Student group injects new exuberance into anti-war protests

It's time to take off the imposed shackles and for Japan to take its place on the security council with equal status to all other such nations.

All the references to the past have reached a point where they are ridiculous to project onto today's Japanese.

@strangerland Nope, not American

@shallots

I don't understand straw man.

However, this is the one issue I think Abe has right. A country should have its own military, be able to defend its overseas assets and egage in war if necessary.

The operative phrase there is 'if necessary'.

Both the proponents and the opposition of this bill do not want to go to war. At one end, they want to have necessary deterrents to avoid war while the other simply believes that pledging 'peace' would prevent it.

@masterblaster

It's not a very realistic way of thinking to think that some bad guys will cease torturing, raping and killing just because you hold up a sign that reads PEACE.

Sounds like a straw man. @Strangerland

You're American, right?

That would be ad hominem.

PM Abe should calm down his strong view of Japan militarization. Japanese Military should not involvement in war unless the war was not in Asia Pacific region. Japan direct involvement in war should be limited within Asia Pacific only.

I support for some changing Constitution for Japan self defense but it must not be completely militarization for Japan and it must not allow sending Japanese Military for to fight in war around the world whenever US Military was involving in war.

I support US – Japan military co-operation and Japanese Military supporting to US Military in Asia Pacific region but not in region like Middle East, Africa and Muslim countires. Japan must have stronger Military for self defend and to defend its friends in Asia Pacific.

@bjohnson23

Excuse me but "ensnare Japan in U.S.-led wars" is a bit far fetched.

They mean stuff like the Middle East and Afganistan.

I'd be against getting shot at for the sake of USA, inc too.

About time Wall Street fought its own wars instead of using mercenaries.

@AlphaapeAUG. 31, 2015 - 10:37AM JST I don;t know which country you come from but in Japan, a majority of 18-20 age group sre usually college or university students.

Whether they are in college or not, if they can be of legal age to vote then they can. I think that is part of the issue with Japan on this. The students may be protesting, but I am sure behind the curtains, there are some elders telling them what to say, and putting their own spin on this issue, without the youth actually taking the time to read and find out for themselves.

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My comment I wrote toward one that indicarred the writer did not know 18-20 groups life. You, too. I ask if you come from a country where HS drop out is more norm that you have to tell such advise..

toshikoAUG. 31, 2015 - 09:57AM JST @jinjapanAUG. 30, 2015 - 11:25PM JST Hopefully this will also motivate the 18- 20 age group who are now allowed to vote.

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I don;t know which country you come from but in Japan, a majority of 18-20 age group sre usually college or university students.

People, you may hate war but sometimes it is necessary.

You're American, right?

Glad for the protests. Protesting is essential for a democracy.

However, this is the one issue I think Abe has right. A country should have its own military, be able to defend its overseas assets and egage in war if necessary.

People, you may hate war but sometimes it is necessary. Sometimes the bad guys win. It's not a very realistic way of thinking to think that some bad guys will cease torturing, raping and killing just because you hold up a sign that reads PEACE.Sometimes a stern warning, a scolding and being put in timeout won't stop the bad guys. Sometimes it takes bullets and bombs.

Peace

I don;t know which country you come from but in Japan, a majority of 18-20 age group sre usually college or university students.

Whether they are in college or not, if they can be of legal age to vote then they can. I think that is part of the issue with Japan on this. The students may be protesting, but I am sure behind the curtains, there are some elders telling them what to say, and putting their own spin on this issue, without the youth actually taking the time to read and find out for themselves.

I voted in college and these guys should be able to vote in Japan I believe, whether they are in college or not.

@jinjapanAUG. 30, 2015 - 11:25PM JST Hopefully this will also motivate the 18- 20 age group who are now allowed to vote.

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I don;t know which country you come from but in Japan, a majority of 18-20 age group sre usually college or university students.

Unfortunately, I doubt very much any of these students thought through this problem in the comprehensive manner worthy of being an intellectual elite.

Every week, there is a protestor outside the gates of the Yokosuka base with a sign that says "U.S. stop killing the people of Iraq." That may have been a valid point 10 years ago, but the US has not troops fighting in Iraq and if there is any bombing or killing being done there, it is by ISIS and not the US.

I bring this up because this guy is obviously uninformed about what is going on in the world, and like some of these college students, they are probably just as misinformed. I bet if you asked them what they are really protesting and the details of the policy they would probably just give you talking points on what they have heard.

If Abe said that the next move would be to start registering young males for a possible draft, then maybe I could agree with them. But if you look at the volunteer rates for SDF, they are not going to be sending them anywhere soon.

Another wow here. Be the Japan it used to be, a respectable one before Abe and his gang.

NHK is reporting it:

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150830_17.html

The organizers of the rally say around 300 similar protests were held across the country on Sunday.

Wow...go Japan! :) And great Ryuichi Sakamoto!

