Clusters of Japanese protesters gathered in front of Okinawa Prefecture's government on Tuesday amid rising concerns over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's wrong remarks on China's Taiwan. They said that Takaichi should take back her words and resign. "Sanae Takaichi's remarks are wrong and a disgrace to Japan. Japan must express sincere repentance for World War II and the harms it caused during the war. To uphold world peace, Japan should preserve its pacifist Constitution. And to safeguard peace, we must never repeat mistakes. Military build-up does not bring peace. Okinawa already hosts so many U.S. military bases, and so many people have suffered, even our water sources have been contaminated. It is precisely because we live here in Okinawa that we deeply understand these issues," said one protester. "Japan has no right to interfere in other countries' affairs. We must demand that Takaichi take back her words. We are angry. Takaichi should retract her statements and step down," said another protester. "Here in Okinawa, everyone outside of the Liberal Democratic Party agrees that we must make Takaichi withdraw those wrong remarks, which are equivalent to declaring that Japan 'is preparing for war.' We will never tolerate or forgive such remarks. Takaichi must retract her statements, or she should step down," said a protester. The spark for the gathering came earlier this month, when Takaichi told a Diet meeting 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. Takaichi later insisted that her remarks were in line with the government's long-standing view and refused to retract the remarks. Her remarks, seen as a break from Japan's long-standing post-war restraint, drew swift criticism. Politicians across party lines, scholars, civic groups and multiple opposition lawmakers warned that her remarks risked heightening regional tensions. SHOTLIST: Okinawa, Japan - Nov 25, 2025 1. Protesters holding placards against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent remarks regarding China's Taiwan; 2. Sign reading (Japanese): "Retract survival-threatening situation remarks" "Prime Minister Takaichi, step down"; 3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Okinawa resident (name not given): "Sanae Takaichi's remarks are wrong and a disgrace to Japan. Japan must express sincere repentance for World War II and the harms it caused during the war. To uphold world peace, Japan should preserve its pacifist Constitution. And to safeguard peace, we must never repeat mistakes. Military build-up does not bring peace. Okinawa already hosts so many U.S. military bases, and so many people have suffered, even our water sources have been contaminated. It is precisely because we live here in Okinawa that we deeply understand these issues."; 4. Protesters holding placards, talking; 5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Okinawa resident (name not given) (starting with shot 4): "Japan has no right to interfere in other countries' affairs. We must demand that Takaichi take back her words. We are angry. Takaichi should retract her statements and step down."; 6. Protesters holding placards; 7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Okinawa resident (name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 8/ending with shots 9-10): "Here in Okinawa, everyone outside of the Liberal Democratic Party agrees that we must make Takaichi withdraw those wrong remarks, which are equivalent to declaring that Japan 'is preparing for war.' We will never tolerate or forgive such remarks. Takaichi must retract her statements, or she should step down."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 8. Protester speaking, protesters holding placards; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 9. Various of protesters holding placards, pedestrians; 10. Sign reading (Japanese): "Prime Minister Takaichi, resign!". [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]