Anti‑war demonstrators have surged across Japan, rallying against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to reshape the nation’s defensive posture. Since taking office in October, Takaichi lifted arms‑export limits, stationed long‑range missiles, and deepened ties with allies amid rising regional tensions, threatening Japan’s pacifist identity.

The protests began in February after Takaichi’s landslide victory, which granted her a mandate to pursue constitutional change. Organizers said more than 50,000 people marched in over 200 cities when the government scrapped lethal‑weapon export limits, and last weekend the rally swelled to 90,000 participants on the constitution’s anniversary. Critics fear that revising Article 9 could erode Japan’s postwar pacifism and spark regional arms races.

Despite the growing mobilization, Takaichi’s approval remains high, and the LDP still lacks the upper‑house majority needed to amend the constitution. Polls show a sharp split, with robust support for a stronger military but significant resistance to any revision. The current protests signal a deepening societal divide and could pressure lawmakers to adopt more measured defense policies, but an overhaul remains unlikely.