Thousands of Japanese residents rallied outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday night, demanding that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retract her provocative remarks regarding China's Taiwan region. Chanted slogans such as "Prime Minister Takaichi, don't incite war," "Withdraw your remarks immediately," "Obey the Constitution," and "Oppose war, defend peace," the protesters voiced their widespread anxiety over Japan's recent defense policy direction and Takaichi's foreign policy stance. The rally was held in response to the remarks made by Takaichi during a Diet hearing on November 7, in which she claimed that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, and implied the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. After Takaichi took office, the Japanese government has accelerated the push to increase defense spending, discussed the introduction of nuclear submarines, and even considered re-examining the three Non-Nuclear Principles. Mizuho Fukushima, leader of Japan's Social Democratic Party, also attended the protest and expressed her sincere hope that attempts seeking to expand armaments or export weapons could be prevented. She said that those concerns gave the answer why so many Japanese residents had gathered to oppose Takaichi, expressing her support for the rally. Hundreds packed the street in front of the Prime Minister's Office, stretching for hundreds of meters, a turnout rarely seen in Japanese demonstrations. Some held signs reading "Takaichi caused this crisis" and "Takaichi resign." Shotlist: Tokyo, Japan - Nov 21, 2025: 1. Various of protesters gathering outside Japan's Prime Minister's Office, holding placards, chanting slogans UPSOUND (Japanese) Protesters: "Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, don't incite war. Withdraw your remarks immediately. Obey the Constitution. Oppose war, defend peace."; 2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Protester (name not given): "Remarks like those made by Sanae Takaichi seem to seek a war and must not be tolerated."; 3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Protester (name not given): "I was shocked by how openly she spoke in ways that undermine our relationship with China. With Japan increasing its military budget, it feels like war is approaching. That's why I came here to stop it."; 4. Various of protesters holding placards; 5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Protester (name not given): "First of all, Takaichi is viewed as an extreme right-winger. She disregards the Constitution and wants to drag Japan back toward militarism. We must stop that. It's disturbing how she keeps stirring up anti-China sentiment. Not only her, other Cabinet members echo these views. It's frightening. She even seeks to rewrite history and refuses to acknowledge Japan's past. I cannot accept or forgive that."; 6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Protester (name not given): "Her speech threatens peace not just between Japan and China, but across all of East Asia. That's why I felt a sense of urgency to be here tonight."; 7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Protester (name not given): "She must retract her erroneous statements and apologize. And she should resign from office."; 8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Protester (name not given): "If her words lead to an irreversible crisis, the ones who will suffer are us, the Japanese people."; 9. Various of protesters lining street, holding placards. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]