On the third day of Constitution Day, people who are in a position to amend the Constitution and those who are in a position to protect the Constitution held a rally and other events.
Position calling for constitutional reform Statement at forum
The "Constitutional Proposal for the Private Sector," which calls for constitutional amendments, held a forum in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and about 800 people participated according to the organizers' announcements.
In it, journalist Yoshiko Sakurai said, "The SDF, which is bound by Article 9 of the Constitution, has become able to move somewhat through various amendments, but its fundamental form has not changed. I would like you to work immediately on amending the Constitution."
In light of the situation in Ukraine and North Korea's missile launch, the government adopted a statement calling on political parties to make efforts to realize constitutional amendments, stating that "defense and crisis management systems should be fundamentally corrected."
A 65-year-old man who participated said, "There are parts of the debate about reviewing the Constitution that have been avoided, but we need to reconsider the reality of war.
Constitutional defenders appeal at rally
Meanwhile, a citizens' group that defends the Constitution held a rally in Tokyo's Koto Ward, which organizers announced was attended by about 2,5000 people.
Professor Aisa Kiyosue of Muroran Institute of Technology said, "People's modest lives and small happiness are not protected, and on the other hand, military expansion is being promoted based on arbitrary interpretation of the Constitution.
After the rally, the participants marched around the venue holding banners and placards, chanting "We do not want the Constitution to be amended" and "Protect the Peace Constitution."
A man in his 30s who participated in the rally said, "I participated because I thought that the Constitution could be changed if it continued as it is, seeing the movement of increasing defense spending one after another.