations have centered on Takaichi’s proposed amendment to Article 9, which renounces war and the use of force to settle international disputes. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party wants to add a clause explicitly recognizing the Self-Defense Forces and allowing measures deemed necessary to counter national security threats, which Takaichi claims are coming from China and North Korea.

Critics have argued that the change could weaken restraints on military action, turn the Self-Defense Forces into a conventional army, and make it easier for Tokyo to become involved in overseas conflicts.

Takaichi’s government has already raised defense-related spending to around 2% of GDP with the 2026 defense budget allocating about ¥8.8 trillion ($55 billion) to long-range missiles, drones, ammunition, reinforced military facilities, and other programs. In April, the government also eased restrictions on exports of lethal weapons.

The debate has also extended to nuclear arms. An unnamed senior Takaichi adviser reportedly argued in December that Japan should possess nuclear weapons, while the prime minister was said to allegedly be considering revising the country’s pledges not to possess, produce, or allow such arms on its territory. Tokyo has maintained that its nuclear policy has not changed.

China said the controversy showed that Japanese right-wing forces were seeking to remilitarize the country. Moscow warned that Japan’s militarization would worsen security in Northeast Asia and provoke countries that felt threatened to presume countermeasures.

Japanese critics of the buildup, including participants in the recent rallies, say postwar pacifism has helped keep Japan out of foreign wars and contributed to decades of stability. They have warned that the buildup could draw Japan into overseas conflicts without improving public safety. Some participants have instead called for greater funding for healthcare, education, disaster preparedness, and mitigating living costs.

The protests have coincided with falling support for Takaichi’s government. An ANN poll conducted last week placed cabinet approval at 49.2%, down 10.9 points from June and below 50% for the first time since she took office. Disapproval rose 11.8 points to 34.8%.