STORY: Over 30,000 people rally in Tokyo to defend Japan's pacifist constitution 
SHOOTING TIME: May 3, 2024
DATELINE: May 5, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:27
LOCATION: Tokyo
CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the rally
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Japanese): KANEHISA YAMAUCHI, Protester
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Japanese): AKIKO NOGAKI, Protester
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Japanese): SHOICHI ITOH, Protester

STORYLINE:

More than 30,000 peace-seeking Japanese participated in a massive rally in Tokyo on Friday to defend the country's pacifist constitution, chanting "No constitutional amendments, defend the constitution, protect peace!"

Japan marked the 77th memorial day of its pacifist post-war Constitution on May 3. The supreme law's Article 9 renounces war and bans the country from maintaining land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential. However, nowadays, concerns mount among Japanese people regarding the steadfastness in upholding the principles of the war-renouncing constitution.

Kanehisa Yamauchi, who just returned from Okinawa, told Xinhua that Okinawa has become increasingly militarized. A month ago, the Japan Self-Defense Forces deployed its first surface-to-ship missile unit on the main island of Okinawa at Uruma Base.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Japanese): KANEHISA YAMAUCHI, Protester
"I saw many people protesting near the base in Okinawa during my stay there. There is a belief that if we work together, we can stop this evil mechanism of the government."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Japanese): AKIKO NOGAKI, Protester
"I am here to better defend the constitution, especially Article 9."

A particularly eye-catching flag waved above a crowd of protesters. At the top of the flag was a picture of a little girl flying in the wind on a dove of peace, with the words "No war! Don't get involved in the U.S. war!" written in big letters below.
   
Flag holder Shoichi Itoh from the Article 9 Association, one of the largest anti-constitutional revision groups in Japan, told Xinhua that they are retired primary and secondary school teachers from Tokyo.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Japanese): SHOICHI ITOH, Protester
"I have taught middle school social studies and history all my life, and in my classes, I told the children that the constitution aims to reflect on the war and never let it happen again. We are here today to prevent our children from being sent to war again!"

However, on the same day as in previous years, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida continued to send a video message to a small gathering of pro-constitutional amendment forces, once again emphasizing the need to speed up discussions on revising the constitution.

Also on Friday, the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun wrote: "Not only should the Self-Defense Forces be written into the constitution, but also the 'capability to attack enemy bases.'"

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tokyo.
(XHTV)