More than 100,000 Japanese people on Sunday protested against Shinzo Abe pro-war policy. Here you can see a video:

http://it.euronews.com/2015/08/30/giappone-maxi-protesta-contro-la-riforma-delle-forze-armate-voluta-dal-premier/

My heart is with these people who want peace! The second woman who spoke in the interview, said she wants Japan can be friend with the other Asian countries.

Japanese people had voted Abe to support the economy, not to make Japan a militaristic country.

@Kazuaki Shimazaki I'd have to strongly disagree. These are not mutually exclusive and essays are not the same. Involvement in civic life is a necessity of democracy. Involvement, meaning student organization and expression in a variety of forums: student groups, protests, newspapers, etc. That's the way to develop democratic action and individual minds. Students say/shout/chant/write a lot of things that we might consider silly, naive, or immature. That's OK. It's part of growing up and testing one's mind.

Hopefully this will also motivate the 18- 20 age group who are now allowed to vote.

SEALDs is cooperating with about a dozen civic activist groups in organising a protest rally on Sunday that sponsors hope will attract 100,000 people.

This appears to have occurred! News of a mass protest against Abe being reported around the world this hour. Strange that Japanese sites are not reporting it. You can google protest in japan august 30 2015 to see for yourself.

"Shinzo Abe’s push to enact a more robust defense policy - steps critics say violate the pacifist constitution and could ensnare Japan in U.S.-led wars."

U.S.-led wars since WW2 ... lessee... South Korea not yet assimilated by North Korea... Japan kept out of trouble since WW2... the Taliban no longer keeping girls from going to school in Kabul and in much of Afghanistan...Saddam Hussein or his sons not in control of Iraq or Kuwait...

From Hong Kong to Japan, students rising up more

More power to them! Japan needs more of the younger generation speaking up.

It's great to see the youth standing up. Last night in Shizuoka there was a decent sized (for this small city) march down the middle of downtown protesting as well.

Excuse me but "ensnare Japan in U.S.-led wars" is a bit far fetched.

Since 1945, the USA has been involved in aggressive military operations in about 20 countries. Japan, due to its constitution, has been involved in none.

The idea of allowing "collective self-defence" that is being touted might seem reasonable in some circumstances. For example, in U.N. operations, if a group of JSDF troops are providing non-military aid to a village, and in the same village, a Danish peacekeeping force come under attack, perhaps the JSDF troops should give military backup to the Danish troops. But Abe's comments frequently refer to the USA suggesting his plans go far beyond this. So I don't think the fears are far fetched.

Great guys!

FULL support to SEALDs

Excuse me but "ensnare Japan in U.S.-led wars" is a bit far fetched. Please go back too your history course and as most of the world recalls, Japan was one of the aggressors against it's neighbors and includes Pearl Harbor In fact no where in history do documents exist on the US planning attacks on Japan during pre WWII. If the US will involve Japan ins such battles it will be in the defense of Japan against currently its biggest agitator China. Should the US trust Japan given the history of Japan, one would have to say NO. Aisan's can't be trusted, even within each other. Does this say the US or any other country should be trusted, the answer there is also the same NO, you would have to be an idiot to believe such a thing possible. If one perceives this Eutopian society it is only a pipe dream and nothing more, however the 1% elite globalist would love to have everyone believe Eutopia can exist but only if one is not among the select 1%. With all this said, it is good see young voters involved with the use of their voice but please take the time to learn more and speak to your elders and gain that experience. Young people will need after the next elections. .

Good luck guys! keep on speaking the truth.

Good on these guys! Spread it info, get more students out there, and ESPECIALLY let it be known that these youth now, thanks to Abe (ironically), have the power to actually vote him out in 2016! Get thousands and thousands going nationwide, with them explicitly stating in protests that they are going to vote against the LDP in the next election and encourage others to do so, and will back another party that is against Abe's changes, and you'll see the LDP back off somewhat.

It's nice to hear and see serious leadership in Uni students besides the soft tennis club or the manga circle.

I would be happy to see one student expressing publicly a political point of view at any of the several universities at which I teach. I have never seen it in ten years.

I don't mind students expressing political point of view. While it might be old fashioned thinking, used to be a university student is already a bit of an intellectual elite.

Unfortunately, I doubt very much any of these students thought through this problem in the comprehensive manner worthy of being an intellectual elite. I've said it in the last thing, but I much prefer seeing a series of worthy essays that demonstrate such thinking than a protest shouting simplistic slogans.

They need to study Japanese current international environment with the threat from China.

I would be happy to see one student expressing publicly a political point of view at any of the several universities at which I teach. I have never seen it in ten years.

Passionate patriots who love country and citizens, but not at the expense of others.

Contrast with the loyal lemmings at the Abe demo.

I never trust low-testosterone men in velcro sandals.

Note the difference in the variety of posters and placards on show here, and the 'pick up your standard placard here' stuff at the pro-Abe old folks' meeting.

Good on them.