People holding signs attend a protest rally in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 30, 2026. Nearly 10,000 Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Friday evening to protest moves by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to revise the country's nuclear policy and expand its military capabilities. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
TOKYO, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 10,000 Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Friday evening to protest moves by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to revise the country's nuclear policy and expand its military capabilities.
The Takaichi administration has recently made a series of moves concerning nuclear policy. After Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi repeatedly said that "no options are ruled out" in discussions about introducing nuclear-powered submarines, Takaichi told parliament this month that the government would seriously consider the possibility of the Self-Defense Forces acquiring such submarines in a "concrete and realistic manner."
In addition, Japanese media have reported that the government may revise the wording concerning the Three Non-Nuclear Principles when it updates the country's three key security documents by the end of this year.
Friday evening's protest focused on these developments. Several speakers at the rally said the Takaichi government's continued push for militarization has heightened tensions with neighboring countries and left other nations with "a strong sense of crisis."
"There is indeed a trend in Japan toward strengthening military capabilities. These moves have gone too far," a protester surnamed Yoshikawa told reporters. He said a military buildup that clearly exceeds the needs of self-defense, or even provokes other countries, is "highly abnormal."
Another protester, Mitsuru Kurebayashi, told reporters that Japan has been hit hard by the oil crisis, with prices of a wide range of goods facing upward pressure. With winter approaching, heating demand is rising, and electricity bills keep climbing, yet wages remain stagnant, she said.
At a time when people are struggling with rising living costs, she added, the government wants to allow nuclear weapons into Japan and is trying to revise the constitution to once again make the country capable of waging war. "These things must not be allowed." ■
People holding signs attend a protest rally in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 30, 2026. Nearly 10,000 Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Friday evening to protest moves by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to revise the country's nuclear policy and expand its military capabilities. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
People holding signs attend a protest rally in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 30, 2026. Nearly 10,000 Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Friday evening to protest moves by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to revise the country's nuclear policy and expand its military capabilities. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
People holding signs attend a protest rally in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 30, 2026. Nearly 10,000 Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Friday evening to protest moves by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to revise the country's nuclear policy and expand its military capabilities. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
