Students are demonstrating against a bill to alter Japan’s pacifist constitution to allow it to send troops overseas for the first time since WW2. Five protesters say why

It was clear that the voice cutting through the night air in Japan’s political nerve centre did not belong to a veteran of the country’s anti-war movement. Right on cue, the crowd repeated each high-pitched yell of “Abe wa yamero!” (Abe, quit!) – first at normal pace, and then with a rhythm borrowed from hip-hop and inspired by pure, unadulterated rage.

Then, in English, a simple statement that has come to define a Japanese summer of public discontent, the likes of which it has not seen in a generation: “This is what democracy looks like!”

Amid the trade union and civic group banners were colourful, bilingual placards held aloft by a new generation of activists who have assumed the mantle of mass protest as Japan braces for the biggest shift in its defence posture for 70 years.

By the end of this week, the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and his ruling coalition are expected to pass a series of security bills that reinterpret parts of Japan’s war-renouncing constitution to allow troops to fight overseas for the first time since the end of the second world war.

He insists that the changes will enable Japan to respond more effectively to security threats from a more assertive China, a nuclear-armed North Korea and Islamist terrorism. Opinion polls show a majority of voters oppose the move.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest One of the nightly protests by members of Sealds outside the Japanese parliament. Photograph: Guillaume Bression/The Guardian

It is testament to the disquiet the protests have caused that Abe appears determined to pass the bills by Friday, ahead of five straight days of public holidays that could bring even bigger crowds out on the streets.



The suspicion that he is abusing his coalition’s comfortable majority to railroad the bills through parliament has brought teens and people in their 20s on to the streets in unprecedented numbers.

The most prominent group, Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy – Sealds for short – has its roots in public opposition to the 2013 state secrets law, under which whistleblowers and journalists face imprisonment for revealing and reporting sensitive information.

With every gathering outside parliament, Sealds members are challenging the notion that protesters in Japan must be above a certain age, an eccentric or a Marxist ideologue. They are not embarrassed about their interest in fashion and music, and they are comfortable about replacing their predecessors’ radicalism with a simple faith in freedom and democracy.

“They are galvanising other age groups,” said Koichi Nakano, a politics professor at Sophia University in Tokyo. “Sealds projects the image that you can be normal and fashionable and political at the same time.”

Beniko Hashimoto, 24

Works in fashion industry

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Beniko Hashimoto. Photograph: Guillaume Bression/The Guardian

I came to a demonstration on my own last year and noticed there were lots of young people. I hadn’t had many opportunities to discuss politics, so it was fun to demonstrate with other people my age. To be honest, I wasn’t always interested in politics. I kept up with the news, but it never occurred to me to join a demo. The catalyst for me was the debate over collective self-defence. When I come to a demonstration I get a proper feel for the public mood, and I’m inspired to do more.

Even though Japan hasn’t been attacked, the idea of attacking another country, or going to war alongside, say, America, doesn’t make sense. The US might be grateful for our help, but can we be sure that they will protect us? In any case, what are they supposed to be defending us from? We’re always hearing about how China is a threat to Japanese national security, but is that really the case?

I know that some politicians have called us selfish. Well, if it’s selfish to oppose war, then, yes, I suppose I am selfish. Young Japanese aren’t as politically aware as people in other countries, but that’s because we’ve been educated to think that way. There’s a tendency in Japan to believe that because someone in power says everything is going to be OK, then it will. Like prime minister Abe is always saying there is no risk of Japan being dragged into a war.

Erina Nakagawa, 19

University student

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Erina Nakagawa. Photograph: Guillaume Bression/The Guardian

I became involved in the anti-war movement quite recently. On my birthday this June I took part in a sit-down protest. There were lots of older people there, and one of them gave me a pamphlet about Sealds.

The way the security bills are being pushed through parliament amounts to the destruction of democracy and constitutionalism. The Japanese constitution guarantees respect for human rights and is pro-peace. It calls on everyone to work together to realise its aims, and now Abe has come along and decided he wants to destroy all that.

I’ve always been moved by John F Kennedy’s speech, the one in which he talks about not shrinking from our responsibility to defend freedom. That way of thinking is reflected in the Japanese constitution. I can’t accept that one person can come along like some kind of king and declare it null and void.

The point of politics is to promote the common good. So we’re the complete opposite of selfish in what we’re doing. We’re defending our rights – it’s as simple as that.

Moeko Mizoi, 20

University student

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Moeko Mizoi. Photograph: Guillaume Bression/The Guardian

My grandmother lives in Fukushima, so when the nuclear accident happened I remember thinking that political decisions really do have a direct effect on my life. I was at high school at the time, but none of my friends were interested in politics. Last year, I went to a protest and realised there were other young people who felt the same way I did.

The constitution is something we should treasure – especially article nine (which renounces war as a means of solving international disputes). For the past 70 years, Japan hasn’t killed anyone overseas, and no Japanese have been killed in war. That’s an incredible thing. With collective self-defence the risk of people dying will be much higher.

We all have the right to make our individual voices heard, to come together and share our ideas … that’s why we’re here in front of parliament just about every night.

People who say we are selfish seem to think that citizens are there to be used by their country, including making them go to war. It should be the other way round – the nation is there for the benefit of the people.

I agree that, in general, young Japanese are indifferent to politics. When I think back to when I was at school, I had no friends with whom I could talk about politics, but later I spoke up and found that, actually, lots of people are worried about what’s happening with the security bills.

Takuya, 16

High school student

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Takuya. Photograph: Guillaume Bression/The Guardian

I joined the anti-war group for teenagers because for the first time something was happening politically that I thought would have an impact on my life. If this law goes through it will make it easier for Japan to go to war, for whatever reason – it could be economic, not just political. That will affect not just me, but my school friends too.

I wouldn’t say I was influenced by my family, or by a public figure. I just felt moved to get involved. My dad talks about politics and he has encouraged me, but my mum is worried. She thinks that what we’re doing is a little dangerous.

People have said that getting involved so publicly at my age could damage my job prospects. I honestly don’t think that when I’m job-hunting in a few years’ time that I’ll be asked about my political activism. If I am, I’ll be honest, and if I don’t get the job, then that probably isn’t the right company for me anyway.

This movement will continue even after the security bills pass. It’s not just about one issue – there are lots of other things that worry me about the Abe government. I’m not old enough to vote, so joining these protests is the only way I can make my feelings known.

Hikaru, 16

High school student

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Hikaru. Photograph: Guillaume Bression/The Guardian

I attended my first demonstration in June, but my political awakening happened after the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima. I talked about what had happened with my family. My older sister was already an anti-nuclear activist, so she took me along to a demonstration. I met other people my age there, so I decided to get properly involved.

When I first heard about the security bills I was worried. I felt it affected me … I kept thinking about what could happen if this really became law. People have called us naïve, but does anyone really want Japan to go to war, even the people who support the security bills? It’s natural to want to avoid war, so I don’t think I’m being naive or selfish at all.

My friends used to think I was a bit strange, but some of them have been coming up to me at school and saying, “You’re doing a good thing.”

At this point, the most important thing is to defend democracy – to make sure there’s a discussion before any decisions are made. My parents influenced me to an extent, but I’ve always liked the Beatles, and I’m a huge fan of John Lennon. The Japanese singer Kiyoshiro Imawano has also been a big influence.